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Current Topics in Biotechnology
Eleventh graders are introduced to the concept of biotechnology. Using the internet, they research the latest developments in this field and the tools used by biotechnologists. They share their information with the class and create a...
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There's a Watershed in my Backyard!
Students explain what the term watershed is by creating a model. For this science, geography lesson, students demonstrate how the water moves in a watershed. Additionally, students learn about point source and nonpoint source pollution....
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She Sells Sea Shells in Illinois??
Second graders sorted shells first by methods they thought appropriate and then were instructed on the scientific method of classification by univalve and bivalve. Students then sorted paper shells as a method of assessing knowledge. It...
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Our Savage Planet in the News
Students explore extreme earth phenomenons. In this savage planet lesson, students explore and report on various types of severe weather and earth phenomenons using the Internet, a word processor, or other multimedia device.
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Patterns In Time
Seventh graders examine fossils. In this vertebrate fossils instructional activity students view a demonstration.
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Humane Science Projects
In this science worksheet, middle schoolers examine the list of possible science projects. They look for the characteristics that set apart these ideas as humane.
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Tree Leaves: Determining the Characteristics They Share in Common
High schoolers use their basic knowledge of dendrology concepts and terms. In this tree leaf instructional activity students divide into groups and determine which characteristics go with what plant.
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Bugs in the Woods
Second graders identify insects and plants in the forest ecosystem in a structured field trip with stations and activity booklets. In this bugs lesson, 2nd graders explore the ecosystem of the forest, complete the booklet and play...
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QuickTime Science Project
Fifth graders divide into teams and select a simple science topic to explain and illustrate. They should pick a topic that they can illustrate with a very short (about 15-20 seconds) video clip, or QuickTime movie.
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Science: Avalanche!
Eighth graders examine avalanches after reading excerpts from John Muir's book, "The Yosemite." In small groups, they conduct experiments with flour, sugar, and potato flakes representing different snow consistencies. Then, 8th graders...
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Living in a Watershed
Fourth graders examine watersheds. In this ecosystem lesson, 4th graders discover what a watershed is and identify the local watershed they live in. Students investigate the attributes of a watershed as well.
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Critters in Your Own Backyard
Pupils identify various animals and their habitats, as well as their specific traits In this animal habitat instructional activity, students list animals they've seen in their backyard. Pupils select one animal and do research. Students...
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Biodiversity in Illinois-Pond Habitats
Second graders construct a pond habitat in the classroom using a small swimming pool partially filled with water, real cattails, a tree log adjoining, and plastic animal life appropriate to a pond setting. They examine the frog in detail...
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Science: Where the Worms Live
Learners build mine-earthworm habitats to discover their niche in them. They make predictions about what the niche looks like in a week and draw a picture of it. Students notice the tunnels in the soil and how the sand and dirt are now...
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Globe Skills Lesson 10 Apollo 11
Students develop their globe skills. For this geography skills lesson, students use a globe and a softball to replicate distance between the earth and its moon.
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Guided Reading "In the Night Sky"
Students participate in a variety of reading exercises, such as choral reading and reading response journal, to reinforce concepts about space and nocturnal animals.
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Understanding Distance in Space
Young scholars discover the vocabulary used for distances in space and review measurement units and instruments before creating a scale model of the planets. They determine how to calculate the relative distances between the planets...
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"In Like a Lion, Out Like a Lamb"
First graders listen to the story "Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs" by Judi Barrett. They discuss weather forecasting and create an art project to go with the saying about March weather: "In Like a Lion, Out Like a Lamb".
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Off the Grid
Students examine the advantages and disadvantages of renewable and non renewable energy sources. In this engineering lesson students explain what it means for a house to be "off the grid".
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Investigating Light
Students study concepts associated with light. In this light activity, students observe an demonstration by the teacher. They examine reflection and refraction of light and name things that reflect light and those that refract it. They...
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Audio Engineers: Sound Weavers
Students explore audio engineering. For this career education and "sound" science lesson, students define related vocabulary and make connections between the music they listen to and the job an audio engineer does after listening to...
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Clean Energy: Hydro-power
Students read about and discuss renewable and non renewable energy and identify how a dam produced energy using hydro-power. In this water energy lesson plan, students look at diagrams and pictures of water energy technology.
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Fantastic Fossils
Students learn about the kinds of fossils and what scientists can learn from them. In this earth science lesson, students are told how engineers and paleontologists work together. Then students create a "fossil fondue" and...
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Our Amazing, Powerful Sun
Students examine where energy comes from and how it can be used. In this solar energy lesson students explore different aspects of the sun.