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TE Activity: Testing the Caverns
Students make model caverns out of paper mache or clay. They bury them in a tray of sand, and test the models by dropping balls into them simulating as asteroid hitting the earth. They discuss the results of the activity in a whole class...
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Clay Sculpture: Relationships
Learners explore art history by conducting an in-class activity. In this sculpting instructional activity, students examine previously created art sculptures in a textbook. Learners utilize clay, sculpting tools and grey paper to create...
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Planet Sun Catchers
Students create suncatchers that resemble planets using recycled plastic lids.
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Very Hungry Caterpillar
Students explore the life cycle of a butterfly. For this life cycle lesson, students read the book the Very Hungry Caterpillar. Students use this book throughout the year to create a year round bulletin board showing the stages of the...
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Igneous Rocks
Second graders examine how igneous rocks are formed by watching a video. They create a volcano.
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Aerosol Lesson: Language Arts
Students construct a model of a volcano. They read "NASA Facts Atmospheric Aerosols" and discuss the impacts of volcanic eruptions. They write informative essays about how aerosols impact the Earth.
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Moving Along With Simple Machines: Introduction
Students observe examples of gravity, friction, and force on the playground. They then experiment and participate in a variety of activities in centers back in the classroom.
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Two Views of the Universe
Students build the two models of the universe created by Aristotle and Copernicus. They compare and contrast the two universes. They create hypothesis on how each model functions.
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Sense of Place: No River Too Wide-Bridges
Fifth graders discover the history of their hometown Des Moines River. In this U.S. Geography lesson students speak with Iowans that tell stories of the settlers and early villages near the Des Moines River. Students document their...
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Earth and Space Science: Let it Flow
Students engage in a lesson in which volcanoes be explored and examined. After watching a video, students create volcanoes out of clay.
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Geological Pyrotechnics
Students will be amazed at the wonders of volcanoes and learn about their characteristics as they build these models.
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The Ocean Floor - Science
Students draw a quick plan of an ocean floor as seen from the side; including the edge of a continent, a continental shelf, a continental slope, a basin, a trench, and a range. They require their definitions to do this.
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The Ocean Floor -- Science
Students work together to create a model of the ocean floor. They practice using new vocabulary associated with the ocean floor as well. They share their model with the class.
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"I have a Bone to Pick With You"
Second graders explore dinosaur classifications and how animals of long ago became extinct. They conduct research, classify dinosaurs, and in small groups, develop a name of a new dinosaur, create a poster, and present the information to...
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Ant City
Students develop an ant colony that adults and children can visit. Students create different areas including places where tourists can view live ants, play ant games, research facts about ants, and create ant art. Students serve as...
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There's Gotta Be An Angle
Students examine the external variables that affect a downhill skier in the quest for speed. They access websites imbedded in this plan to become ski teams competing against one another. Each team presents results of all experiments.
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Desert Water Keepers
Third graders identify ways that cactus plants survive in the desert. They distinguish between water acquisition and water conservation and create their own plant that could survive in a desert climate.
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Ribbit-Ouch!
Students investigate the anatomy of a frog using a virtual dissection tool in order to study the structures and organ as they relate to other animals.
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Igneous Rocks
Second graders examine igneous rocks in this lesson. They discuss the rock cycle and how rocks form. They also explore volcanic activities and build their own volcano.
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Adapting to Seasonal Changes in the Environment
Fourth graders discuss how plants and animals, including humans, adapt to climate and seasonal changes. They research the Colville people, and create dioramas that represent life during different seasons for Colville people.
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Plotting the Ocean Floor
Fourth graders plot points on a graph, connect the dots to make the ocean floor profile and label the topographical features. They utilize a worksheet and a website imbedded in this plan to plot the ocean floor.
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Plate Tectonics: Surface and Subsurface Processes
Eighth graders explore the geological process of plate tectonics. In this plate tectonic activity, 8th graders design, construct and present a working model of a plate tectonics concept. This activity includes a rubric, worksheets, and 2...
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Put on a Happy Face!
Students explore using recycled materials. In this ecology/art lesson, students use recycled materials to create a Halloween mask. Students view folk art made of natural and available resources, and discuss possible cultural uses for...
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Scale Models to Planet Size
Learners consider the comparative sizes of the planets in the solar system. In this scale lesson, students select balls of different sizes to represent the planets in the solar system.