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Sorting Things Out
Written to examine seeds that grow in Kansas, you can adapt this lesson to anywhere you live. Learners sort a mixture of five different seeds to by any characteristic of their choice. When your budding scientists are exploring the life...
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Classifying Rocks
A well-designed lesson plan on rock classification awaits you. In it, fifth graders are divided into groups. Each group is given a box of rocks which they must sort into two categories. They use the "Rock 'n Roll Rule," in making their...
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Classifying Rocks
Fifth graders examine and participate in the process of classifying rocks. In small groups, they sort the rocks into two categories and complete a Venn diagram. Next, they select three rocks, and complete a worksheet that is in the...
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Sorting and Classifying with Tree Products
Fourth graders sort and classify wood. In this sorting tree products lesson, 4th graders sort and classify tree parts and pieces of wood, both natural and manufactured according to their properties.
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Classifying Living Things
Students identify how to classify living things. They classify various concepts including family members, kinds of clothing, numbers, shapes, and vocabulary words. They discuss how to classify various concepts and classify pictures of...
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Gummy Bear Sorting
Students demonstrate knowledge of sorting and classifying by color as they sort gummy bear candies.
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How are Seeds the Same and Different?
Students examine seeds from various plants. For this science lesson, students cut open fruits and vegetables in order to see the seeds. Students describe each type of seed and classify the seeds.
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Hardware Sort
Students classify various hardware items using the attributes of the objects. In this classification lesson, students group objects based on their attributes and explain their classification key.
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What Is in a Rock?
Middle schoolers identify, sort, and classify mineral samples that make up a common rock.
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An Introduction to Acids and Bases
Students explore acids and bases. In this lesson about acids and bases, students do an experiment to test certain items to determine what they are. Students use cabbage and litmus paper as indicators. Students understand how to sort the...
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SORTING ALL SORTS
Students examine how the method of classification is used. In this sorting instructional activity students take a pre-test, classify organisms and complete a crossword puzzle.
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Seed Sorting
Students examine and sort seeds. In this life science lesson, students make general observations of a tub of seeds, then develop sorting criteria for sorting the deeds. Lesson includes extension activities.
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Fish Sorting
In this classification worksheet, students are given nine pictures of different types of fish. They cut them out and use a key to classify each into a category based on their characteristics.
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Name that animal
A great way to classify organisms, is by counting the number of legs it has or how it moves. Little ones count the legs on five different creatures, then match the leg count to the proper animal name. Tip: Have them come up with other...
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A Planet Full of Animals
Students explore a variety of animals that live on our planet. The shapes, sizes, colors, movements, and coverings of the animals are observed. The similarities and differences in the animals are grouped according to common traits.
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Rock Cycle SIOP Unit
Students collect rocks, identify them, classify them, investigate their properties, and more. In this rocks lesson plan, students also experiment with soil and erosion and weather.
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Classification for Beginners
Students explore the process of classification. In this rock classification lesson, students conduct a scientific investigation that requires them to follow the provided steps to classify rocks.
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Donut Sort
Third graders create dichotomous keys using donuts. In this dichotomous lesson plan, 3rd graders review what a property is and sort donuts by a specific property. Donuts are kept in plastic baggies for the activity so they can be enjoyed...
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Pet Rocks
Students complete a variety of activities related to the physical characteristics of minerals. They classify and group candy, classify rocks and complete a Pet River Rock worksheet. Students try to guess which rock goes with each...
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Seeds in Fall...Collect Them All!
Classify seeds by attributes such as size, shape and color! Learners classify seeds using a dichotomous key. They identify human behaviors that have a positive impact on preserving seed and plant biodiversity.
National Park Service
Rock Ranking
Junior geologists sort rocks and soil. They separate a sample of river gravel by size, shape, color, and other characteristics. To include Common Core standards, you could have little ones graph the number of particles in each sample.
Space Awareness
Coma Cluster of Galaxies
Scientists classify everything from the smallest cells to the largest galaxies, but how do they decide on a classification system? Scholars use 40 pictures of galaxies taken by the Hubble Space Telescope to sort and try creating their...
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Rocks and Minerals
Fifth graders examine different types of rocks and classify rocks by their different characteristics. In small groups they sort their rocks into two categories, then create three categories to sort by on a sorting worksheet. Next, they...
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Big Bones, Little Bones
Learners investigate archeology. In this archeology instructional activity, students research the process of excavation. Learners participate in a mock-excavation and sort objects by physical properties.