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Personal Ecosystem
Students build an aquatic ecosystem using large glass pickle jars. In this ecology instructional activity, students build and ecosystem then observe and collect data on the habitats. In this long term project students observe a...
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Thermal Stratification
High schoolers use video, research and experiments to investigate and replicate thermal stratification in a lab. They prepare a report, poster or multimedia presentation showing the results of their work.
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Dirty Decomposers
Students explore the ecosystem by conducting a ziploc bag experiment. In this recycling lesson, students identify decomposer organisms in our environment and how they speed up the recycling process. Students utilize a ziploc plastic bag,...
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Missing Macroinvertebrates
High schoolers investigate the concept of a macroinvertebrate. They observe the presence of increases or decreases in population in order to test for factors that contribute to the extinction of a species. Students predict the likelihood...
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Investigating How Pollutants Travel Through Groundwater
Students determine how pollutants can travel though sediment and explore methods of pollutant removal. They conduct an experiment on porosity and permeability of soils and simulate an EPA "pump and treat" method for removing subsurface...
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Benthic Macroinvertebrates
Students survey and describe a stream ecosystem. They sample the benthic macroinvertebrate populations of a given stream and determine community structure through the use of the Chandler Index and a species diversity index.
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Fish and Oxygen
Students explore what factors affect population dynamics, identify factors affecting fish populations, and use Stella to model how dissolved oxygen affects fish populations.
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Urban Impact on Chollas Creek (California): A Field Study
Students, in groups, take samples from a creek and keep a field journal on their samples. They also perform tests on their samples.
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Reservoir Activity
Learners research the economic importance of the major reservoirs in Illinois. In groups, they manage a budget for one of the lakes to promote tourism in the area. They also work together to create advertisements.
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Life's Big Questions: Where Did Life Come From?
Learners explore the life forms that live in the hot springs of Yellowstone. They examine how microscopic creatures can survive in these extreme conditions. Students perform experiments to observe growth samples and demonstrate how a...
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Math and Science in a Wetland
Young scholars use scientific methods during field and lab investigations. Students collect specimens and make measurements using the metric system. Young scholars describe biotic and abiotic factors in an estuary and design a model.
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Whose Breakfast isn't for the Birds?
Learners explore coffee production. In this cross-curriculum rainforest ecology instructional activity, students research regions where coffee comes from and investigate how the native birds in the rainforest are effected by coffee...
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Learning From Leaves: A Look at Leaf Size
Students measure and analyze leaves from various environments. They discuss the environments, and make inferences about environmental variables that could have contributed to the differences in leaf size and texture.
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Dirty Decomposers
Seventh graders design and conduct experiments to determine what environmental factors favor decomposition by soil microbes. They use chunks of carrot for the materials to be decomposed, and their experiments are carried out in plastic...
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TIES MSEE Sensor Lesson Plan
Students explain how a sensor works. In this technology lesson plan, students determine the air quality around their school. They record observations and share results to class.
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Pollution Solution
Fourth graders examine how trees help to absorb the pollution that is emitted from automobiles. They review the process of photosynthesis and determine how forest management is important on their reservation. They think about the...