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Postcards from California: A Unit on Geography, Social Studies, History and California's Resources

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders examine patterns that influence population density in the various regions of California. The unit's three lessons utilize graphic organizers for the interpretation and presentation of data.
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Is there a map in that story?

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders examine different pieces of literature from specific isolated Pacific islands. In this Geography activity, 8th graders read and interpret a written selection. Students construct a map of the stories setting.
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Lesson Five

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students study ocean habitats and create a habitat zone replica.  In this ocean habitat instructional activity students design and construct their own unique habitat.
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Science: Hurricanes As Heat Engines

For Teachers 3rd - 12th
Students conduct Internet research to track the path of Hurricane Rita. They record the sea surface temperature of the Gulf of Mexico during and after the hurricane and draw conclusions about how hurricanes extract heat energy from the...
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Parachute - Land and Weather

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students use different parachute activities to study weather and land patterns and formations. Tornados and hurricanes can be discussed as students make large waves (move from very high to very low) that mimmick these two weather...
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If I Can't See It, How Do I Know It's There?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students build a model ocean using a variety of materials representing the various levels of the ocean. They collect data about the ocean floor in a partner activity. They practice working with topographical mapping grids.
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"Global Relations"

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students explain the difference between each of three major ecosystems. They determine the flow of water in the St. Mary's River as it flows out of the river into the bay, and finally out into the Atlantic Ocean and identify where...
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All That Glitters...

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students study that white light (visible light) is comprised of all colors of the spectrum. They study that the quantity of light decreases with increasing depth in the ocean. They study that the quality of light changes with increasing...
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How's the Air Up There?

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students experiment with soda cans and water to discover why air pressure is greater closer to Earth's surface.
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Finding Our Place in the Community

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders search TDC database for images of our hemisphere, continent, ocean, country, state, and city. They identify their place in the hemisphere, continent, ocean, country, state, and city.
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Precipitates and Black Smokers

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students discuss how hydrothermal fluid is different from seawater and what happens to it as it passes through the oceanic crust. They observe and manipulate calcuim chloride and baking soda to comprehend how precipates form.
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Galapagos Rift Expedition Come On Down!

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students research the development and implementation of a research vessel/vehicle used for deep ocean exploration. For this oceanography lesson, students calculate the density of objects by determining the mass and volume.
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Lesson 3

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students demonstrate knowledge of geography and early inhabitants of Virginia by locating and identifying water features important to early history. They also locate three American Indian language groups. Both of these activities require...
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Let's Make Waves

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students investigate the concept of waves and how they are formed. The force of wind is demonstrated as the prime factor to the creation of ocean waves. Students research the concept in detail for better comprehension.
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Climate, Corals, and Change

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students examine oxygen isotope ratios and how they are related to water temperature. They also identify three forcing factor changes for climate change.
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Tracking the Salt Front

For Teachers 8th - 11th
Students manipulate Hudson River salt front data from October 2004 - September 2005 to locate the high and low points of the salt front for each month, They determine the range for each month, determine the modal range for each month,...
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Density Currents

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Learners experiment with currents caused by temperature variations that simulate the origins and flow of polar bottom currents. They discover water density is affected by temperature and salinity, resulting in deep water currents.
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The Pressure's Off

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students investigate air pressure with four hands-on activities. They observe experiments by viewing Take a Look 2 #21.
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Current Events and Fish

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders examine current events impacting aquatic life in their communities. They search for newspaper, magazine and television reports for information about aquatic life in local bodies of water. Students can write letters to...
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The Buoyancy Factor

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students examine why some objects float in water while others sink and the ability of something to float does not depend entirely on its weight. Archimedes' principle is introduced and buoyant force is discussed. Practice calculations...
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Frozen Film

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students are introduced to the topic of light interference through this hands-on activity. They observe how light reflects off two surfaces and then meets to form an interesting variation of color on a film surface.
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Pipeline to the Coral Reefs

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers discuss the relationship of density to stratification. In this marine science lesson plan, students create a model of upwelling events using cold and warm water. They discuss how water phenomena affect coral reefs.
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Social Studies: Exploring Japan

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders examine the culture and environment of Japan, beginning with a KWL chart. They use clay and cups of water to construct representations of the Japanese Islands. After designing flags representing farming and food, 4th...
Worksheet
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Literature-based Skill Building: Holes by Louis Sachar

For Students 4th - 5th
In this reading skills activity, students complete several literature-based skill building activities for the book 'Holes' by Louis Sachar.