Illinois Department of Natural Resources
Section Two: Why is Biodiversity Important?
Explore soil, genetic traits, natural resources, and pollution in a series of lessons that focus on biodiversity. Kids complete experiments to learn more about the importance of varied genes and organisms in an ecosystem.
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Rock My World
Middle schoolers conduct a hands-on experiment designed to demonstrate how continents and oceans formed and why the manner of formation is relevant to a study of volcanoes.
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The Amazing Ant
Students explain that ants are an important element of nature's balance. Ants eat many insects and are food to other animals. They watch a video and conduct hands-on activities that give them an excellent overview of the ants role in...
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Native American Clay Pots
Students explore world culture by conducting an art project in class. In this Native American culture lesson, students identify the types of materials American Indians utilized in their artistic endeavors, specifically clay. Students...
K12 Reader
Charge It!
Electrify your pupils' interest in conductors and insulators with a brief reading passage! After reading the text, learners respond to five questions that relate to the content of the passage.
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Heat and Matter
Students explore liquids and solids by conducting in class experiments. In this matter lesson, students define the properties of matter and how heat can change those properties. Students experiment with heating objects such as butter and...
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A Hair Raising Experience
Fifth graders conduct an investigation using glass, metal ,fur, latex balloon, plastic bag and hair to generate static electricity of varying amounts. They predict, observe, make comparisons, and draw conclusions about static electricity...
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A Special Present
Students conduct an experiment to create a special gift. In this special gift lesson, students make a gift for someone using water, Epsom salt, essential oil and food coloring. Students can create a card to go with their present.
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The Water Cycle
Third graders investigate water formations by conducting an experiment. In this water properties instructional activity, 3rd graders utilize pie tins, sponges and salt shakers to create an evaporation and saturation experiment. Students...
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Strange Brew: The Musical Concoctions of Cream
Students distinguish between two styles of music, construct a definition of genius and describe its characteristics, critically analyze and evaluate quotations, and conduct research and present the results.
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Rapid Ecological Assessment
Students conduct an ecological assessment of a small area on school property and apply findings to the greater area. They inventory the plant and animal population of a sample area and extrapolate results to a larger area.
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Sink or Float
Students explore water properties by conducting a class experiment. In this buoyancy lesson, students make predictions as to whether or not specific objects will sink or float in water. Students conduct the experiment and record their...
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Keeping Warm?
Fifth graders explore conductors and heat loss in different materials. In this Physical Science lesson plan, 5th graders will be measuring the temperature drop of water in four containers. The class will then discuss what an...
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Earthquake Machine
Learners explore plate tectonics by conducting a class experiment. In this earthquake lesson plan, students utilize scrap wood, sandpaper, rubber bands and a sanding belt to create a model earthquake experiment which shakes a nearby...
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The Shape of Things
Fourth graders develop their writing skills. In this paragraph structure instructional activity, 4th graders research natural disasters, compile their findings, create mobiles and write stories based on the mobiles.
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Chemical Bonding and Shapes of Molecules
In this chemical bonds worksheet, students review the different types of bonds, Lewis dot structures, ions, and molecule shapes. This worksheet has 10 matching, 17 multiple choice, and 3 drawing questions.
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Chemical Elements
In this informational text comprehension worksheet, student read the passage about Chemical Elements and complete 11 multiple choice questions about the passage.
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Electricity - How it Works and How We Measure and Pay For It
Students investigate energy consumption by researching wattage. In this electricity lesson, students discuss how electricity works and gets transferred to our electronic devices through generators and circuits. Students...
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Cooking: Solar Oven, Cornbread, and Butter
Students build a solar oven and prepare cornbread in it. In this solar oven cooking lesson, students follow instructions to create a solar oven. Students are given recipes for butter and cornbread to follow and cook...
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Metalloids
Students discuss metalloids, their use as semiconductors, and their impact on the computer industry. They work in groups to create a visual timeline showing the evolution of the computer.
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Electric Circuits
Students explore energy by completing an electricity worksheet. In this conductors lesson plan, students define the energy related vocabulary terms circuit, electronics, conductor and semi-conductor before examining computer chips in...