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Investigative Case - Living in an Alkaline Environment
Students are shown many ways in which Mono Lake water and distilled water are different. They demonstrate that the survival of common soil bacteria declines as pH increases. Students examine the behaviors, adaptations, energy transfer,...
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The Greenhouse Effect
Seventh graders investigate the temperature change in open and closed containers. In this earth science lesson, 7th graders relate this lab activity to greenhouse effect. They create a line graph from data collected in the experiment.
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Amazing Bean Races
Students experiment with bean growth in varied conditions. In this plant biology lesson, students plant beans in soil and in spun cellulose (absorbent material in diapers) and measure the growth of their seedlings. They collect the data...
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De-composers - Terrarium
Students explore the environment by building a mock ecosystem. In this rainforest analysis lesson plan, students define many environmental and rainforest related vocabulary terms and discuss the current status of our planet's...
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What is electrical energy?
Students distinguish between items with and without energy. For this energy lesson, students understand that natural resources power electrical apparatus and that energy needs to be saved.
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Thinking Like a Scientist
Young scholars explore the scientific method. Students identify the steps in the scientific method and explain what each step means. Young scholars use these steps to determine if boys or girls are taller in their classroom.
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Decomposers at Work!
Students design and conduct investigations that illustrate the process of decomposition. After a lecture/demo, students simulate the process of soil composting in the classroom. They closely chart the decomposition of their soil.
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Earth Surface Socratic Questions
Students explore the ways Earth's surface is shaped by hydrologic, climate and tectonic forces by participating in a whole class discussion. They respond to prompts that lead them to conclusions about the relationships between landforms...
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Water Quality
Learners conduct experiments to study the quality of water. They examine how pollutants get into and affect the water supply in this unit.
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The Civil War
Eighth graders engage in a lesson that is concerned with the Civil War and they conduct research using a variety of resources. The research is used to create the context for class discussion and a possible project as an extension to the...
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Grow Your Character Bookmarks
Learners make bookmarks out of seed paper to study the growth of seeds and complete an activity for the Six Pillars of Character. For this science and character lesson, students describe the stages of growth of plants and determine what...
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Ecology
Sixth graders are introduced to online research and beginning PowerPoint presentations that are integrated. They pass a plant and photosynthesis. Students locate information on a self selected animal online. They give a PowerPoint...
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Geography and World History
Students build off of their current knowledge of geography and world history, while being introduced to new concepts and ideas.
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Western Red Cedar
Students explore the First Nations uses of the Western Cedar tree. In this nature lesson students compare and identify four conifer species. The students go on a nature walk.
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Building for the Big One
Students build and test structures that can best withstand earthquakes. They create their structures from playdough, cornstarch, grape-nuts and popsicle sticks and place their structures on a "shake table."
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Buried Treasure
Students examine the role of micro and macro organisms in the decomposition process. They record their observations and discuss. They also read a book about decomposition.
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Rivers
Middle schoolers examine how rivers are used in our modern world. They create and analyze a large class mural of a river illustrating the ways rivers are used by people and wildlife, and write an essay on how rivers should be used and why.
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Goodbye Honey Buckets
Learners investigate arctic geology and hydrology as well as tundra ecology as they consider options for sewage treatment. Public safety, environmental impact, and issues of construction and engineering be explored.
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Nutrient Enrichment vs. Oxygen Depletion
Pupils investigate how excess nutrients enter a body of water, and the harmful effects they have on aquatic organisms.
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China
Sixth graders become more aware of how land features, climate, and vegtation affect civilization. Students are divided into groups and research one of China's regions. They make a relief of their designated area.
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Toxicology and Living Systems
Students investigate how toxic chemicals affect biological systems. They determine the toxic dose of a chemical that inhibits seed germination in a Brassica rapa. They investigate the effect of environmental tobacco smoke on human lung...
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Environment: How'd That Pollution Get There?
Pupils examine how global wind and water patterns aid in the spread of worldwide pollution. In groups, they read articles about the domino effect of pollution and create posters displaying its journey. On blank world maps, students...
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Does the Seed Matter?
Students compare the growth of watermelon from commercial seeds and those harvested from a watermelon. They complete science journals showing these comparisons based on the data they collect.
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Floodplains in the field (with GIS)
Students measure a topographic and geologic cross-section across a floodplain by simple surveying and auguring techniques. They consider the spatial context of the field observations, use GPS measurements, and desktop GIS analyses.