Cornell University
The Galvanic Cell Game
Play a little game with your classes! Young scholars expand on their understanding of oxidation/reduction reactions in a game-based activity. They build a Galvanic cell with game pieces while learning about each component and their...
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The Earth, Sun Mood and Stars Unit (Planets too!)
Fifth graders prepare five activities to do then show their energy saving skills. In this investigative lesson students create five projects then participate in an energy saving demonstration.
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Planet X
Students select a wide variety of presentation methods to compare Planet X and Earth. Students share these with their classmates. Students select other methods to present their ideas about a livable planet for human life forms. ...
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You Light Up My House
Students explore renewable and nonrenewable resources. In this electricity lesson, students consider way to reduce the energy that they use as they chart and analyze their own electricity usage.
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Exploring the Interstellar Medium
Pupils investigate the Interstellar Medium and the Local Bubble that the Sun is inside. They read and discuss a handout, answer discussion questions, observe a demonstration of light scattering, and conduct an experiment on the...
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GUM: More, Less, or the Same?
Students confirm the law of conservation of matter by weighing chewing gum before and after it is chewed.
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A Cat's Life
Students construct a timeline of a panther's life. Students decorate their timeline with illustrations and words, or they can choose to have it orally read to the class. Students use the computer to construct their time-lines. Students...
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Earth Pockets
Students identify the Earth's natural resources. In this Earth science lesson, students read the book The Great Kapok Tree and discuss types of natural resources. Students use categories such as wood, paper, and trees and list items that...
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Power Play
Students explore their own attitudes and practices regarding energy use, and then examine the perspectives of others in order to develop their knowledge of the current political debate on energy policy. Students reflect on their own...
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The Thermodynamics of Pizza
Middle schoolers investigate the laws of thermodynamics. They observe demonstrations of each law, read a summary, and analyze how pizza demonstrates the laws of thermodynamics.
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Killer Coal
Students explore some of the environmental health risks involved with both the mining and burning of coal. They read articles on coal in the Balkan Peninsula, view the photographs, and then discuss what feelings and thoughts they have...
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Migration Isn't Just For The Birds
Fourth graders explore the concepts of conservation using a reading story that describes a flock of geese. The ecosystems are also described in the lesson and the effects of pollution.
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In Search of Reused and Recycled
Students identify recycled and recyclable products by reading labels. They discuss what happens to solid waste in landfills and its impact on the environment. They discuss ways in which they can conserve natural resources.
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Ecosystems-The Essential Connection
Students develop their abilities to solve problems both in school and in a variety of situations similar to that they have encountered in life. They define the term ecosystem in nature by comparing them to familiar organizational...
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T3 Lesson Plan: Number 3
Sixth graders investigate local water. In this water cycle lesson, 6th graders take samples from surrounding water sources. Students record data from the samples, compare and graph the results.
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Storyboards: The Director's Map to a Video Project
Class groups collaborate to produce the storyboard for their video project. After determining the sequence of scenes, the camera angles, and characters in each scene, each group member is assigned a number of scenes to illustrate. When...
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Mushrooms Can Save the World
Students use mushrooms to solve problems. In this environmental lesson, students study how fungi have been used to combat environmental problems. Students design strategies that employ mushrooms to combat other environmental challenges.
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Small Appliances Unit
An informative, but not particularly academic, unit about how to use a variety of kitchen appliances. Information about each appliance is given in a handout, as well as instructions for use and a few comprehension questions. This set of...
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Redesign the Rover: Mars Research Year-Round
Students discuss the solar system, the planets, periods of orbit and revolution. In this space lesson students discuss the importance of the study of Mars and brainstorm ideas on how NASA might solve its Rover design problem.
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The Earth, Sun, Moon, And Stars
Fifth graders explore the solar system. In this solar system unit, 5th graders investigate numerous projects while rotating through learning centers. Students write about space and construct a space shuttle model. Students practice map...
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Bat Ecology
Young scholars, through hands on games and activities, discover how bats live and how bats benefit ecosystems. They play a game designed to show them how echolocation works and another to show how mother bats locate their young through...
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Second Time Around
Pupils explore how items can be reused. In this recycling lesson plan, students present skits about reusing materials and brainstorm products that can be reused at home, school and in the classroom.
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Unknown Element Project
Students work with a partner to determine the identity of an unknown element based on given descriptions. Groups use classroom textbooks, encyclopedias, and science internet sites to identify their unknown element then write a report as...
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Planting a Monarch Butterfly Garden
Students raise money to purchase milkweed plants for their butterfly garden. In this gardening lesson, students listen to the story Miss Rumphius to determine why it is important to plant milkweed for butterflies. Students develop a...