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The Living Environment
Young scholars explore the cycles of an ecosystem. In this environmental science lesson, students work in groups to research the nitrogen cycle, the water cycle, or the oxygen-carbon dioxide cycle. Young scholars prepare a...
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Termite Biology
Students explore the physical characteristics, distribution and habitat of termites. The lesson focuses on the termite as a social creature contrary to most other insects.
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I Will Survive!
The students will be given approximately five minutes to individually brainstorm general plant and animals adaptations that they already know about. The class will use these as a starting point to develop a KWL chart specific to desert...
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Exploring the Sun's Role in Living Systems
Students create graphic organizer webs that illustrate their thinking about seasonal physical and biological changes caused by changes in sunlight. They identify the central role of sunlight in living systems.
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Predator Prey Population Links
Fifth graders relate population of animals to its available food supply. They participate in an experiment and gather information. They use the data to draw conclusions.
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Survival Features
Third graders identify features of producers, herbivores and carnivores. They discuss the features that aid in survival for those animals. They organize animals into categories to complete the lesson.
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Ecology - Ecosystem
Third graders research ecosystems, the work of ecologists, John Muir's contribution to the environment and an endangered species of their choice. They read books, participate in discussions, and write reports.
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Night Creatures of the Kalahari
Students conduct an experiment to demonstrate how fruit fly populations are controlled by spiders. They observe a variety of environments with fruit flies and spiders and consider how vital spiders are to controlling the insect population.
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Ocean Color
Students examine NASA's SeaWiFS Project Web site to explore how the SeaWiFS Project monitors environmental and climatic changes in the oceans and atmosphere. They answer questions and write a summary in support of continued funding for...
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What Makes a Healthy Plant?
Students predict the effects of water, light, and soil on the development of a plant and then design an experiment to test their predictions.
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Water Quality Survey: Monitoring the Sustainability of Pigeon Creek
Students research the History of Pigeon Creek (or any watershed in your area). In this environmental science lesson plan, students conduct field tests such as pH and nitrates. They collect data and compare what they collected with other...
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Insects A-Z!
Learners use the Internet and other resources to find insect common names that begin with each letter of the alphabet. They write a brief description of each insect, focusing on what the insect eats and where the insect lives.
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Blubber Gloves
Fifth graders examine animal adaptations and how they meet their needs in a variety of environments. They discuss how they might adapt to their own environment before discussing how an animal could adapt. Next, they complete an...
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Shark Attack
Students examine the white shark. They think critically about a set of shark facts and predict whether the statements are true or false. Students describe a year in the life of a white shark living in the Red Triangle. They create a...
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Measuring
In this measuring worksheet, middle schoolers determine the mass shown on the scale, review how to read measurements in a graduated cylinder, and determine which measuring method is more precise. This worksheet has 5 short answer...
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Forests, Deserts, & Grasslands
Third graders complete activities to become familiar with the content and vocabulary related to biomes and ecosystems in order to mainstream into the classroom.
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Have You Ever Wondered?
Young scholars use their personal knowledge and the Internet to discover where and how spiders live. In groups, they discuss their experiences with spiders and how their lives differ from other insects. They use new vocabulary to discuss...
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Bell Live! The Great Lakes: A Superior Adventure
Students participate in a virtual field trip to Lake Superior. In groups, they perform experiments in which test the level of toxins and bacteria in the water. They also watch video segments life in the lake and discuss their observations.
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Something Fishy
Students identify and discuss the adaptive characteristics and behaviors of fish. They view slides of fish, and design and create a model of a fish of the future, listing the ways their fish adapt to survive.
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Peregrine Falcon
Young environmentalists study the effects that pesticides have on birds, such as the peregrine falcon. They also look at predator/prey interactions. Some wonderful in-class activities accompany an inventive activity. After an activity...
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Name that plant!
What is a dichotomous key? When your kids ask, hand them a learning exercise like this one, to explain it. They use the key to identify four different trees, based on the budding twigs they've produced. Tip: Have learners extend this...
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Blubber Gloves
The ways that animals adapt to their environments is quite remarkable. For this life science lesson, fifth graders take a look at some of the ways that aquatic animals that live in Arctic or Antarctic waters survive. They perform an...
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Earth Day Trash Survey Unit
Students develop an action plan to prevent trash from becoming a problem in the future.