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Radiation Reassessed
Students investigate the dangers of radiation by exploring recent nuclear tragedies. In this scientific debate lesson plan, students define the idea of radiation "half life" and determine if low doses of radiation are truly...
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Ecosystems - Plants and Animals Together
Students study the biotic and abiotic factors of an environment. In this exploratory lesson students examine the different trophic levels and how organisms are connected.
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What Do Snails Eat?
Students conduct a food choice experiment with snails, recording the results on a chart to determine what snails eat. In this what do snails eat lesson, students color a picture of snail anatomy, perform the experiment with 3 food...
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Planets in Balance
Students study the solar system by researching the planets. In this exploratory lesson students divide into teams and create mobiles.
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The Art of El Anasui: Creating a Mural with Discarded/Recycled Objects
Students create murals that feature recycled objects. In this West African art lesson, students examine artwork by El Anatsui and his commentary on social issues. Students then create murals in the style of El Anatsui using discarded...
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Microscopes: Is what you see, what you got?
Eighth graders identify the parts and functions of the microscope. In this biology lesson, 8th graders observe different samples under different types of microscopes. They compare and contrast the details they see.
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The Swinging Pendulum
Students observe a pendulum and graph their observation. In this algebra lesson, students use the TI calcualtor to graph the motion the pendulum makes. They analyze the graph and make predictions.
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It Wasn't a Bullet
Students explore U.S. history by researching disease in class. In this Civil War injury instructional activity, students identify the different causes of death most soldiers faced while fighting in the war. Students role-play and write a...
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How Can We Observe Genetic Variation Within a Species?
Students observe intra-species variation by completing standard microbial streaking procedures. They collect data from which they draw observations and complete a worksheet.
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Field Experiments on Succession
Student develop a hypothesis regarding the effects of either mowing or fertilizer upon the diversity of plant species in a grassland ecosystem. They set up experiment field plots and measure species richness.
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One, Two, Three. TMV
Students, in groups, design their own experiments to determine how the mode of application of the virus extract affects the various plants that students have grown from seed.
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Population Dynamics of Growth of Drosophila
Young scholars experiment with Drosophila to determine if density of female flies, food sources, temperature and light affect the population dynamics of growth. Students graph their data and compare their results to the number of human...
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Point of View and Scientific Truth
Learners investigate the mystery of the "destructive force." They explore the concepts of natural phenomena. Students discuss the limited aspects of natural phenomena and the "whole truth" to generate new hypotheses that can be tested.
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Population Dynamics of Growth of Drosophila
Students investigate population dynamics such as variation in density of females, composition of food sources an environmental factors such as light and temperature on Drosophila. They then relate their findings to human populations and...
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Liquid Logic: Experiments in Viscosity
Middle schoolers examine specific characteristics of liquids through a hands-on lab activity. An experiment with teacher prepared viscosity tubes is conducted in which liquid identities are predicted based on data. A hypothesis is...
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Jeannette
Students develop hypothesis about what might happen when salt water is frozen. In groups, they freeze ice samples with different salt concentrations. They use the internet to research the situation of the Jeannette to discover their...
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Can You Calculate the Speed of Your Pet?
Students analyze the formula for speed and velocity. They explore and demonstrate how to calculate the speed of wind up toy pets, average the speeds and identify the correct units of measure of speed.
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Responding to Alcohol: What's Important?
Students examine the effects on motor functions in mice. They make observations and graph their data. They analyze the data and draw conclusions in each of the three experiments.
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A Tasty Experiment
Students work together to determine if smell is important to being able to recongize food by taste. They try different foods with different textures and hold their nose. They create a graph of their results.
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Astronomy: Picture Time
Students investigate how to tell time by observing the placement of objects in the sky. Researching on the Internet, they locate the time for sunrise and sunset, the time the full moon rises, and the difference between clock and solar...
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Friction- What a Drag
Young scholars explore friction. In this friction lesson, students investigate that weight and surface type affect friction.
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Telegram from Senator Joseph McCarthy to President Harry S. Truman
Students research Senator Joseph McCarthy's February 9, 1950 speech, given at Wheeling, West Virginia, in which he claimed more than 200 State Department employees were members of the Communist Party.
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A Worm World
Students maintain a compost bin and build a worm observatory. They design experiments relating to worms and record observations in a worm journal.
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Investigating Motion, Forces, and Energy Lab Book
Eighth graders create their own experiements using toy trucks, cars or balls to measure the time it takes two of them to travel 5 meters, as well as at each 1 meter interval. They make use computers to make a time/distance graph and...