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Classy
Students explore the classification system in this seven lessons unit. The diversity of life forms and their characteristics are examined using a microscope. Kingdoms, classes, and families are investigated.
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TE Activity: How Fast Can a Carrot Rot?
Students experiment to define which environmental factors favor decomposition by soil microbes. They decompose carrots in dirt, weigh the carrots periodically to determine how long it takes. They look at how engineers use this type of...
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Moldy Jell-O
Students design an experiment to determine the best conditions for molds growth. In this biology lesson, students collect data for a week and analyze their findings. They create a presentation and share them with the class.
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Yeasts and Molds: Food Science, Bacteria, Fungi
In this lesson students will consider the characteristics and nature of yeast and molds in order to help them understand how these microorganisms affect food production.
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What Structures and Behaviours Can Be Observed in Vinegar Eels?
Students view vinegar eels under a microscope at different magnifications. They use a DigiScope with the camera attachment in place of the eyepiece. Students count the number of thrashing movements in 10 seconds. They repeat this three...
Science 4 Inquiry
The Classification of Living Things
It's a classification sensation! Demystify why we classify using an inquiry activity that helps your class sort things out. Groups begin by classifying a variety of shoes before they research organisms and design their own dichotomous...
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What Is the Nature of Science?
Young scholars distinguish between scientific and everyday meanings of key words-theory, hypothesis, law, fact-and use in context. They recognize the variables that affect observation, data collection, and interpretation. They discover...
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Down, Dung and Dirty
Students observe the changes seen in succession and the biodiversity of a community through its species richness and evenness. They create a dung culture in a clear plastic cup from horse, goat or cow dung then observe the numbers of...
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Compost in a Bag!
Fourth graders experiment to see which objects decompose. In this compost lesson, 4th graders observe the changes of labeled objects in a bag. Leave the objects for one month and record the changes by observation and weight. Students...
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Understanding Germs
Students investigate germs. In this health lesson, students use "glow lotion" on their hands and look at them under a black light. Students observe the cleanliness of their hands under the black light.
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Growing bacteria
Students investigate the growth of bacteria under the right condition. In this biology lesson plan, students observe the growth of bacteria and fungi given the perfect condition to grow. They graph the result and investigate where else...
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Plant Diseases
In this plant biology learning exercise, students take a walk in the woods to write down signs of plant diseases. Students draw pictures of sick plants they observed and identify the number of different symptoms found. This is a three...
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Food Chains
Fourth graders study food chains, producers, consumers, and decomposers. They play a food chain game and create food chain mobiles or posters. They take a nature hike around the school and observe various parts of a food chain.
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Why Is My Bread Fuzzy?
Students explore the organisms that live on counters or surfaces in the classroom. In this mold experiment, students observe mold in different conditons. Students record their observations on a worksheet. Students understand how...
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Case of the Missing Pumpkin
Students explore the process of decomposition. In this science lesson, students carve a pumpkin and observe as it decomposes. Students compare the changes to an uncarved pumpkin. Students write about the disappearing pumpkin.
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Biodegradability
Students study the effects of water, salt water and heat on common household materials. They separate an emulsion and show that the materials are completely recoverable and observe the effect of acetone and water on polystyrene.
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Who Eats Whom in the Salt Marsh?
Seventh graders complete a virtual online salt marsh tour. In groups, they observe and identify the various types of animals found in the marsh. After categorizing the animals, they create a food web based on the animals role in the...
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How Does Your Ecosystem Grow?
Students consider that under certain conditions in nature tend to remain the same or move toward a balance. They observe populations and determine the functions (e.g., de-composers, producers, consumers) they serve in an ecosystem. They...
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Immune System: The Master of Self-Defense
Students examine the role of the immune system in the human body. They conduct a hand-washing experiment, answer questions while viewing videos, discuss key vocabulary, draw and label illustrations, and observe demonstrations and record...
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There are Microbes in my Food!
Sixth graders produce yogurt in the classroom as an example of the use of microbes in food production, and record observations in science journals.
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Mini-Ponds
In this mini pond worksheet, students create a mini-pond ecosystem with soil, water, and plant life. Students let their ecosystem sit for a day and they observe a sample the next day. Students identify all the pond water microorganisms...
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Now You See It, Now You Don't
Students explore organic and inorganic objects. In this environmental lesson students perform a composting experiment using flowers in different soils. Students record their observations.
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Get to Know Trees
Students recognize the characteristics of trees by using their five senses. In this trees lesson, students observe and record the characteristics of trees on a field trip. Students then are blindfolded and use their senses to identify...
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Case of the Missing Pumpkin
Students explore the process of decomposition in plants. In this plant biology activity, students use a cleaned out pumpkin and observe how the decomposition process takes place. Students write down adjectives to describe the pumpkin.