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Capturing Watershed Experiences
Students observe organisms found in the water. In this instructional activity on organisms, students collect water from local streams and tributaries in order to study the organisms found in the water. As a culminating activity, students...
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The Microscope and Cell
In this science worksheet, students calculate the size of different samples using the microscope as part of a formal lab assignment.
Cornell University
Thinking with the Eyes
Objects are larger (or smaller) than they appear! Scholars use a laboratory investigation to explore the difference between resolution and magnification. The activity allows them to calculate the size of the field of view of their light...
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Geometry: Practical Applications of the Distance Formula
Learners, working independently and in groups, apply the distance formula to practical situations. After solving various problems, students in pairs design coordinate planes from the school blue print to measure the distance from the...
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Saving Makes Cents
Students identify ways families save money. For this financial lesson, students read the book A Chair for My Mother and discuss ways to save money. Students identify coin values and practice counting money.
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Fingerprints
Students analyze their fingerprints. In this fingerprint instructional activity, students make prints and observe the patterns for arches, loops, and whorls. They write a brief autobiography about themselves titled "I'm Thumbody."
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Observation Challenge
Fourth graders, in groups, use observation skills at 12 stations and describe what they see.
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Jack and the Beanstalk: Plant a Bean and Watch It Grow
Learners plant bean seeds, watch them grow, and measure them with non-standard objects. They describe the bean's growth in a journal and record the growth on a calendar.
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Matter
Third graders are introduced to the topic of matter. As a class, they brainstorm what they already know about matter and its properties. After completing a worksheet, they participate in an experiment in which they observe matter in...
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Fish Parasite Survey
Students count nematodes, cestodes and crustaceans on approximately one-hundred and fifty fish. They fill out autopsy reports for external and internal parasites then complete and discuss guide questions to make inferences about parasite...
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Fish Parasite Survey
Students survey and dissect as many fish as possible. They count nematodes, cestodes and crustaceans on the fish, fill out autopsy reports, and transfer data to a chalkboard data table. Students graph the results of the entire class...
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Classification
Fifth graders analyze the necessity of classification. They distinguish between living and nonliving things in our world and recognize the six life functions of living things by identifying 15 classroom objects.
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Vibration and Pitch
Fifth graders investigate the relation between vibrations and pitch. They observe and discuss an experiment involving a bicycle and a piece of cardboard in the spokes, listen to a comb with cardboard, and listen to various sounds and...
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Biodiversity on Ninepipe Reservoir
Sixth graders complete a unit about the biodiversity at the Ninepipe National Wildlife Refuge. They view a video, conduct an interview with a tribal wildlife biologist and a federal wildlife biologist and compare the two, collect and...
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What is a Nanometer?
Students develop a concept of the relative size of objects in the nanoscale. They complete an internet assignment using the website,"Scaling the Universe to Your Desktop". Using analogies to common objects they get an appreciation for...
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Observing Compost Invertebrates
Second graders examine compost piles and what invertebrates help decompose the organic matter. In this compost invertebrates lesson students collect invertebrates found in a compost pile and examine them.
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Graphing Aquatic Insects
Students identify aquatic insects. In this organism lesson, students locate aquatic insects near a local waterway and collect them. Students graph the amount of insects that they collected.
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Where are the Dinosaurs?
Students find the similarities of dinosaurs and the animals of today. In this dinosaurs lesson, students understand why dinosaurs have become extinct. Students research and create dinosaur dioramas and finger puppets.
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Life in a Log
Students identify insects living in rotting logs. In this decomposition instructional activity, students observe pieces of a rotting log, they look at the insects that have inhabited the log and create a chart that shows their findings.
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Building a Telescope
High schoolers construct a simple refracting telescope. They calculate the magnification.
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The Virtual Electron Microscope
Students explore the world of the very small using a Flash plug-in Virtual Electron Microscope. They complete and discuss an activity in which unknown samples are placed under the computer simulated microscope to determine where the...
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Labs from YSI 95: Telescopes
Students build a telescope and give quantification of its magnification and field of view while making observations regarding images. For this telescope lesson, students use a simple lens to project a scene and examine various telescope...
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Seed Sorting
Students examine and sort seeds. In this life science lesson plan, students make general observations of a tub of seeds, then develop sorting criteria for sorting the deeds. Lesson includes extension activities.
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Cereals
Learners watch television commercials, then analyze the nutritional value of the cereals. For this health and nutrition lesson, the teacher shows students several cereal commercials, then the learners describe the cereals. Students read...