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Boning Up on Fossil Features
Learners investigate a specific dinosaur; produce a poster relating what is known or speculated about where and how the dinosaur lived to the physical features of the dinosaur.
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Robo-Lobster
Introduce environmental science or engineering explorers to different forms of sampling. They read an article about "Robo-lobsters," lobsters being studied to help design robots that can used to sniff out pollution in ocean waters. The...
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Forensic Detectives: Archaeology at Work
Dig in! Middle schoolers learn about archaeology by exploring the remnants of the Chiribaya bodies found in Illinois. Compare archaeological investigations, and then write a mystery detailing the discovery of a body! Consider bringing in...
NASA
Einstein and His Times
Scholars research and present on the historical happenings of 1919. After sharing their findings, pupils debate about how Congress dealt with the moral issues of the time. The evaluation asks learners to write a persuasive...
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Podcasting: Sharing Your Ideas About Featured Topics and Issues
Learners investigate podcasting. They read an article related to podcasting. Students access a podcast and using various features such as pausing, rewinding, and fast-forwarding. They work in small groups to produce an original...
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Polar Adventure: Read All About It!
Students investigate reports of an adventure to the North Pole or the South Pole and then chronicle it by writing a newspaper article or making a timeline. The focus is placed on a recent or historic expedition to the region selected.
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Biome Exchange - Send the "Stuff" Not The Kids
Students exchange ecological information with students from different geographic biomes. They box up the "unique ecologically significant features" of their area, send the box to another class in another area and then receive a similar...
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Rainforest Relationships
Students provided with opportunities to explore the animals and plant life that coexist in the various layers of the tropical rainforest. They appreciate the diversity of life in each layer. Students write a report on a particular plant,...
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Cricket Times
Students design a class newspaper all about their study of crickets, including illustrations and various sections of the newspaper, like sports, jokes, articles, food, and reviews. Students create a plan to design a cricket from food...
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About Life: The Photographs of Dorothea Lange Going to the Promised Land
To better understand the migrant experience during the Great Depression, pupils analyze two primary resources: photographs by Dorothea Lange and a U.S. Map that shows the Dust Bowl. They compare and contrast Lange's images to Steinbeck's...
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Seeing Stars
Students explore the history of planetariums and the features of the Hayden Planetarium as a springboard to planning, developing and displaying their own planetarium exhibits.
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West Climate Change
Students read an internet article about hurricanes. For this hurricane lesson, students explain how they form and the damage they bring. They analyze the article and answer questions about it.
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The Drill on the Spill: Learning About the Gulf Oil Leak in the Lab
Students research the Gulf of Mexico oil spill and complete experiments to study the effects of oil spills. In this oil spill activity, students read the NY Times feature on the gulf oil spill. Students visit various links to research...
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Inspired Science
Students explore the process of invention from an inventor's conception and as a factor of history. They are shown how inventions evolve and how inventions influence the world around them Students chart the inception and affects of a...
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Singing in the H2O
Students compose new lyrics to the tune of a popular song in order to teach and explain a challenging science concept being studied in class.
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Rainforests
Students watch a video about the rainforest and create a large wall mural of rainforest features. Students write a first person point of view article by an endangered rainforest animal and discuss logging.
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Ancient Animals
Learners explore ancient rock art in Arkansas. Through discussion, research, and hands on activities, they identify the animals and stylized features of rock art found in Arkansas. Students identify the various habitats of he animals...
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Surrounded by Radiation
Students explore ways in which people are constantly exposed to naturally occurring and man-made sources of radiation. They create and play a board game featuring different hypothetical scenarios of radiation exposure.
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Build Your Own Bug
Students create a unique bug. In this lesson about bugs, students use their imagination to develop a new kind of bug. Students use construction paper, scissors, glue, and crayons to make their bug. Students explore the different parts of...
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What's the Connection?
High schoolers explain hardground communities in the Gulf of Mexico. In this deep-sea ecosystem lesson, students investigate the connection between deep-sea ecosystems and petroleum deposits. They discuss the relationship between...
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At The Site Of The Quake
Students research and design an educational earthquake Web site, using the current disaster in Afghanistan as a starting point. They begin by reading and discussing As Many as 2,000 Feared Dead in Afghan Earthquakes which is imbedded in...
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I, Robot by Isaac Asimov
Students contemplate the questions raised by the book/movie I, Robot. In this theoretical physics lesson plan, students consider the pros and cons as well as the possibility of robots that can think.
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In a Class of Their Own
Students explore taxonomy and how birds are classified in this scientific system. They use this knowledge to create entries for a field guide to birds that can be used to identify different species.
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Water: Read All About It!
Students discuss newspapers and water and work in groups to develop their own paper focusing on water issues. In this journalism lesson plan, students discuss the value of newspapers and water as an issue. They work as a group to develop...