Lesson Plan
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Getting to the Core of Climate Change

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Young scholars investigate climate changes by graphing and analyzing ice core data from Greenland and Antarctica. They create, explain and report the pattern of data on a graph of ice core data. In addition they find relationships...
Lesson Plan
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Rain On

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders study the water cycle and clouds. In this water cycle and cloud lesson, 4th graders determine the definition of condensation and watch a demonstration in which the teacher makes a cloud in a bottle. They discuss the water...
Lesson Plan
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Simulating the Greenhouse Effect in a Terrarium

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students identify what factors effect global warming and how the greenhouse effect occurs.  For this environmental lesson students view videos then complete an experiment using a terrarium to observe greenhouse gas.
Lesson Plan
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Timeline of Extreme Weather Events

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students research and chart extreme weather events on a timeline. In this extreme weather lesson, students interview older people who have experienced extreme weather events. Students complete a worksheet based on the information of the...
Lesson Plan
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The Great Heat Escape

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students observe a demonstration on the role of thermal conductivity in heat transfer.  In this thermal conductivity lesson, students design and conduct an experiment to compare the thermal conductivity of four substances....
Lesson Plan
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Erosion: Slip Sliding Away

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders investigate the causes of erosion. Through several demonstrations including one using sugar cubes and warm water, they observe the effects of erosion. In groups, 4th graders conduct similar experiments and record their...
Lesson Plan
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Water Cycle Terrariums

For Teachers 3rd - 7th
Students explore the water cycle. They build a model of the water cycle in the form of a terrarium and explain how it demonstrates the water cycle. In addition, they draw a representation of the water cycle demonstrated in the terrarium.
Lesson Plan
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Hydrothermal Vent Challenge

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners discover common features of hydrothermal vent fluids. They use this knowledge to locate possible undiscovered hydrothermal vents on the ocean floor.
Lesson Plan
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Water Layering and Circulation

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Students examine relationships and interactions between different types of water. They experiment with colored water of different temperature and salinity and discuss how the results relate to real ocean currents.
Lesson Plan
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Forces of Nature: The Challenges of River Travel

For Teachers 6th - 10th
Learners examine how river travel affected the Lewis and Clark expedition. They define gravity, slope, and velocity, conduct a river formations experiment, complete an activity sheet, and watch a video about Lewis and Clark.
Lesson Plan
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Exploring Energy with GIS

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Learners examine GIS technology as it is used to locate energy sources. For this GIS lesson, student access an assigned website to locate a series of lessons using the GIS software. They use the maps that are located on the primary...
Lesson Plan
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Exploring the Water Cycle

For Teachers 1st - 5th
Students investigate the water cycle. In this water cycle lesson, students create an ecosystem within a 2-liter bottle. Students record scientific observations as they observe the water cycle within their ecosystem.
Lesson Plan
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Growth of a River

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students evaluate geography by drawing an image in class. In this river lesson, students identify a list of vocabulary terms associated with bodies of water. Students identify how a river is formed and draw a picture of one including the...
Lesson Plan
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Water Cycle Bag

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Learners enclose water in an airtight bag and leave it in a warm area to view the water cycle. In this water cycle lesson plan, students observe evaporation, condensation, and precipitation. They then discuss what they learned about the...
Lesson Plan
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The Amazing Apple

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students analyze an apple. In this lesson about developing inquiry skills, students do an experiment with an apple. Students make several observations about the apple. Students answer questions to help them improve and practice their...
Lesson Plan
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Rock Cycle

For Teachers 7th - 10th
In this rock cycle worksheet, students simulate the changes that occur during the rock cycle using a sugar cube. They use the sugar cube to represent a rock and perform changes on the sugar cube that represent the stages of the rock cycle.
Worksheet
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Erosion Deposition Review

For Students 7th - 10th
In this erosion deposition worksheet, students fill in 36 blanks to complete sentences about the formation of soil, the forces of erosion, physical and chemical weathering, sediments and soil deposition.
Lesson Plan
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Worms: Nature's Recyclers

For Teachers K - 5th
Students explore vermi-composting. In this vermi-composting lesson, students listen to the story Diary of a Worm and discuss the parts of a worm. They create worm bins and add organic food for the worms to recycle. 
Lesson Plan
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Hurricanes and Tornadoes (Grade 4-8)

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students investigate the concepts of hurricanes and violent weather conditions. For this violent weather lesson, students access an Internet site and watch a video about how air masses behave, how a tornado forms, how hurricanes form,...
Lesson Plan
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Fred the Fish -- A River Ran Wild

For Teachers Pre-K - 6th
Students apply cause and effect relationships to water pollution in a stream. For this pollution lesson students recognize the importance of clean water in their daily lives. Students accompany "Fred the Fish" as he travels down stream....
Lesson Plan
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The Affect of Water Temperature on Living Organisms

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine the environmental impact of global warming. In this environmental science activity, students design and conduct an experiment about the effect of temperature on paramecia. They write a lab report about their experiment.
Lesson Plan
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This Old Tubeworm

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students plot data to construct and interpret a graph about vestimentiferans at cold-seep sites in the Gulf of Mexico. In this deep sea lesson, students plot data provided for the growth of tubeworms. They use the graphs to determine...
Lesson Plan
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Creating the Future

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Learners work together to develop and write scenerios for the future of hazardous waste cleanup. They share their scenerios with the class. They complete activities as well.
Lesson Plan
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The Greenhouse Effect

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders research the Greenhouse Effect on the Internet. They use a variety of sources and take notes on the topic. They use ClarisWorks to type a report, use spellcheck, proof and edit. They can create a class bulletin board.