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Environment: Understanding Change
Students predict changes that will occur in the environemt after trees are cut down around a house. They focus on changes in the hydrosphere, geosphere, biosphere, and atmosphere. By examining the rings in a tree's trunk, they...
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Endangered Species and Extinction
Fourth graders explore endangered species and extinction. They discuss and write three reasons why it is important to save animals from becoming endangered or extinct. They discuss The Great Kapok Tree and write a letter discussing...
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Bringing Forestry into the Classroom
Here are ways to incorporate science, math, and language arts while learning more about the forests that sustain us.
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Earth Day and "The Lorax" Lesson Plans
Earth Day can be a way for students to explore their relationship to the world around them and read great literature like "The Lorax."
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Sustainability and Extinction
Galapagos Penguins are the only penguins on earth that live north of the equator (in the wild). In this last lesson plan a discussion on how the Galapagos islands developed their populations and diversity sparks the introduction. Two...
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Lesson 4: Fire, Rock, and Water
You can demonstrate the destructive force of volcanic mudflows to your early earth scientists using this lesson plan. Messy, but memorable, the two demonstrations require some preparation. Use one or both! Included is a link to activity...
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Volcanoes!: Forecasting the Path of Mudflows
Students construct a mockup of a volcano by crumbling up newspapers and piling them into the shape of a volcano. They place a tarp over the newspapers making sure the tarp is large enough to simulate a flat area at the volcano's base....
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Using Imagery To Introduce the Endocrine System
Young scholars listen with closed eyes to a story that starts in a relaxed tone and ends in a scream. They list the body reactions they experience: fast heart rate, shaking, etc. and hypothesize the reason for the reactions. They explore...
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Singing for the Animals
Students examine the correct attitudes and poster for a concert. In this "Singing for Animals" lesson plan, students created charts to diagram information about the homeless animals they were singing for. Students used correct diction...
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Amazon Water Cycle Role Play
Students participate in a role play where they play clouds, the ocean, rain drops, and more in order to learn about the water cycle. In this water cycle lesson plan, students have discussions and learn vocabulary.
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Animal Signs
Students discuss the many different types of animal signs that can be used to identify and track animals. They participate in an hands-on activity in which they examine tracks, trails, homes, territory markings, and even "scat" left by...
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Concern + Action = Clean Air Solutions
Learners participate in a service project about improving air quality. In this air quality instructional activity, students understand the problems and solutions for improvement of air quality issues. Learners discuss and choose an air...
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Guidebook
Students create a guidebook page about a plant on the school grounds. In this life and plant science lesson, students identify plants around the school, then research the plant and write a narrative about it. Students publish the book...
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The Miracle Resource - From Forest to Products
Young scholars create a collage of wood products labeled by type of wood product. In this product engineering lesson, students work in groups to find pictures of solid wood products, engineered wood products, wood pulp, paper products,...
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Using Imaginary to Introduce the Endocrine System
Students examine the functions of the endocrine system. In this body protective systems lesson students identify body reactions, define terms and complete an activity.
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Quick-Change Flip Book
Students create flip books that illustrate the growth and change of a plant or an animal as it goes through its life cycle.
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Plants
Students identify and label parts of a plant. They will construct a plant from art material and describe the purpose of each part for the plants survival. Students author a book with pictures and words or a story about a plant.
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Nature Tribute
Students explore parts of nature. In this environmental lesson plan, students discuss how their actions can affect the environment and design a plan to clean up a specified area. Students practice good hygiene during the cleanup project.
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The Earth's Rain Forests
Students study the importance of the world's rain forests. In this rain forest lesson, students read about the role of the rain forests in the world's environment. Students then write a formal letter to a member of Congress or Senate...
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Steps for Taking a Cutting for Your Own Forest at Home
Students study renewable and nonrenewable resources and take a hardwood cutting. In this hands on activity students learn what rooting hormones are, how they generate roots and then take their own cutting and root it.
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Night Hike
Learners explore Upham Woods at night and investigate about the special adaptations of nocturnal animals. They identify three nocturnal animals and how they are adapted to the night. Students explain what night vision is and how it works.
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John Muir in California
Fourth graders listen to key events in John Muir's life and plot locations on a California map. They discover that John Muir was an immigrant to California who encountered environmental problems and found solutions.
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Treasure Hunt
Learners actively search a the ground outside and find several types of leaves, lichen, feathers and trash. They place items into journals, write entries, draw pictures and ask questions about the items found on their exploration.
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Fire, Rock and Water Volcanoes!
Students participate in a demonstration that helps them visualize mudflows and how they move. In this exploratory lesson students simulate a mudflow and create an avalanche.