Lesson Plan
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Four Color Map

For Teachers 3rd - 7th
Students explore geometry by completing a color puzzle. In this shape identification lesson, students utilize deductive reasoning to complete a Google SketchUp puzzle with trapezoid, triangles and rectangular shapes. Students...
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Comparing Microscopic Organisms in Fresh and Polluted Water: An Invitation To Inquiry

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Pupils have the opportunity to develop and formulate ideas and explanations through the scientific standard of inquiry. They identify organisms by using an identification key for specific aquatic geographical area.
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Environment: Just Around the Bend

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Young scholars decipher landforms on a map and corresponding satellite imagery. They consider the impact of pollution on agriculture and water. They draw diagrams demonstrating how pollution works its way into the food source.
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The Geographic Question

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students are introduced to the characteristics of a river system. In groups, they discover how rivers are formed and how it flows. They discuss the relationship between the river system and people and develop ways to keep the river...
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Rain, Rain, Go Away

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Students conduct a number of experiments involving evaporation and condensation. They view and discuss a video about the water cycle and then design posters about the rain based on the book "Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs".
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The Ups and Downs of Weight and Mass

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Students explore the concept of mass, and how it differs from weight. They also calculate their weight change as they ride up and down on an elevator. They record the changes in their weight as the elevator moves graph the collected data.
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Tread Lightly: Where We Stand

For Teachers 6th - 10th
Learners explore the concept of ecological footprints. In this environmental stewardship lesson, students calculate their ecological footprints and consider how to reduce them.
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Sculpt-a-Planet

For Teachers 3rd - 12th
Students study the moon and the planets. They create a painted, paper mache moon or planet sculpture.
Lesson Plan
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Planets Curriculum

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students complete an in-depth study of the known planets in the solar system. As a class, students identify the planets that are known in the universe, in the night sky. They explain the differences between planets and stars and the...
Lesson Plan
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What's Up?

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students compare and contrast the various heavenly bodies found in the sky at night. They identify the moon and stars in the sky as well as how the stars form pictures called constellations. Students also experiment with reflection and...
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How Do We Know...?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students identify and explain how various inventions and astronomers have improved our appreciation of the universe. Students identify at least two constellations in the sky and discuss how they were used in ancient times to tell time...
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Moon Landing

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Students research about the July 20, 1969, moon landing. They demonstrate their knowledge of the first moon landing by creating peek-a-boo rocket books. Also they can make their own moon rocks with an easy-to-make dough.
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Physics: Bounce - Projectile Motion and Collisions

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students conduct and observe experiments in Newtonian mechanics, kinematics, and projectile motion. They analyze the motion of a ball rolling off a table, falling, and then bouncing. Students answer a series of questions analyzing the...
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Rainforest

For Teachers K - 1st
Students examine how important the rainforest and its resources are for our everyday survival in the future.
Lesson Plan
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Forces of Nature: The Challenges of River Travel

For Teachers 6th - 10th
Students 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.
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Moons Of The Solar System

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students investigate the solar system and its moons. They conduct research in groups to find information. Also the teacher uses models of the planets in order to teach different facts about the solar system through the use of...
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World In Motion Curriculum

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students explore the night sky and its solar system. Using a Digitarium planetarium system, students observe four constellations. They discover the phases of the moon and eclipses. Students recognize the difference between normal and...
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Water Words

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Young scholars define words relating to water and its use in Nebraska. They listen to the story, Snail Girl Brings Water, list the water words from the story, and create a class dictionary.
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Stations of Light

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Student groups rotate through four stations to examine light energy behavior: refraction, magnification, prisms and polarization. They see how a beam of light is refracted (bent) through various transparent mediums. Students investigate...
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Environment -- Unit on Globalization and the Environment

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students examine the effect of human activities on the environment. They discover issues that are causing problems around the world. They participate in a debate using their own research.
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Salmon Vs. Dams: the Dam Removal Debate on the Elwha River

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students role-play a meeting of the Elwha River council in which they present opposing views to council members on hydroelectric power and salmon fisheries resources. They brainstorm possible conflicts between various people in land-use...
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The Making of a Star

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students create schematic diagrams of the new Russian space station module. They compose an imaginary yet realistic series of diary entries from the point of view of an astronaut living on board the completed space station.
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Does Weight Affect Drag?

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers investigate how weight affects a parachute's rate of fall.  In this investigative lesson students test parachutes, average results and conclude what makes a faster descent.
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Understanding the Indoor Environment

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students create and deliver speeches about why their school should have an Indoor Air Quality team. In this speeches lesson plan, students make presentations to school board members about having an IAQ team.