Lesson Plan
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Soil Erosion

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students examine how erosion is affected by the composition of the soil and the slope of the land. They look at plant roots, rocks and land slope as experimental factors. They complete the associated worksheets before discussing their...
Lesson Plan
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What is That White Stuff?

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders identify, through experimentation, what properties of substance are, determine what variables tested will be, identify constants and variables of experiment, conduct experiment to conclusion with measurable, recorded...
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Fractals, An Inquiry: Day 4

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students put their growing understanding of the scientific inquiry process to work. They use paint to implement their plans to experiment with how changing one aspect of the fractal making process influences their appearance.
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Fractals, An Inquiry: Day 3

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students develop questions for their inquiries and plan their experiments. They are supported by a modeled case study of Max the Dog's Inquiry Planning Process, as well as supported by a planning template, The Inquiry Organizer.
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Race the Track! Design Challenge

For Teachers 1st - 5th
Students use the design process to investigate physical science.  For this force and motion lesson, design a track to achieve a specified outcome. Students complete additional experiments with speed and distance.  Students...
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Transfer of Thermal Energy

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students define temperature and heat, distinguish between temperature and heat flow, calculate amount of heat energy released or absorbed in chemical process, and design procedure, through experimentation, to gather and evaluate data to...
Lesson Plan
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What Does Your "Homunculus" Look Like?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars investigate the density of touch receptors in various parts of the body. They discover how the body senses various stimuli, then maps a picture of the "homunculus" of the experimental subject.
Lesson Plan
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A Mendel Seminar

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students analyze Gregor Mendel's discovery of a process of biological evolution. They also explore how recessive and dominant traits are passed from one generation of living organisms to the next. This lesson involves environment...
Lesson Plan
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The Science of Color

For Teachers K - 5th
Students use the scientific method to explore how to make different colors with paint. They problem solve ways to darken and lighten colors without using black and white paint. Students hypothesize how to create new colors, and describe...
Lesson Plan
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Slingshot Characterization Experiment

For Teachers 6th - 11th
Students set up and conduct a scientific experiment to demonstrate data collection. In this scientific process lesson, students complete an activity with the specific objective of using a slingshot to fire a t-shirt into the crowd at a...
Lesson Plan
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Terrestrial Sequestration- Photosynthesis and Cellular Respiration

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students examine the differences between cellular respiration and photosynthesis.  In this cellular processes lesson students complete a group lab activity to see how climate change affects their lives. 
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Light and Optics

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders utilize the scientific method to explain light and optics in this five lessons unit. Through experimentation and discussion, 3rd graders canvass the concepts of light traveling, reflection and refraction.
Lesson Plan
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BOWEN'S REACTION SERIES

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students research Bowen's Reaction Series and recreate the process in an experiment which details the crystallization sequence of minerals that can be observed in nature.
Lesson Plan
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Going the Distance

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Young scholars experiment in small groups to answer the question, "Is there a relationship between ramps and speed?" They apply a formula to calculate the speed of the cars used in the experiment, complete the associate lab report, and...
Lesson Plan
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How can pH be used to determine possible product tampering?

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students investigate the strength of acids and bases experimentally. They answer the question, "How can pH be used to determine possible product tampering?" by testing acids and bases with litmus paper.
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Creating an Enzyme-Substrate Model

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers explore the reaction rates of an enzyme-mediated reaction through experimentation. In small groups, they use everyday objects to demonstrate the effects of environmental variables on enzyme function. Students graph and...
Lesson Plan
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Ice Energy

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students investigate how salt affects the state of ice. In this ice cream making lesson, students change the freezing temperature by adding salt and observing the results. Students use experimentation and comparison to see how chemicals...
Lesson Plan
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It's Just a Barn

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Investigate Pennsylvania Barns. Have your class consider the elements common to Pennsylvanian barns and why they are significant to the food production process. They write summaries of Frederick Watts and his impact on agriculture.
Lesson Plan
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Yum Yum: Making Vegetable Soup

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Students investigate agriculture by reading a book.  In this plant life lesson, students read the book Growing Vegetable Soup by Louis Ehlert, and examine the ingredients used in the book's soup.  Students create an...
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Bouncing off the Walls

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders compare the bouncing height of different types of balls. In this science lesson, 3rd graders explain the importance of repeated experimentation in science. They record their result and share them with the class.
Lesson Plan
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California Electricity Crisis

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers study the causes of electricity shortage in California in 2000-2001. For this social studies lesson, students evaluate the effect of the deregulation process. They discuss the actions taken by the government to solve the...
Lesson Plan
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Plant Nutrition and Nutrients

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students observe seeds growth and examine the different parts of the seedling. In this biology lesson, students compare the growth of seeds planted in soil and in hydroponics. They record their observations in their science journal and...
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Alexis de Tocqueville’s America

For Teachers 7th - 11th
Students analyze de Tocqueville's America. In this democratic history lesson, students use primary sources to determine what de Tocqueville found to be so unique in the America. Students analyze artifacts, maps and documents through...
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Little Red Hen

For Teachers 1st
First graders listen to the story "The Little Red Hen". They buddy read the story and then illustrate their own interpretation of the story on story paper. Students then use AlphaSmart to type their stories in sequential order.