Lesson Plan
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The Importance of Water

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Young scholars explore the importance of water. They discuss why water is important and students design an experiment that evaluates the water quality and methods of improving water quality. Young scholars perform testing and report...
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A Thoreau Look at Our Environment

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders write journal entries o school site at least once during each season, including sketched and written observations of present environment. They can use sample topographical maps and student's own maps. Students can use...
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Attenuation of Light in Water

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore what happens to light intensity as depth increases using a light intensity logger. They construct a PVC model to hold water and identify what factors could influence the amount of light attenuation.
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Stratigraphy -- Layers of Time in the Earth

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Students are introduced to the process of stratification. Using the internet, they read about the Richard Beene archeological site near San Antonio. Using a map, they color code the different layers present at this site and answer...
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Life on a Fiery Planet

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students study the effects on the evolution of human culture from volcanic events worldwide.
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Destination Mars!

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders view Mysteries of Earth & Mars Video on DVD and record thoughts in their online journal. They record data in a spreadsheet about each planet then form a theory of the best time to launch a space craft from Earth to land...
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"Tsunamis"

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers visit a PBS Website about tsunamis to consider their causes, effects and steps countries have taken to try to defend against them. They answer questions and create a brochure explaining tsunami facts and procedures to...
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1968 – A Generation in Revolt

For Teachers 10th
Tenth graders compare and contrast the revolts that took place around the world in 1968. In this global studies instructional activity, 10th graders research the youth revolts that took place in Paris, Prague, and Chicago in 1968 and...
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How Things Fly

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students observe photographs of selected twentieth-century aircraft at the National Air and Space Museum and note differences in the design of aircraft wings, fuselages, and engines.
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Spy on a Spider

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Learners view slides or live specimens to name and describe the distinguishing features of groups of arthropods, especially spiders and insects. They complete worksheets, observe webs and then search for and record where spiders can be...
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Facts, Feats and Folklore: Spiders

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students review and discuss a variety of sayings, folklore and superstitions about spiders. They discuss this information and choose either an interesting fact or appealing foklore tradition to illustrate.
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Three Classes of Levers

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders research the three classes of levers and create a Power Point presentation showcasing the fulcrum, effort arm, and resistance arm in each class. They then write a paper explaining real life applications of the levers.
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Watershed Investigations

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Students find maps of the region to show rock formations and soil types and use GIS to compare radon levels. They describe three types of radioactive decay, interpret graphs, and follow steps to develop a nuclear bomb or energy.
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Metal Composition & the U.S. Mint

For Teachers 9th - 11th
Learners study the meaning, symbolism, and value of U.S. coins, especially the quarter. Theyresearch why in 1965 the U.S. Mint decided to change the metal composition of the quarter to copper coated with nickel. In addition, they perform...
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Coon Rapids

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students study the development and future of Coon Rapids, Minnesota. They navigate through learning activities about the development and predict future growth of Coon Rapids.
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University of California Botanical Garden Field Trip

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students explore plant species and the climates and conditions in their environment. They explore this living museum on the Garden's thirty-four acres to encounter over 13,000 plant species from around the globe.
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Archaeology as a Career

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders read about archaeology as a career. They develop a list of questions they would like to ask an archaeologist and then actually interview an archaeologist on the future of archaeology as a career.
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Plants in Texas: Then and Now

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders discuss continuity and change, identify various plant materials, and compare and contrast ways in which early people used plants in Texas in prehistoric times with ways that modern man in Texas uses plants today.
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An Ad for an Element

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students prepare an ad for an element, including properties and uses, in an attention getting format such as that used in the advertising business.
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Measuring Water Temperature

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students measure the temperature of three water sources. They collect data points every second for twenty five seconds for each sample using Lego Robolab temperature sensors, complete a worksheet, and analyze the data.
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Reopen: A Study of Five Closed Mines

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students analyze data to determine which of the fived closed mines would be beneficial to have reopen. They acquire knowledge of rocks and minerals in the area to give reasons why that mine should open again. Students gain knowledge in...
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"For The Birds" [part II]

For Teachers 4th - 7th
Pupils examine how Chinese and Japanese artists used different kinds of birds as representations of ideas that were important in both cultures and create their own birds using the technique of origami.
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Technology and Change

For Teachers 4th - 7th
Students write a paragraph explaining how a technological innovation from a particular country has affected the world. Using a variety of resources, students identify a technological innovation, giving accurate historical and...
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Saving Hawaii

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students engage in a lesson about the a proposal for a sanctuary in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. They write a letter to the President of The United States in opposition to the proposal based upon classroom activities and research.