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Models of the Water Cycle
Students describe and review the stages in the water cycle. In groups, they build their own models of the water cycle and demonstrate where the water goes in a closed system. They answer discussion questions after the experiment to end...
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Oh Panther
Students play a game that replicates the balance of prey and predators in an ecosystem. In this physical education lesson, students follow the instructions to play "Oh Panther!" Students collect data regarding the game and discuss the...
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Where's the Period in the Periodic Tables?
Students investigate the Periodic Table of Elements. The teacher is provided with the necessary background information to complete the lesson. Students practice matching the element symbol to its place on the chart.
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Seesaws
Students make direct comparisons between objects using balance and spring scales. They also are encouraged to estimate which object is heavier by holding the objects before using the balance scales. Comparing the masses of objects is the...
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Oil Spill
Fourth graders watch a video about the types of products made from oil or oil used as energy to produce the product. In groups, they identify the positive and negative aspects of oil and participate in various activities. They use the...
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COMPARE SOILS BY GROWING PLANTS
The student will identify the difference in the rate of plant growth in three soils that vary in organic matter.1. Obtain three to four flowerpots, different types of soil, a record chart, three to five beans for each pot, and water....
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Panther Scavenger Hunt
Learners research the Internet to fill out their scavenger hunt sheet. In this research lesson students search the Internet for answers to the questions on the scavenger hunt worksheet.
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Carbon for the World
Students explore the presence of carbon in the world. In this environmental stewardship instructional activity, students discuss the carbon cycle after they read assigned textbook pages. Students also discuss biomass content in different...
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Understanding Oxidation Numbers
Students review atomic numbers, positive and negative charges, and the periodic table. They examine the relationships among protons and electrons, location of various elements, electron energy levels, and oxidation numbers.
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HAPPY SOIL, SAD SOIL
Students will be able to identify the characteristics of healthy soil and unhealthy soil.Take the class outside to an area of thick grass near trees, if available. Compare the
clothes people wear to the thin cover. Discuss the reasons...
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Solids and Water
Students investigate mixtures made of water and familiar solid materials. They observe and discuss the changes that occur immediately and set the mixtures aside for a day. Finally, students observe the mixtures, note changes, and graph...
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Succession in the Classroom
Middle schoolers investigate their environment by growing plants in class. In this botany lesson plan, students discuss the lifespan of plants and animals and how they must be cared for continuously over time. Middle...
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Climate and Temperature
Students explore what the soil temperature would be on the north and south sides of a building. In this temperature lesson, students hypothesize what the results will be using a thermometer and then after a week see what the...
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Mystery Mollusc
Students investigate the different regions of our oceans by researching the Internet. In this oceanography instructional activity, students discover the different jobs related to ocean research and examine their roles by reading...
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Archaeology and Prehistoric Native Americans
Young scholars study the terms paleontology and archaeology and examine how they can help us learn about prehistoric Native Iowans. In this archaeology lesson plan students discuss these terms and view a video on Native...
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Avalanche!
Students explain that when forces on an object are balanced, the motion of object does not change. They describe how an object changes its motion when forces on it are unbalanced. They plan and conduct a scientific investigation to test...
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How Warm is the Water?
Students research how surface sea temperature changes throughout the year. They draw a time series of sea surface temperatures for each month of the year and a depth profile for a summer and winter month using an OceanExplorer Profiler...
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Making Paper
Learners explore how natural earth materials are processed into a human-made product. They simulate a manufacturing process by making paper. Students review the importance of recycling in preserving our natural earth resources.
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The Path of Pollution
Students conduct a brainstorming exercise that asks them to list all the ideas about air pollution that can be recalled. The ideas are recorded on a chart that the teacher has prepared. The lesson contains sufficient background...
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Exploring the Celestial Neighborhood
Ninth graders study the origin and organization of the solar system. They investigate the Earth's place in the system and how planetary motions explain natural phenomena observable from Earth.
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Life in Extreme Environments - Lakes Under Ice
Students collect chemical, physical, and biological data from a local lake throughout the year. In addition, students discuss the design of an experimental structure for water collection at several specific depths as well as assess the...
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Forecast Fever
Ninth graders investigate what high-tech tools are used to gather weather data and make weather forecasts. They view a video and a PowerPoint presentation, and conduct research on a cloud chart website. Students make local weather...
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Drifting Continents, Dynamic Results
High schoolers plot earthquake and volcano data using a Compass Rose Plotting. They explain the relationship between plate movement and connection. They draw conclusions that earthquakes and volcanoes occur in predictable locations.
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Fallout!
High schoolers plot the locations of fallout from two disasters that polluted much of the world's air. They plot the ash fallout from the 1980 Mt. St. Helen's eruption to see what the wind patterns in the United States look like overall....