Lesson Plan
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Floating and Falling Flows

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students discover fluid dynamics related to buoyancy through experimentation and optional photography. Using one set of fluids, they make light fluids rise through denser fluids. Using another set, they make dense fluids sink through a...
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Where Growth Meets Growth

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Students discuss fire risk factors for a property located near a wildland area. In this science lesson plan, students identify, number, and provide reasons for areas of increased risk on a worksheet they think should be changed. Students...
Lesson Plan
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Shaving Cream Art

For Teachers Pre-K - 12th
Students participate in paper marbling. In this paper art activity, students use shaving cream and paint to create unique patterns on paper. Students mix shaving cream and paint together then lay paper down in the mix. The...
Lesson Plan
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Planting Parts

For Teachers 2nd
Each student plants two lima beans in a plastic cup with a paper towel so they can be observed growing. The beans are misted with a spray bottle, and placed in a warm sunny area. Students view the beans each day for the next two weeks,...
Lesson Plan
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What is Gyotaku

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders make a T-shirt. In this fish printing lesson, 3rd graders learn about Gyotaku and the history of fish printing. The teacher demonstrates how to do a fish printing for a T-shirt and then students make their own T-shirts and...
Lesson Plan
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Shaker Band

For Teachers Pre-K - K
Students shake up some lively music. In this early childhood music and art lesson, students use a variety of materials to make shakers that will acquaint them with different rhythms and enhance their sensory awareness.
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Garden of Eden

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Students view a video clip about animals and their habitats. They work together to discuss how different animals adapt to their environments. They create a new habitat for a specific animal and draw new adaptations for them.
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Crash of Flight 111

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Students identify the locations on a map of the airplane crashes discussed in this lesson. After watching a video, they discuss the importance of an investigation after a plane crash. They use the same information as the investigators...
Lesson Plan
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Make it a habitat

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students consider the adaptation of life forms through natural selection to fill various niches and accommodate changing environmental conditions. They select an ecosystem and conduct research to provide as much detailed information as...
Lesson Plan
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Black Death Biology

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Students in pairs explore the transmission of the Plague, through experimentation. Cooperative groups use the scientific method to solve the fictional problem of a bacteria spreading in the Amazon. Groups also create a vector to visually...
Lesson Plan
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Hatching Chickens

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students learn the importance of caring for eggs as they hatch chickens. In this egg hatching lesson, students observe what happens when eggs are hatched into chickens by completing a e-worksheet and watching a web based movie.
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Habitat Hunt

For Teachers K - 3rd
Students discover how hard it is for animals to find all the items needed in their habitat. For this habitat lesson, students play a game in which they pretend to be an animal, they discover that not all animals can find the food needed...
Lesson Plan
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A Model of Earth's Tectonic Plates

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers build a model of the Earth showing tectonic plate boundaries. The pattern for the model is provided in the instructional activity. This is a very useful hands-on component for a instructional activity about geology or...
Lesson Plan
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Time and Cycles - Dendrochronology

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students investigate the lives of trees by examining ring cycles.  In this plant life lesson, students identify the field of study known as dendrochronology and discover its history.  Students investigate a simulated tree ring...
Lesson Plan
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Alligator Craft Paper Bag Puppet

For Teachers Higher Ed
Students make paper bag puppets. They use the puppets as a story teller and reader. Students use the puppets to ask questions during and after reading. They assemble their own puppet. Students use the puppets to introduce new themes,...
Lesson Plan
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Wax Resist Fish

For Teachers K
Students review what a pattern is and they create a pattern on a fish. They are reminded that patterns do not change halfway through and they paint over it with watercolor paints. They display their fish on the walls.
Lesson Plan
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Watercolor Rainbow Fish

For Teachers K
Students experience an art project as a follow up to reading The Rainbow Fish.
Lesson Plan
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Progressive City Planners

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Learners plan cities. In this environmental racism instructional activity, students design imaginary cities taking into consideration the amenities and environmental hazards that exist. Learners discuss city planning challenges.
Lesson Plan
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It's in the Bag!

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders measure temperature changes and make drawings of the interactions between matter and energy. By measuring the temperature students can conclude if there are changes in levels of energy. .
Lesson Plan
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Spelling Strategies for Success

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Students identify the meaning of the suffix "er" in given words and sort according to meaning. Students pair up for proofing of work, checking for correct sorting of words in categories of: no suffix, suffix that means "more," and...
Lesson Plan
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South Dakota Quarter Reverse: Four Famous Faces

For Teachers K - 1st
Students recognize the faces of the four presidents on the South Dakota quarter reverse. After discussing the duties and responsibilities of presidents, they list the contributions of the four presidents. They decide which presidents are...
Lesson Plan
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Capillary Action and Adhesion

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students perform classroom experiments to observe adhesion. They perform a second experiment using sand, salt, water, and a heat lamp to observe the principle of capillary action. They also experiment with adhesion in plants.
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Mountain Barriers

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students examine geographical change. In this mountain barriers lesson, students conduct an experiment to discover how mountains affect surrounding land.  Students draw conclusions on how change in land affects plant and animal life.
Lesson Plan
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Function of a Stem

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders perform an experiment to test the function of a stem. In this science lesson, 4th graders write a description of their investigations. Students also explain how the stem interacts with the rest of the plant. Students use...