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The Greenhouse Effect
Eighth graders research the Greenhouse Effect on the Internet. They use a variety of sources and take notes on the topic. They use ClarisWorks to type a report, use spellcheck, proof and edit. They can create a class bulletin board.
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Blood Pressure and Heart Disease
Young scholars explore the major causes of heat attacks as the topics of the human circulatory system, blood pressure, heart disease, arteries and veins are examined. Opinions on the topics are developed as researched material is...
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Children's Literature Across the Curriculum Ideas-Challenger: America's Space Tragedy
Students read Challenger: America's Space Tragedy by MichaelD. Cole. They complete a variety of cross-curricular activities surrounding the study of the Challenger space shuttle tragedy. Included are reading, art, math, science, writing,...
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Kites
Students build a kite while integrating math and science. In this kite building lesson, students construct a blueprint and apply mathematical formulas while constructing a kite. They use appropriate flight and kite terminology to...
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Making Good Decisions
Students examine the consequences of behaviors and what the concept of trade offs are. In this good decision lesson students read an article and answer questions on making good decisions.
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Looking into Space
Students explore how telescopes work, build a model of their own, and consider how real telescopes can be used to ask-and help answer-questions about the universe.
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Balloonautics
Students are introduced to basic aerodynamics through a discussion of thrust and drag and a hands-on activity. They examine the forces of thrust, drag, air pressure, aerodynamic shapes and Newton's Third Law Of Motion.
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Measuring Shadows
Young scholars determine the pattern (length and direction) of shadows cast by sunlight during several month period, and develop interpretation of daily and seasonal patterns and variations observed.
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I Need More Information!
Students decide on an issue and then determine what questions they would like to have answered while researching the topic. They develop and improve their research skills by using a variety of available sources to investigate and write...
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Exploring Magnetic Fields
Middle schoolers develop the concept that magnets attract and repel items and exert a magnetic field that can vary in strength.
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Fortune Teller Fish
Students demonstrate how to create and test a hypothesis. They design an experiment and set up a variable, experimental group and control group.
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Understanding Stereotypes
Students examine the role of stereotypes in their lives. They discuss how making unfair judgments about people affects one's view of the world. They complete a worksheet to end the lesson.
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One Tough Worm
Learners explain the process of chemosynthesis and its relevance to biological communities. In this investigative lesson plan students discuss chemosynthetic communities, then in groups they are assigned a species and are to calculate...
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Tree I.D.
Young scholars explore various tree species. In this tree species activity, students collect leaves on nature walks and use Internet sources to identify the trees that the leaves belong to. Young scholars graph their data as well.
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Leonardo's Machines
Students explore Leonardo da Vinci's ideas about design and machines.
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Models of the Water Cycle
Students describe and review the stages in the water cycle. In groups, they build their own models of the water cycle and demonstrate where the water goes in a closed system. They answer discussion questions after the experiment to end...
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Distant Relatives
Students investigate observations between widely separated populations of anchialine cave fauna. In this biogeography lesson students discuss theories that could explain the given observations.
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Cloud in the Classroom
Students describe the relationship between animals and humans. In this biology activity, students research about the history of horses in America. They present a mock news broadcast about their research.
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Lesson Six: Discovering the Power (Point) of Presentation
Students prepare multimedia presentations. In this computer technology instructional activity, students use PowerPoint and other multimedia sources to compose individual presentations. Students complete an interactive...
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Introduction to Severe Weather Patterns
Students review basic weather concepts and terminology, and explore weather modeling tools.
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Class Field Guide to the Sloughs
Students explore how to use field guides to identify wildlife. In this nature lesson students construct their own plant field guide.
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Teeshirt Printing
Students become responsible and involved citizens. In this t-shirt printing lesson students design and create a teeshirt with a message about citizenship and responsibility. Natural objects are used as stamps.
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On the Attack
Students explore how government restrictions and over fishing impact the ecosystems of sharks and contribute to or curb their danger to humans. They synthesize their understanding of the issues by creating board games in groups.