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Unit 1: Introduction to World Geography - The 5 Themes of Geography
The seven resources in the Introduction to World Geography - The 5 Themes of Geography unit are designed to give middle schoolers an overview of what they will learn studying geography. The first lesson focuses on the five themes...
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Don't Mess with Mercury
The three lessons in the don’t Mess with Mercury Unit Module are designed to teach middle schoolers about the dangers of mercury. The first option is teacher-led. Class members learn about mercury by reading case studies and...
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NewseumED: Civil Rights
As part of a social, economic, and legal/political civil rights study, class members brainstorm a list of current civil rights issues that affect their community and then select one issue that they think they could work to change as a...
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Understanding Science and Engineering Through Solar Power
The Understanding Science and Engineering Through Solar Power unit module teaches scholars how to conduct investigations and the steps for scientific inquiry and experimentation. To begin, young scientists conduct two probes to...
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Inquiry in Action: Fifth Grade Chapter 5 - Engineering Design
Inquiry in Action: Fifth Grade Chapter 5 - Engineering Design is comprised of a single project-based assessment. The assessment helps highlight the importance of prior knowledge as individuals design a floatation device for a cell phone....
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Inquiry in Action: Fifth Grade Chapter 4 - Mass is Conserved in Physical and Chemical Change
Chapter 4 in the Inquiry in Action series for fifth graders consists of a single, hands-on lesson. To verify that mass remains the same, learners measure the mass of substances before and after melting, dissolving, and undergoing a...
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Inquiry in Action: Fifth Grade Chapter 3 - Substances Can Mix and React to Form New Substances
Fifth-graders experiment with substances that can mix, react, and combine to form new substances using hands-on lessons. In the first lesson, pupils observe how different substances react to form different amounts of gas, leading to a...
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Inquiry in Action: Fifth Grade Chapter 2 - Substances Have Characteristic Properties
The five lessons in Chapter 2 ask fifth graders to use their observation skills to identify substances. They dissolve known and unknown substances to determine the identity of the mystery substances. Next, learners investigate the...
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Inquiry in Action: Fifth Grade Chapter 1 - Matter is Made of Tiny Particles
Four lesson plans investigate all phases of matter and provide pupils with hands-on experiences that demonstrate that all matter is made of tiny particles. First, scholars explore solutes and solvents. Using candies and water, they...
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Inquiry in Action: Kindergarten Chapter 1 - Investigating the Weather
To understand what makes it rain, young meteorologists use tiny drops of water on a laminated drawing of a cloud. To investigate why puddles dry up, they make a one-drop puddle on their hand and observe the water evaporate. Scholars also...
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Inquiry in Action: Second Grade Chapter 6 - Atoms
Inquiry in Action: Second Grade Chapter 6 – Atoms begins with young experimenters using Snap Cubes to model a larger object created from smaller parts. Then, investigators view an interactive video describing the chemical structure of...
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Inquiry in Action: Second Grade Chapter 5 - Heating and Cooling
The first of two lessons in the Inquiry in Action: Second Grade Chapter 5 - Heating and Cooling unit is a hands-on instructional activity that allows learners to experiment with melting and freezing butter to observe changes as substance...
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Inquiry in Action: Second Grade Chapter 4 - Float and Sink
Chapter four in the Inquiry in Action module has learners explore what objects sink and float in water. In the inquiry-based lesson plan, young scientists conduct experiments to find similarities between float materials and those that sink.
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Inquiry in Action: Second Grade Chapter 3 - Dissolving is a Property
Inquiry in Action: Second Grade Chapter 3 - Dissolving is a Property presents a hands-on instructional activity that has learners explore the dissolving properties of candies in water. They complete an activity guide to record...
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Inquiry in Action: Second Grade Chapter 2 - Liquids Have Properties
A lesson in Inquiry in Action: Second Grade Chapter 2 looks at the properties of liquids. Learners conduct different property tests on water, mineral oil, and corn syrup using a student activity guide. They record their results and use...
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Inquiry in Action: Second Grade Chapter 1 - Properties of Materials
Four lessons comprise the first chapter in the Inquiry in Action Unit module. Sorting objects by properties is an instructional activity in justification. Second graders examine the properties of specific items and use them to classify...
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Vaccine Makers Project: Elementary Lessons
Two lessons introduce youngsters to vaccines and vaccine makers. The first lesson in the module asks learners to research and complete a graphic organizer that showcases the differences between a virus and bacteria. Groups then research...
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A Community Powered by Renewable Energy
Renewable energy is the focus of a seven-part environmental science unit for middle and high schoolers. Lessons challenge students to look closely at the type of energy they consume in their home, examine the regulations and limitations...
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When I Grow Up: Career Lessons and Activities for Grades 6-8
The "When I Grow Up" series features 13 math, science, and career exploration lessons and activities for middle schoolers. Pupils choose a profession based on their strengths and interests, then complete a handout that identifies their...
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Experimenting with Solar Heaters
As part of a STEM renewable energy series, middle schoolers design a standard solar heater. First, they create a simple solar heater to measure the temperature change in a vial of water, then calculate the heat energy transferred to the...
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Bioreactor Water Heating
Three hands-on STEM renewable energy activities lead learners through the concepts of solar and biomass heating and water pumping to design a water pumping system that uses multiple technologies to avoid water freezing in winter. They...
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On the Moon Educator Guide
The five lessons in NASA’s On the Moon Educator Guide challenge young engineers to design and build an air-powered rocket, a shock-absorbing system to protect two marshmallow astronauts, and a rubber band-powered rover. In addition, they...
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His Soul Goes Marching On: The Life and Legacy of John Brown
His Soul Goes Marching On: The Life and Legacy of John Brown looks at an event that became an important part of United States history. The seven resources cover the raid, John Brown's life, his reactions to the event, as well as news...
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Space-Based Astronomy Educator Guide
The Space-Based Astronomy Educator Guide teaches middle schoolers about the Earth’s atmosphere, the electromagnetic spectrum, and telescopes. Divided into units of study, including science demonstrations, lesson plans, and worksheets,...