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Compost Cake
Students examine the decomposition process. They create their own class compost pile and record their observations. They discover which materials decompose at a different rate.
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The Unmixables: Investigating Immiscible Liquids
Young scholars build an understanding of the properties of liquids and research the immiscible properties of different milks through group experiments. In this immiscible liquids experiment, students investigate what happens when certain...
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Making a Terrarium
Students become familiar with the materials needed to build a terrarium. In this terrarium instructional activity, students create a terrarium in a bottle and observe how it grows and takes care of itself.
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Spectroscope
Students examine how to apply conservation of energy and properties of matter to a spectroscope. In this energy lesson students build their own spectroscope and observe three kinds of spectra.
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Oasis in the Desert
Young scholars explore the challenges of building a thriving human civilization in a desert environment. They design new technologies to assist people living in the desert.
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Experimentation With Plants
Fourth graders experiment with different varieties of plants and draw conclusions after performing a series of lab activities. A very helpful student worksheet is given. This is a nicely done introductory lesson plan for life science.
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The Electric House Project
Students design and build a foam core house which has a light in each room. They demonstrate an understanding of series, parallel, and complex circuits. They complete a worksheet, in complete, sentences expressing these electrical concepts.
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Red Light, Green Light
Students investigate the friction between tires and the road and how it affects the movement of cars while driving. They discuss and define friction, experiment with sandpaper and wax paper to determine which material provides the least...
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TE Lesson: Tsunami Attack!
Learners examine how earthquakes, volcanoes, and landslides can trigger tsunami waves. They determine how engineers use sensors to detect the dangerous wave, and how they help design building that will survive the wave force and water.
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Bubble in the Hot Tub
Students participate in a Science and Technology unit designed to introduce the particle theory through drama, demonstrations, and hands-on investigations. They assume the role of engineers and design and build a hot tub for their...
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Activity Plan 5-6: Bugs, Bugs, Bugs!
Students become entomologists for a day. In this life science lesson, students go on an insect hunt and investigate insects and their homes. This leads to the creation of an insect by each student. Lesson includes a take-home activity...
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Dig Into Soil
Students discuss what is found in soil. In this science lesson, students observe the soil outside and write down information in regards to location, vegetation, and topography. Students experiment with the soil and its many properties...
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Mud Fossils
Students observe real fossils. In this science lesson, students make their own mud fossils by pressing material into the mud and letting it dry in the sun for 3-4 days. Students then get the fossils out displaying their mud fossils.
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Junkyard Wars: Wild Watercraft
Students develop a fast travelling hull for a boat. In this physical science lesson plan, the students' hulls will be tested in a channel (built by the teacher) with a fan as the driving force. The students will compete for who has the...
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Systems of the Body: Movement and Choreography
Students create movements that connect art and science. In this body systems lesson, students interpret the function of body systems, organs, and processes as they create movements to exhibit their research findings.
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Constructing a Periodic Table of Elements
Learners create a periodic table of elements. In this chemistry lesson, students work together to build all of the different elements into a complete mini periodic table. They identify similarity and difference of the elements.
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Under Pressure
Students investigate the implications of blood pressure. They use film canisters and balloons to build models that help them explain how blood pressure works.
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The Dinosaur Body
Students recognize that body design affects balance. They investigate the basic structure of a dinosaur body to see how it achieved balance, then build any dinosaur body system they want, using small marshmallows and extra straws as needed.
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Insects
Second graders brainstorm and identify several types of common insects. They play bug bingo, building bugs and an insect tree, observing real insects in the classroom and examining some of the things insects make.
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FLIGHT FAIR
Young scholars conduct their personal investigations into paper airplane flight. Cooperative teams are formed, with students choosing the paper airplane design that they are most interested in building.
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Map the Constellations
Students build constellation guides from empty sotf drink cans. Using star charts, they use straight pins to mark the major stars in the constellations. After turning the charts over, they connect the dots. When they look through cans...
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Storm That Drowned a City
Students use a map to locate New Orleans and watch a video on the destruction of Hurricane Katrina. As a class, they watch a demonstration on how a wetland can reduce the impact of a hurricane. In groups, they perform their own...
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The Physics of Flight
Students discuss how the invention of flight changed the way people live today. In groups, they compare and contrast the differences between weight, lift, thrust and drag. Using these principles, they create a glider and propeller with...
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Digestive System Journey
Students explore what happens to the food they eat as it passes through their body. They demonstrate their understanding of the digestive system functions by choosing to create a poster, build a model, produce a multimedia presentation,...