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Plate Tectonics
Learners research separate elements of the theory of Plate Tectonics, then share that information with each other, drawing conclusions from the culminated information.
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Turning the Air Upside Down
Students analyze how engineers study temperature inversions and convection currents to understand why pollution levels may be higher in some areas than others. They participate in an experiment that allows them to build simple models to...
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Exploring Local Architecture
Young scholars examine how to shade a picture of a building. In this sketching a local abbey, students compare an abbey to their Church to find the differences in the architecture. Young scholars practice techniques of shading their...
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Weather, Sea Level Rise and Climate Change Course
Students explain the impact of glacial melting to global climate change. In this environmental science lesson, students design an experiment to investigate the effect of salinity change to melting glaciers. They share their results to...
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Tracking El Nino Conditions
Students identify major changes in ocean temperatures during an El Nino season. In this climate lesson students complete an Internet assignment using datasets to determine periods of El Nino.
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Miller-Urey Experiment Amino Acids & The Origins of Life on Earth
Students study the Miller-Urey Experiment including its history and criticism. In this origins of life lesson students repeat this experiment to see how it works.
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The Greenhouse Effect in a Jar
Students explore climate change by participating in a physical science experiment. In this greenhouse effect lesson plan, students discuss the impact global warming has on our environment and how it works. Students utilize a glass jar,...
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Wonders of Weather
Students understand the destructive force of a tornado. They learn the role of a thunderstorm in the creation of a tornado.
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Water Cycle Drama
Students explore the water cycle. In groups, students choose a card and then pantomime the picture depicted on the card. Other group members guess the name of the cycle being performed. As a class, students share the numerous ways each...
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Earth System Science
Students explore the Earth and its ability to support life. They discuss the geosphere and the water cycle and complete the Water Wonders activity. After completing the activity, they respond in their journals and reflect upon the...
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Formation of Rain
Students sequence the steps leading to the formation of rain, and design a model to represent these steps. This task assesses students' abilities to classify, generalize, infer, interpret and communicate data, and construct a pictorial...
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The Nitrogen Cycle
Students design and create a compost pile in order to study the Nitrogen Cycle. They then use the scientific method to determine if plants grow better when they add organic matter from their compost pile to the plant's soil.
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Twisting the Air Away - The Coriolis Effect
Students examine the Coriolis Effect and its effects on the different hemispheres. In this Earth science instructional activity students divide into groups to they make predictions. Students then complete an activity to explore...
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Water Pollution
Students study four samples of "rain water". They asked to determine the pH of the samples and then to neutralize them. Students are asked to predict any negative effects which might be associated with water having a low pH and to...
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Water-Holding Capacity
High schoolers design and conduct an experiment to compare the water-holding capacity of sand, soil, and moss. They measure the change in weight for each material after adding the same amount of water to each material.
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Science Italian Style: Eruption!
Young scholars explore ways scientists prepare for a volcanic eruption. They observe films of earthquakes, oil spills, volcanoes and hurricanes. Students perform activities to demonstrate the relationship of viscosity to lava flow. ...
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Frozen Film
Students discover how light reflects off surfaces. In this hands-on demonstration, students examine how variations in color are produced by light interference.
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Snowfall
Young scholars examine the differences between snow and rain. In this precipitation lesson, students measure one inch of rain and snow to calculate the amount of liquid water. Young scholars use a snowfall "conversion" chart to measure...
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The Water Cycle Game
Students study the path and forms of water through Earth. In this water cycle lesson, students role-play water as it moves throughout the Earth. Students play the water cycle game and complete various stations to learn about water forms...
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Water, Water Everywhere
Students explore water. In this water cycle lesson, students conduct a scientific investigation that requires build a terrarium models of the earth. Students record their observations of the changes regarding water in the terrarium.
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The Water Cycle
Students explore the water cycle. In this water cycle lesson, students experiment with a variety of activities to discover what happens during the water cycle. Students create their own animated versions of the water cycle using...
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Keep Your Eye on the Sky
Students examine the different types of satellites, cloud formations and weather patterns. In this weather lesson students use the Internet to research weather satellites, then write an article and create graphs.
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Drifting Continents, Dynamic Results
Students plot earthquake and volcano data using a Compass Rose Plotting. They explain the relationship between plate movement and connection. They draw conclusions that earthquakes and volcanoes occur in predictable locations.
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The Biological Carbon Cycle
Students learn about the biological carbon cycle. In this carbon cycle activity, students access the web site and mouse over the diagrams to follow the carbon cycle. They read about what happens to humans and plants during this cycle.