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Scientific Notation
Learners explore the concept of expressing numbers in scientific notation. In this scientific notation instructional activity, students understand the importance of using scientific notation by finding real world examples where...
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Create Your Own Kaleidoscopes
Seventh graders create a kaleidoscopes after researching Sir David Brewster and his ideas on light. They recognize the properties of optics from making and using the kaleidoscopes.
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Crime Scene Investigation: Hair Analysis Lab
Students participate in a hair analysis lab. Using a digital microscope, students compare and contrast hair samples. They determine if the hair samples are human or animal. After completing lab results sheets, students share their...
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What Is an Egg Without its Shell?
Young scholars observe osmosis, a cellular process that normally can't be observed without a microscope, and use scientific method to observe osmosis in a chicken egg.
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The Hidden World
Students examine dust mites and other allergens. In this dust lesson students complete a lab activity on dust mites.
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Does the Introduction of Pesticides and Fertilizers Alter an Aquatic Ecosystem?
Pupils conduct an experiment using a small sample from a local water source. They introduce fertilizers and pesticides, separately, and carefully examine the results in their simulated aquatic ecosystem.
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Mohs Hardness Test
Fifth graders examine what the Mohs Hardness Scale is before testing a number of minerals to determine their place on the scale. They test a fingernail, a penny, a knife blade, a metal file, and several unknown minerals and rocks using...
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Where Are The Dinosaurs?
Students study what happened to the dinosaurs and possible causes of extinction. In this investigative lesson students create dinosaur eggs.
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Forensic Detectives: Mysteries and Solutions
Young scholars examine forensic science. For this video based lesson, students examine the tools and techniques of forensic science. They write a report about a fictional crime scene from the Discovery video.
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Soybean Science
Fourth graders explore food science by participating in a cooking activity. In this soybean oil lesson, 4th graders listen as the teacher gives them a background on soybeans and their use by humans today. Students grind soybeans and...
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Leaf Pack Study
Young scholars conduct an experiment using leaf packs. For this leaf lesson students complete an activity in groups and complete a handout.
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Deep Freeze
Students practice various sampling methods for retrieving data under water, ice, and soil. They use the sample material to make temperature measurements, chart contents, and draw their own conclusions as to what is happening in the...
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Sorting
Students explore how books are sorted in a library. In this sorting lesson, students play a game where they have to fill the shelves with books that share a common theme. Students compare this game to a real library. Students discuss how...
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The Science of Forensics
Students examine the importance of details in evidence gathering, as well as the relationship between chemistry, physics and biology. In this forensics lesson plan students divide into groups and look at fingerprints and fill out...
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Winogradsky in a Bottle: Beginning a Winogradsky Column
Students study changes in the environment using a microscale experiment. In this environmental science activity, students construct a modified "Winogradsky Column" to observe bacteria activities. They record observations and formulate a...
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BIoluminescence
Students investigate the concept of bioluminescence. They use dinoflagellates in a lab situation to study photosynthesis. They conduct research into the concept using a variety of resources. Also the class is taken on a field trip to...
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The Chemistry of Hair Care
Students do hands-on activities and read information online in order to answer the central question of this lesson: How does understanding the chemistry of hair care, including the role of pH, help in the development of better hair-care...
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Fool-proof Yogurt
Students make yogurt from powdered milk. In this yogurt experiment lesson, students combine powdered milk, warm water and plain yogurt. They mix up the ingredients and put it in an insulated cooler for 6-8 hours.
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Fighting Invisible Enemies
Students examine antibiotics, what they do and what things were like before we had them. In this antibiotics lesson plan students research bacteria and antibiotics then as a group prepare a written report.
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Fossil Impressions of Ancient Life
Students make a mold using Plaster of Paris and then make a cast using that same mold. They pick a fossil and describe how it looks. They write a fictionalized story about its life, or burial. (
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Winogradsky in a Bottle: Beginning a Winogradsky Column
Students use their measurement skills by marking a bottle for construction purposes. They record qualitative and quantitative data and analyze their results. Students demonstrate evaluation of a small scale systems as a model for the...
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Science Experiments - The Low-down
Third graders discover the process thinking about science experiments, and why they are important. They work in small groups using incline planes and a small toy car to design one scientific question that can be answered through...
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Pond Water
Young scholars explore a creek environment. They make observations, identify the living and nonliving factors in the environment and collect a plankton sample to take back to the classroom. In addition, they look at plankton under a...
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Ride the Wild Leaf Cycle
Fourth graders complete a worksheet. In this life cycle lesson, 4th graders learn about the leaf cycle and complete a worksheet where they put the leaf cycle steps in the correct order.