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Making Paper
Students brainstorm why trees are important to humans and the value of forests. They then participate in making paper in class. They may decorate the paper adding glitter, dried flowers, etc.
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Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Fourth graders discover the differences between: reduce, reuse, and recycle by performing hands on examinations. They list what would happen to the soil if we allowed the earth to wash away and briefly discuss the meaning of erosion.
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Mapping a Refuge
Students record observations gathered while at a national wildlife refuge. In this lesson on wildlife refuges, students choose an observation spot and record seasonal changes throughout the year.
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Insect Food Chain & Camouflage
Students use art work to demonstrate their understanding of the insect food chain and their ability to camouflage themselves. In this insect food chain and camouflage lesson, students determine what type of animals feed on insects. They...
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Learning From Leaves: From Observation to Inference
Young scholars examine the adaptation of plants to their environments. They analyze and observe the structure, shape, and internal structure of various leaves, and make inferences about the structures.
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Classified Information - Part 1: Shapes
Third graders investigate how and why scientists use classification. They discuss classification strategies using animals, and as a class fill in a flowchart with their responses. Next, in small groups they cut out a variety of shapes...
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Population Explosion Relay
Students study the concepts of seed dispersal, germination rate, exponential population growth, and predation by engaging in a bean 'weeds vs. natives' relay race. They illustrate how weeds out-compete other plants for space by crowding...
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The Desert Biome
Students create a visual presentation of the characteristics of a biome. Working in small groups, students use traditional and online resources to gather data concerning biomes. Students use their information to create a bulletin board...
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De-composers - Terrarium
Learners explore the environment by building a mock ecosystem. In this rainforest analysis lesson, students define many environmental and rainforest related vocabulary terms and discuss the current status of our planet's rainforests....
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Life in Sahara
Students explore the geography of the Sahara region of Africa and identify characteristics of a desert habitat. They explore the culture of the people living there and how it has adapted to desert life.
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Spring of Life
Young scholars explore Florida's springs using video segments. In this video lesson, students examine Florida's springs ecosystem, the animals that live there and the red tide that threatens the environment. The lesson includes...
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Pollution Solutions
Pupils visit a local park to test the quality of the aquatic environments. They search for sources of pollution and examples of pollution control. Based on their obeservations and experiments, they rate their local environment.
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Web of Life Game
Middle schoolers participate in a web of life game. After reviewing new vocabulary, they play each round of the game and discuss the changes that occured in the last round. They are to survive in the game as long as possible given the...
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Pio, Pio, Que Frio
Students investigate the characteristics of living things. They determine that different organisms have different needs and describe and compare them. They draw and verbally respond about their favorite animal.
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Plankton
Students research phytoplankton and zooplankton. In this food chain lesson, students read This is the Sea That Feeds Us and discuss plankton, food chains, and webs. Students define phytoplankton and compare them to land plants....
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Species at Risk: Recovery Teams to the Rescue!
Sixth graders discuss how certain species and plants are deemed endangered. They work together in conservation recovery teams to research an endangered species. Then they explore efforts to make sure that the existence of these species...
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Determining the Percolation Rate of Soil
High schoolers discover how water moves through different types of soils. In groups, they use the same sample from a previous activity and empty it into a milk carton in which they have layered with cheesecloth to determine the...
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Natural Beauty
Young scholars read and investigate the accomplishments of John Muir. They gather information about one of the United States National Parks founded by John Muir. They create a tri-fold brochure about John Muir and a National Park he...
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Fossil Impressions of Ancient Life
Students make a mold using Plaster of Paris and then make a cast using that same mold. They pick a fossil and describe how it looks. They write a fictionalized story about its life, or burial. (
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Renewable vs. Non-Renewable Resources
Fifth graders, after brainstorming why conservation of resources is important, distinguish between renewable and non-renewable resources. They make a list of different types of natural resources on the board and then sort them into two...
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Rainbow Milk
Students complete activities to learn about rainbows and the importance of dairy in their diet. In this sense and diet lesson, students discuss rainbow colors, the importance of sight, and the importance of dairy in a healthy diet....
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Plankton
Students explore the attributes of plankton. In this plankton activity, students read This is the Sea That Feeds Us and discuss food chains. Students discover the differences between phytoplankton and zooplankton as they examine the...
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Flower Reproduction
Fifth graders examine the cycle of flower reproduction. They listen to a poem about a bee, observe and examine flowers in small groups, and develop a class KWL chart. Students then read about flower reproduction in their textbook, and...
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Dirt Life
Young scholars select and collect soil samples from a variety of locations (schoolyard, home, etc.). They do this lab after an interest-generating discussion about "dirt" and microbes. Students make a dilution in sterile water, plate...