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The State of the Planet
Pupils address four different environmental topics (water issues, the threat of food shortages, human population growth, and global warming) as they watch a film and discuss the future of the earth. In groups, they complete various...
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Light Plants and Dark Plants, Wet Plants and Dry Ones
Young scholars plant sunflower seeds in plastic cups, and once germinated, these are exposed to different conditions of light levels and/or soil moisture contents. Students measure growth of the seedlings every few days using...
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Defining Drought
High schoolers examine the hydrologic impacts of drought. They look at drought from a variety of prespectives. Students first focus on the scientific definition of drought, including weather patterns, water cycles, water requirements by...
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Down, Dung and Dirty
Students investigate the stages of succession in animal dung communities. They create a dung culture using fresh cow, goat or horse dung then record data on the fungal species that appear over a two week period.
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I Don't Think We're in Kansas Anymore (Grades 2-5)
Young scholars give examples of erosion and weathering processes. They determine causes of America's Dust Bowl phenomena.Students define erosion as the condition in which the earth's surface is worn away by the action of water and wind.
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BATS: NEED NECTAR, WILL TRAVEL
Students play the role of nectar feeding bats on their annual migration
and try to avoid the different hazards that hinder their progress. They describe the annual migration of long-nosed bats including key elements such as: where the...
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Soil In The Amazon
Students grow plants in soil representing that found in the Amazon basin. They compare results to plants growing in fertile soil and soil fertilized with leaf compost. Students chart, average and graph plant growth by height.
Students...
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California Indians
Fourth graders discuss the major nations of California Indians, their geographic distribution, economic activities, legends and religious beliefs. They describe the function of Spanish missions and the influence of Catholicism. In...
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Tread Lightly: Where We Stand
Learners explore the concept of ecological footprints. In this environmental stewardship lesson, students calculate their ecological footprints and consider how to reduce them.
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Pre-K Appetizer
Students understand there are healthy and not healthy food choices. In this food pyramid lesson, students learn to make healthy choices by playing a traffic light game. Students recognize raw foods from the farm may not be ready for...
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At Home on the Range
Fifth graders complete a worksheet. For this bison and great plains lesson, 5th graders read information about bison and complete a worksheet of comprehension questions. Students locate the American Great Plains on a map and answer the...
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Creeping and Crawling Observing Mealworms and Earthworms
Fifth graders observe mealworms and earthworms. In this mealworm and earthworm lesson, 5th graders complete an experiment in which they observe the life cycle and living conditions of mealworms and earthworms. They experiment with...
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Exploring the USA and the World with Cartograms
Students investigate cartograms in order to explore the different countries on Earth. In this world geography lesson, students use the Internet to analyze data on different cartograms. Students compare data, such as population density,...
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Mobile Phones
Investigate how mobile phones impact their lives through this technology lesson that has students discuss the history of the cell phone and research how cell phones are being used in third world countries. Students create a blog for new...
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What's a Swamp Good For?
Students identify the function and value of wetlands. In this instructional activity on appreciating wetlands, students explain how different household items can represent different aspects of the wetlands.
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How a Seed Grows: And Who Grows It
Second graders explore botany by viewing video clips in class. In this seed growth lesson, 2nd graders identify the types of seeds that grow specific plants and what the optimal conditions are for growing seeds. Students view a video...
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Water Tank Mural
Students evaluate visual arts by creating a mural on campus. In this symbolism lesson, students research famous artists on the Internet and examine the impact their work has had on society. Students create murals around their school...
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What's In Your Grocery Bag?
Students explore the global implications of consumer decisions when purchasing groceries. They examine labels of food products and discuss the wording on the labels. They calculate food miles of how far each ingredient in foods has...
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The History of Maple Syrup
Students explore the process of harvesting maple syrup. In this science and history instructional activity, students make their own maple syrup and create a picture book that shows the Native American and American pioneer methods of...
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Introduction to Measuring the Forest
Students investigate how much wood is in a forest. For this forestry lesson, students calculate how much usable wood comes from the forest. They will read, Sizing Things Up from Trees + Me = Forestry, measure firewood piles, and create a...
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Forest Forensics
Students explore forests. In this "forest forensic" lesson students divide into groups and go through the stations using their clues to solve the questions.
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What's a Tree Worth?
Students calculate the board footage of a tree. In this forestry lesson, students use a Biltmore tree scale stick to calculate the number of board feet that would be produced. They quantify the economic value of a tree from this...
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Fish Fact Rummy
Seventh graders study and explore the base of PA game fish species and characteristics. In this cooperative learning lesson students create a fish fact game by researching information on certain species then play it.
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Farm Animal Friends
Students apply basic communication and math skills to situations. They apply prior knowledge to list characteristics of different animals. They listen to music to engage multiple senses. Then images of animals are shared with them to...