Lesson Plan
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Dinosaurs

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Students are introduced to the various types of dinosaurs and write in their journals about their favorite one. After listening to a story and watching a filmstrip, they color a few pages in their Dinosaur Friends Book. They also examine...
Lesson Plan
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Fossil Fuels: Facing the Issues

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students explore energy by researching fuel usage on Earth. In this fossil fuel lesson plan, students define fossil fuels, the energy created by burning them, and the impact on the environment when using them. Students conduct pollution...
Lesson Plan
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Case of the Missing Pumpkin

For Teachers K - 8th
Students explore the process of decomposition. In this science lesson plan, students carve a pumpkin and observe as it decomposes. Students compare the changes to an uncarved pumpkin. Students write about the disappearing pumpkin.
Lesson Plan
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Make a Refrigerator

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders explore the concept of heat transfer as experienced in wearing winter clothing and analyzing the refrigerator.
Lesson Plan
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Photosynthesis Explored

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students observe the production of gas as an effect of photosynthesis. For this biology lesson, students perform an experiment with pondweed and make measurements and predictions about photosynthesis and the plant.
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Carbon Cycle Game

For Teachers 6th - 8th
In this carbon cycle lesson, middle schoolers review the carbon cycle and visit stations in the room where they experience every phase in the carbon cycle. Students journal about their journey through the cycle and brainstorm ways...
Lesson Plan
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Rock Cycles, Crayon Cycles

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students examine the rock cycle and the path that rocks go through to rearranged in different ways. They define key vocabulary terms, then in small groups conduct a variety of experiments using crayon shavings as simulated rocks and...
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Characteristics of Snakes and Turtles

For Teachers 1st - 4th
Young scholars examine the characteristics of snakes and turtles and compare/contrast reptiles with mammals. They watch a video, answer discussion questions, complete information charts, conduct Internet research, and create a habitat...
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Earth Day

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Learners participate in activities that familiarize them with what Earth Day is, why it is important, and why it is a celebration.
Lesson Plan
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Funky Fungus

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students discuss decomposition, bacteria, fungi and other microscopic organisms. They participate in an experiment to grow fungus on bread. As the fungus colonies grow, students observe them under a microscope to identify and locate...
Lesson Plan
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Investigating Local Ecosystems

For Teachers K - 2nd
Learners observe a local area for living organisms and their habitats.  In this local ecosystems lesson, students complete an online field journal.  Learners share their findings and sort them into categories. Students visit a...
Lesson Plan
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Starfish

For Teachers Pre-K - K
Students explore the concept of starfish.  In this starfish lesson plan, students identify the parts of a starfish and how their body works. Students create a starfish using paint and a cornmeal mixture.  They then glue on...
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Acid Rain

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students investigate acid rain. For this environmental lesson, students participate in an experiment using litmus paper and various liquids and then test the acidity of the liquids. Students identify reasons why acid is harmful to the...
Lesson Plan
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Science in the Garden

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students examine soil from their local environment.  In this garden lesson, students recognize the importance of soil in the garden. Students explore the contents of the local soil.
Lesson Plan
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What does 'Endangered' mean?

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Students discuss a variety of teacher led discussion questions about what makes an animal endangered. They take a short field trip to an open area and set a boundary for each child for them to either write or draw about how the location...
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DID YOU HELP CREATE THIS

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students examine whether their actions are positively or negatively affecting organisms and their habitats. They choose an animal to study then create a multimedia presentation including charts and graphs of data logger information and...
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The Web Of Life - Overlapping Food Chains

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students perform an activity in which they discover what happens when food chains overlap in an ecosystem and discover the three components of a food web.
Lesson Plan
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WORM WATCHING

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Young scholars investigate how earthworms help build good soil. They examine the worms carefully to find the ringlike segments and swollen band at the front of the earthworm's body. Students take turns dampening the soil every day and...
Lesson Plan
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Good Guys or Bad Guys

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders complete a variety of activities to explore both positive and negative effects of microorganisms. They, in groups, engage in a series of experiments which illustrate the effects of certain molds.
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Hide & Seek Butterflies

For Teachers K
Students examine a variety of butterflies and discuss how they believe they get their color variations. In groups, they brainstorm the advantages and disadvantages of their color schemes. To end the lesson, they watch butterflies in...
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Environmental Education

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders examine how their choices affect the environment. They identify different types of pollution and its source. They ask questions to end the lesson.
Lesson Plan
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Our Schoolsyard is Full of Biology

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students study the habitats found in their schoolyard. They apply firsthand, what they have learned in the classroom to something familiar to them. Students look at biotic, abiotic habitats. Small groups will present their findings to...
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Love of Learning

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders discuss times when learning has been fun and when it hasn't. They imagine that the are going for a ride in an aeroplane. Students imagine that they are looking through the window at the land below, they see the uneven shape...
Lesson Plan
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Agriculture is a Cycle

For Teachers 1st - 5th Standards
What do a bicycle and the life cycle have in common? Cover this and more with the series of cross-curricular activities included in this plan. Learners do everything from making bracelets that represent the life cycle to checking out the...