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Pet Rocks
Students complete a variety of activities related to the physical characteristics of minerals.  They classify and group candy, classify rocks and complete a Pet River Rock worksheet.  Students try to guess which rock goes with each...
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Whose Rock Is This Anyway?
Students will seek to understand the events at Pipestone Quarry and what may have caused them. Pipestone Quarry in Pipestone, Minnesota, bears the mythic red Sioux quartzite called Pipestone or Catlinite.
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Renewable vs. Non-Renewable Resources
Here's a fine instructional activity on renewable and non-renewable sources of energy for your 5th graders. In it, learners list a number of natural resources on the board, then try to sort the resources into appropriate categories. This...
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Marine Animals on the Move
Pupils work with partners to track tagged animals using real-time data from satellites. Students gather and analyze data, compile information and conclusions and then prepare a final presentation of their research.
Monroe City Schools
Clouds! Clouds! Clouds!
Here is a beautiful lesson on clouds designed for your 1st graders. Learners study three different types of clouds. They construct drawings of cumulus, cirrus, and stratus clouds. The Cloud Book, by Tommie dePaola is used to...
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Weathering Rocks
Fourth graders investigate what natural events cause rocks to break apart and differentiate between erosion and weathering.  They conduct an experiment with plaster of paris to observe why some rocks are hard and others break, and...
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Keying Rocks
Fifth graders observe several examples of types of rock and write about their similarities and differences in their science journals. They discuss their observations and discover that rocks are grouped according to the scientific...
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The Water Cycle
Fifth graders investigate evaporation, condensation, and precipitation.  They observe a water cycle kit and record their observations, and examine how water condenses on the outside of a cup.  Next, they observe an evaporation...
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Effect Of Technology on the Environment
Fifth graders create their own oil spill to explore the various ways in which technology can have a negative impact on the environment.  They discuss the daily use of technology and it's ability to be a positive for some groups and a...
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Me And My Shadow
Students investigate the concept of a shadow. They design a tool to create shadows for an experiment.  They make observations and record the size and shape of shadows. The lesson contains background information for the teacher to deliver...
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Classifying Rocks
Fifth graders examine and participate in the process of classifying rocks.  In small groups, they sort the rocks into two categories and complete a Venn diagram.  Next, they select three rocks, and complete a worksheet that is in the...
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Weather Instruments
Third graders make predictions about weather and utilize weather instruments and weather reports.  They match weather components with weather instruments, and demonstrate how to read a thermometer.  Students also construct and use a wind...
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Meet the Weather Scientist
Fourth graders collect, record and analyze data using simple weather instruments or use weather resources to comprehend weather.  They comprehend that scientists are very important people in today's world.  Pupils look at cloud types to...
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Theater Game: "The Good, the Bad, and the Bountiful"
Young scholars play a game to demonstrate the detrimental effects of an algal bloom on the environment. In this microorganism lesson, students discuss microbes and algae. They dramatize the effects of an algal bloom using a role-playing...
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Contain Yourself: Changes Over Time in the Use of Containers by Native Americans
Students investigate how Native American containers changed over time and how the use of pottery changed their lifestyle. They create a pottery container.
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Kindergarten-Respect Unit (Lesson Seven) Respect The Environment
Students review the concept of respect and that they should respect, not only themselves, but those around them. They comment on some example pictures in which the environment is NOT being respected and decide what should have been done...
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Renewable vs. Non-Renewable Resources
Fifth graders, after brainstorming why conservation of resources is important, distinguish between renewable and non-renewable resources. They make a list of different types of natural resources on the board and then sort them into two...
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European Climates
Ninth graders study the climate regions of Europe. In this geography skills lesson, 9th graders determine how weather and climate are influenced as they research the climate zones of specific locations and write about the ways that...
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Water Pollution
Fifth graders investigate how humans pollute the water supply with a number of different contaminates. While working in small groups they examine screening, sedimentation, filtration, and chemical treatments as methods of water treatment.
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The Carbon Cycle
Fifth graders examine the carbon cycle, periodic table, and photosynthesis and respiration.  They analyze the periodic table and how it is organized, then complete the "Elementary, Dear Watson" worksheet.  Students then examine a carbon...
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Erosion
Fifth graders study what erosion is, what causes it, and ways to slow its progress. They complete an experiment that depicts soil moving down a slope as water is poured on it to show how moving water erodes land. Next, they observe...
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Erosion
Young scholars discover the meaning of the word erosion and discuss effects of rocks and sticks upon the soil. They then work in small groups to construct a model of erosion to make observations and then write them in their science...
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"Potato Mountain": Reading/Understanding Topographic Maps
Middle schoolers investigate how to read topographic maps.  In this map reading lesson plan students complete a topographic map activity. 
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Microbes and Climate
Learners examine how microbes play a role in the climate system.  In this climate lesson students complete an activity, create a PowerPoint presentation and present it to the class.