Lesson Plan
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The Learning Bottleneck

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students identify and analyze what energy is and how they feel after moving around a lot. They identify other ways that they can acquire heat and if there is some sort of mechanism for storing energy. Finally, students construct their...
Lesson Plan
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Science

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders study light and shadow, participate in mirror activities, and build a periscope.
Lesson Plan
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View the News with a Parent

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers view local television news programs with their parents to analyze content and discuss current isues. They write with their parents comments on their discussion to be later shared in class..
Lesson Plan
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The Physics of Electricity: Real or Magic?

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders participate in various demonstrations on electricity. In this physics lesson, 8th graders explore static and current electricity. They apply concepts to real world situations.
Lesson Plan
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Cookie Bar Coal

For Teachers K - 8th
Students observe the effect of heat and pressure on materials representing those involved in the formation of coal.
Lesson Plan
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Where We Put Ourselves

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine the form and function of furniture in New Spain, explore the origins of marquetry, and discover the influences of other countries on marquetry in Puebla, Mexico.
Lesson Plan
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Better to Tell the Truth

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders distinguish between emotional and logical arguments in advertising. They, in groups, find ads in newspapers and magazines illustrating the various types of emotional and logical arguments in advertising discussed on day one.
Lesson Plan
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INFRARED OLD FAITHFUL

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Learners view video clips and still images of Old Faithful and review the main questions and curiosities regarding Old Faithful. They break into groups and take on the roles of explorers and have come upon this interesting geothermal...
Lesson Plan
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Dirty Pictures

For Teachers 1st - 4th
Students investigate how food, clothing and shelter come from soil after they examine soil from their own backyards. They map soils on the color wheel before making glue and soil pictures and tie-dying T-shirts in red soil.
Lesson Plan
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South Dakota Quarter Reverse: Four Famous Faces

For Teachers K - 1st
Students recognize the faces of the four presidents on the South Dakota quarter reverse. After discussing the duties and responsibilities of presidents, they list the contributions of the four presidents. They decide which presidents are...
Lesson Plan
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Women in Baseball:Talk Show

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Students explore the development of women's baseball during the 20th century. They "role play" women who participated in some form of baseball (amateur, semi-professional, or professional) as well as other advocates of women's sports as...
Lesson Plan
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Puzzle Quilts

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students watch a demonstration on how to create a puzzle quilt. Using different fabric combinations, they use each block design twice to create the illusion that each block is unique. They are to determine which blocks are the same in...
Lesson Plan
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Activity 4: Alvin Dive, A Mysterious Encounter and Change Over Time

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students receive copies of the Time Series Observations to use for note-taking. They work in small groups to discuss what they see when the outside lights of Alvin are turned on, and off, where the bacteria may have come from. They view...
Lesson Plan
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It's ALL Good!

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students work on summarization as a skill to increase their comprehension of full texts. They focus on determining the most important ideas from the texts they read by using the four steps to summarization. Using an online article, they...
Lesson Plan
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Planting the Seed

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students plant their seeds and collect and organize their own materials for planting. They also set up their planters with wicks, fertilizer, potting mix, and seeds. Finally, students write their names on planter markers with a ball...
Worksheet
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The Old House

For Students 4th - 5th
In this ESL conversation learning exercise, students read a report on the condition of an old house that needs repairing. In small groups or in partners, students discuss what needs to be done to repair the house.
Lesson Plan
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Earth Science Lesson Plans - The Hadean

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders review the Clock of Eras and learn about The Hadean. In this eras instructional activity, 4th graders study the characteristics of the first time period on the Clock of Eras; The Hadean. They watch a demonstration of a...
Lesson Plan
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Soil Comparison and Analysis

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students perform tests on different soil samples. In this earth science lesson, students classify the soil into groups according to test results. They write a lab report following a certain criteria.
Lesson Plan
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Money Makes the World Go 'Round

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students examine what a basic unit of currency means and how it affects world finances.
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Tessellating Tiles

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders Make, name and describe, using their own language and the language of geometry, everyday shapes and objects. They create and talk about geometric patterns which repeat (show translation), or which have rotational or...
Lesson Plan
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Escher-Esque Tessellations

For Teachers 8th - 11th
Middle and high schoolers participate in a seven-part lesson plan creating Escher-Esque tessellations. They demonstrate their knowledge of geometric transformations after viewing a PowerPoint presentation, conducting Internet research,...
Lesson Plan
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Circuit Boards

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students explore circuits.  In this electricity science instructional activity, students build a circuit board after viewing a related PowerPoint presentation. Detailed instructions are included.
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Exploring the Sky: Reading Maria's Comet

For Teachers K - 4th
Discover the science behind astronomy. After reading the book Maria's Comet, which is about a young woman who breaks new ground by becoming a female astronomer, young learners practice reading comprehension with...
Organizer
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Happy and Sad

For Students 6th - 8th
For this English idioms and metaphors worksheet, students discover the metaphorical meaning of words and phrases associated with happiness and sadness.  Students work in pairs to role play a conversation about things that make...