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Sonar Simulation
Learners explore how a side-scan sonar can help locate underwater objects. In this hands- on lesson students compare side-scan sonar and other methods used to search for underwater objects by creating their own "simulation" of a...
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Oil Spill Dangers
Students analyze the effects of oil spills on our environment and develop action plans to protect animals and habitats.
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Bhutan, the Last Shangri-La: Sandwich Squash: How the Himalayas Were Formed
Young scholars create and record a model of mountain formation. They identify major mountain building formations. Students understand how the Himalaya Mountains were formed, why they are located near Bhutan, and why they are becoming...
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Greenhouse Effect
Learners investigate the greenhouse effect. In this environmental lesson, students investigate why the greenhouse effect changes the climate through an experiment. Learners use vinegar to simulate how acid damages the environment.
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Food Web Mystery
Students describe typical marine food webs, and explain why food is generally scarce in the deep-ocean environment. They discuss reasons that seamounts may support a higher density of biological organisms than would appear to be possible.
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Australia, Oceania, and Antarctica Today
Young scholars explore the importance of research in Antarctica, then explain how snow becomes part of the Antarctic ice cap. They explore Antarctica's harsh environment and discover how scientists drill ice cores and what information...
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Wetland Welfare
Students research wetlands in the United States and create visual aids for use in oral presentations that make recommendations on preserving or restoring wetland welfare.
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The Digestive System: An Overview
Middle schoolers label main structures of the digestive system, describe each structure's function, and describe sequence of events involved in digestion.
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Sediment Sleuths
Students classify sediments based on their physical characteristics, such as size, shape and color. They identify and describe rocks and minerals that are common to their region of the state.
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A River Ecosystem
Pupils examine the components of a river ecosystem. They discuss the picture and text from the book, "A River Ran Wild," and create a mobile of a river ecosystem using magazine pictures or original drawings.
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Design an Island
Students make a map of an imaginary island using the topographic symbols provided from a worksheet. Students place lakes, dwellins, reefs, etc. in areas where they would logically be located from understanding how the topography of an...
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Sunlight and Plants
Students design and conduct an experiment to discover the role of direct sunlight on plants during germination and after germination. They plant corn and lima beans in small containers which they place in direct sunlight from a window...
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Clouds Pre-Quiz
In this clouds instructional activity, middle schoolers answer ten multiple choice questions about the types of clouds, the characteristics of clouds and the meaning of the prefixes found in the names of clouds.
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Natural Resources and Your Christmas Tree
In this natural resources and your Christmas tree worksheet, students read about the raw materials used to make items associated with Christmas trees, match 12 items with materials, then color a picture.
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Musical Milfoil
Pupils play a game that is a version of musical chairs to introduce them to invasive aquatic plants. In this aquatic plants lesson plan, students play 4 rounds of this game.
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Sponges and Cnidarian Crossword Puzzle
In this marine science activity, learners complete a crossword puzzle with 32 questions on sponges and cnidarian. They identify the different characteristics of sponges and cnidarian.
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Mammals Crossword
In this mammals worksheet, students complete a crossword puzzle with 37 questions about characteristics, behavior and types of mammals.
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Landforms of Iowa
Young scholars observe the landscape and different landforms where they live. For this landforms lesson students list and define materials that make up their local landforms.
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The Lesson: Space Exploration
Students explore space. In this current events activity, students visit selected websites to learn about NASA, Mars, the Seti Institute, and space exploration terminology. Students make space glossaries and their own telescopes.
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Zapping Fish
Students explore whether fish get electrocuted when the lightning strikes a lake.
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Rate of Solution Demonstration
Students explore the factors that can increase the rate of dissolution for a solid. They complete a laboratory exploration in which they compare the dissolution rate of a whole sugar cube to that of a crushed sugar cube in a variety of...
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Winds Over Land vs. Ocean
Students explore friction and the way it impacts wind over the ocean compared to over land.
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Estuarine Currents
Students explore an estuarine system to gather data on density driven currents. This type of current is contrasted with temperature and wind driven currents.
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Dissolved Oxygen Lesson
Students investigate what dissolved oxygen is and why it is important to aquatic life and what factors influence levels of dissolved oxygen in a lake. They study how to use MS Excel to make charts to show trends and correlations.