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The Planet Wakyabi
Fifth graders explain how organisms' specialized structures and variations work with the environment to help them survive.
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Venom!
Students examine the nature of venom. They conduct an experiment to demonstrate how proteins such as venoms can be denatured using raw eggs, beakers, heated water, and compresses.
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The Lepidoptera Project
Students are introduced to Scientific Inquiry and discover how to design an experiment that answers critical questions using butterflies as the topic. They design experiments that compare the number of species of butterflies in a vacant,...
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The Paleozoic Era Crossword
In this Paleozoic Era worksheet, learners complete a 12 word crossword puzzle using given clues about the Paleozoic Era. Answers given on page 2.
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How Do Weather Conditions and Lunar Cycles Affect Fishing Success?
Students use weather measuring devices to record and study weather conditions at different locations, during different times. They attempt to draw conclusions about the relationship between weather conditions, lunar cycle and fishing...
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What's in a Tree?
Young scholars discuss the types of items they might find in a tree, such as birds, fruit, or seeds. They draw trees on poster boards and then add details by cutting them out and gluing them to their trees.
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LESSON PLANS (print version) pdf What is a Fossil?
Students can better explain how mould and cast fossils occur when they make their own cast fossils using plaster of Paris and objects such as shells, bone or even their own hand or footprint.
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Ladybugs
Students listen to the book, The Grouchy Ladybug, and discuss what they know about ladybugs. They observe live ladybugs, write down what they see, and write a short story about ladybugs.
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Characteristics of Living Things: What Makes Them Tick
Students list the characteristics of living things and give specific examples of living things exhibiting these characteristics. They bring in examples of living things.
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Get Out in the Field
Pupils visit a shoreline--of an ocean, a lake, a pond, a riverbank, etc., survey it and record what they find there. They map the shoreline and surrounding area and conclude where potential waterfront projects could occur.
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Water Quality
Students are presented with a hypothetical situation to investigate the water quality of the James River. They are given data to analyze and put into the graphic organizer that is included to help solve the problem. The lesson includes...
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Sampling Variation in a Natural Population
Students examine the phenotypic variation within a natural population of a single species. They collect data on the species and analyze the data using statistical/spreadsheet software. Students interpret their results and present their...
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Not Just For A Baby's Bottom
Eighth graders investigate the presence of talc in the geologic record. The different characteristics of talc is covered. The lesson includes background information for the teacher.
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Spring Collecting and Identifying Bumble Bees
Students collect bumble bees in the field, record data, identify and release specimens, answer conclusion questions, and send data in to researcher leaders. They make research based conclusions based upon the evidence.
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Looking at Different Species
Young scholars research a species of bug that they find in a pond. In this species instructional activity students work in groups and find the similarities and differences between different species of bugs.
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UK Freshwater Fish Quiz
In this online quiz worksheet, students answer a set of questions about freshwater fish in the UK. Page has a link to submit answers for correction.
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Pond and Pond Organisms
Students explore pond ecosystems. In this pond organism activity, students will use pond water and a plastic bad in order to locate and identify freshwater organisms. The activity is designed for younger grades, but...
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Habitat Choice in Woodbugs
Students investigate woodbugs. In this scientific investigation lesson, students explore the steps scientists take when conducting an investigation using live specimens. Students explore habitat preferences for woodbugs in various...
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Exploration of "Pillbugs"
Fifth graders define vocabulary terms, identify the characteristics of a pillbug, and create a dichotomous key. Then they examine the pillbugs and make observations and record these observations. Finally, 5th graders observe specific...
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Dinner in a Woodland
After reading a short paragraph about what makes up a woodland habitat, fifth graders attempt to identify the primary consumers, secondary consumers, and third order consumers in two separate food chain scenarios. They also name a hawk's...
Kenan Fellows
Use of Dichotomous Keys to Identify Stream Organisms
What kind of organisms are living in the stream? After an explanation on how to use a dichotomous key, groups of three to four use the keys to identify macroinvertebrates from a local freshwater stream. Using the the concept of...
American Museum of Natural History
Create Your Own Time Capsule
The corona virus pandemic is indeed a historic event. A time capsule activity permits young historians to document these days of social distancing, remote learning, and quarantine by collecting artifacts that capture what their lives are...
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Note Taking
Second graders work in groups to gather information from a factual paragraph on the topic of ants. They demonstrate taking notes by selecting 3 or 4 important key words in each sentence and write it on a note card to compile summary...
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School Yard Park/ Ecosystem
Fifth graders examine ecosystems in their schoolyard. In this nature and ecosystem instructional activity, 5th graders map their schoolyard into workable plots. They classify plants and animals found in the plot. They revisit their site...