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Spring of Life
Students explore Florida's springs using video segments. In this video lesson plan, students examine Florida's springs ecosystem, the animals that live there and the red tide that threatens the environment. The lesson plan includes...
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Life in Space: International Space Station
Students explore the potential challenges of living in space. In this investigative lesson plan students search the Internet to locate 16 nations that are working together to build the Independent Space Station, then they divide...
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School Site Ecosystem
Fourth graders are introduced to the concept of ecosystem; specifically, the interrelationships among plants and animals within an ecosystem, and their relationships to the environment in which they live and interact.
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A Natural Habitat: What, How and Why
Students understand what a habitat is. They determine why a habitat is important to our environment no matter where it is located. Students observe and recognize natural habitats in their surroundings.
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Food Chains Are Not A Necklace!
Second graders examine how food chains interact with different plants and animals. They practice using new vocabulary. They also discover the role of pesticides in the environment.
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What Can I Do About Global Environmental Change?
Young scholars complete a unit to evaluate their impact on the environment and greenhouse gas emissions. They conduct Internet research, develop a list of their electrical and energy use, calculate their share of greenhouse gases, and...
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Energy Extravaganza
Tenth graders study how cells and organisms acquire and release energy through photosynthesis and cellular respiration. They explain that living organisms use matter and energy to synthesize a variety of organic molecules and they will...
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Native Knowledge
Students investigate what type of climate and physical features certain Indigenous groups live in using an atlas and a provided worksheet. They then match the tribe and its location to the sustainable stategy employed in agricultural...
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Rainforest Plants and Animals -- Where Are They?
Students identify the plant and animals in the rainforest. Using the internet, they research how these plants and animals adapt to survive in this type of environment. In groups, they critique artwork and discuss how they were depicted.
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Pio, Pio, Que Frio
Students investigate the characteristics of living things. They determine that different organisms have different needs and describe and compare them. They draw and verbally respond about their favorite animal.
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Mini-Ecosystems
Third graders identify the living and non living things in a book read aloud and discuss the interactions represented in the book. Then, they research and include a list of food that each animal needs in an ecosystem. Finally, 3rd...
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Endangered Ecosystems Grades 4-5
Students read about research at the field sites. They read field reports from team members at the site. Students conduct their own research on ecosystems in their lives. They explore and build an interactive food web. Students create...
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New York City Water Quality Assessment Project
Students investigate the chemistry of water and how its molecular structure supports life through its biochemcial, physical, and environmental roles. They investigate the quality of water as it interacts with the environment. Students...
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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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Radical Raptors
Students are introduced to raptors and their role in the environment. They identify three characteristics of raptors and list several types of raptors found in nature. Students discuss how raptors and humans can benefit each other and...
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One Kid Can Make A Difference
Learners make a pledge to make three positive choices for 30 days and track their progress. For this positive choices lesson plan, students discuss ways in which they can be healthier, protect the environment, be respectful, and more....
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Fashion-A-Fish
Students explore body parts of fish and observe the adaptations they have to live in their environment. In this fish adaptations lesson plan, students create their own fish and look at native Arizona fish and what adaptations they...
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Hero Or Zero?
Learners investigate science and technology by reading a children's book. In this reading comprehension lesson, students read the story Archibald Frisby and discuss the ways we use science and technology in everyday life....
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Ecoregions of Texas
Seventh graders discuss why hunter-gatherers might have favored certain areas in which to live. In pairs, they research specific regions to examine in depth. Students present their eco-region vegetation findings (in this case Central...
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Australia, Oceania, and Antarctica Today
Students explore the importance of research in Antarctica, then explain how snow becomes part of the Antarctic ice cap. They explore Antarctica's harsh environment and discover how scientists drill ice cores and what information ice...
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Animal Movements
Students discuss the behavior of different animals and how they move. They explore the ways that this helps them live and find food in their environment. They participate in a game that requires them to mimic the ways in which animals move.
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Desert Animals
First graders investigate and identify a variety of animals that live in the desert. They complete a class KWL chart, then listen to the book Way Out in the Desert. Next, 1st graders observe a presentation of live desert animals, and...
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Native Versus Exotic
Students investigate the presence of exotic and natural species in the ecosystem. They define the differences between exotic and native while looking at one specific ecosystem in Maryland. They write how the exotic species are considered...
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The Birth of a Butterfly
Students explore the life cycle of a butterfly. In this butterfly lesson, students visit Internet websites, observe a live butterfly culture, and examine pictures of the stages of the butterfly life cycle in order to independently...