Lesson Plan
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Building a Scale Model

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders create a model of the solar system. In this solar system lesson, 3rd graders create a scale model of the solar system. Working in pairs students solve mathematical problems to correctly measure the distance each planet is...
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Shadows

For Teachers 1st
First graders measure how a shadow changes over the course of a day. They write about what they would do if they lost their shadow, and make silhouettes of themselves. Students make up a shadow dance and read stories about shadows.
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Continents and Oceans on the Move

For Teachers 6th - 10th
Students create an awareness of the vast percentage of water covering the earth. They relate similarities/differences between topographical maps and other maps of various time periods. Students examine how to use a topographical map.
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Weather Predictions

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students record weather data and create a five day forecast. Students investigate the roles of meteorologists and identify symbols used on a weather map. After gathering weather data for a week, students will create a five day forecast...
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Message in a Bottle

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders write a short story about being stranded on a deserted island. After a brief geography review of locations at various latitudes and longitudes, 6th graders draft their story about being stranded. They use sensory and...
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Upwelling Terrestrial Radiation

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Students calculate the hourly irradiance of the earth at a site given the near-surface air temperature of the site. They compare the calculated values of irradiance with those measured by instruments at the site. Students need to...
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Facts and Myths about our Solar System

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders explore popular ideas about the Sun and Moon. In this space science lesson, 6th graders separate commonly accepted details about our solar system into facts and myths. Students research a particular idea and...
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It's Just a Phase

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders are introduced to the correct terminology for the phases of the moon and arrange picture cards in the correct order. They use flashlights and Styrofoam balls to illustrate the phases of the moon. They write science journal...
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The Mark Twain Project at the Principia School

For Teachers 10th - Higher Ed
Students read and write an analysis of The Adventure of Huckleberry Finn and write a paper on another Twain literary piece. In this Mark Twain lesson, students select a Mark Twain literary piece to write an analysis paper for the work....
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Sun and Moon Poetry Baskets

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students write Sun and Moon poetry. In this poetry lesson, students research the sun and the moon.  They write poetry and create two class baskets for descriptive words about each.
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Spaced Out

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Young scholars explore the transit of Venus and the information that this minieclipse provides about the distance between the Earth and the sun. They create their own astronomical units.
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Weather Predictions

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Learners play the role of weather personalities by making five day forecasts based on data gathered from observations, weather instruments, and weather maps. Each day a small group makes a class forecast for the next day and reviews the...
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Our Eye in the Sky: The TIROS Weather Satellite

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars investigate the political context of the creation of a weather satellite. In this technology and society lesson, students explore the historical, technological, and political context of the TIROS weather satellite. They...
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This Building is Tall

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students calculate the perimeter of shapes. In this geometry lesson, students relate properties of polygons to the real world. They find length, midpoint and slope.
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Australia: Aboriginal Religion

For Teachers 8th - 10th
Pupils compare and contrast Christianity and the religion of the Aborigines in Australia.  In this Aboriginal religion instructional activity, students discuss the creation story of the Aborigines and discuss the "dreamtime." ...
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Learning About Maps

For Teachers Pre-K - K
Students investigate the many uses and features of maps and globes and locate where they live on both. In this map lesson, student play a travel game and create their own maps to explore states, continents, countries, and islands.
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Environmental Issues

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students investigate the natural resources on earth by reading a book in class.  In this environmental lesson, students read select pages from the book Alaska by Rebecca Stefoff and discuss their feelings on the material. ...
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Dreaming of Gardens

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students demonstrate ways to be an environmental philanthropist. In this philanthropy activity, students read The Gardener and Just a Dream and compare the two books. Students discuss ways the characters demonstrated environmental...
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Recycle and Respect!

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students explore how they can be a philanthropist. In this recycling lesson, students learn what it means to recycle and discuss why items need to be recycled. Students review the term philanthropy and practice this by picking up the...
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Cold Fronts And Warm Fronts

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students simulate the movement of cold and warm fronts as they listen to a story about the weather and Mr. Sun. They brainstorm the characteristics of each type of front then write about which front they would prefer if they were a...
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Out of the Dust: Figurative Language

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Young scholars find examples of figurative language in "First Rain" in Out of the Dust.  In this Out of the Dust lesson, students takes notes on various type of figurative language and identify examples of each type in the poem.
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Agriculture in the Desert

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students explore human migration. In this human migration lesson, students investigate multiple factors contributing to the growth of major Arizona cities.  Students discover the processes, patterns, and functions of human settlement.
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Million Dollar Machine

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students explore their self-awareness. They discuss the words unique, extraordinary and irreplaceable and their strengths and weaknesses. They write five things their bodies or Million Dollar Machines can do and investigate their blood...
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Let's Create an Ecosystem

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders discover how an ecosystem works by creating one in class.  For this Earth science lesson, 7th graders study vocabulary terms associated with ecosystem and read environment handouts.  Students create an...