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Pete And Repeat

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students draw a picture of a person from popular culture, then "clone" it using printing techniques in this Art lesson that tackles the questions surrounding cloning, DNA, and current scientific techniques. An emphasis is placed on the...
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Photosynthesis

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students are introduced to the process of photosynthesis. In groups, they test the effects of the lack of sunlight on plant leaves and compare the results with their hypothesis. They note the characteristics that plants and animals share...
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The Science of Respiration and Blood Circulation

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders study how respiration and circulation are connected.  In this respiratory lesson plan students complete several activities to better understand heart rate and carbon dioxide in the body. 
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Go To The Head of the Cloud

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students pretend they are water droplets traveling through the water cycle. Using their text, they discover the steps in the cycle and the different paths water can take. They write a report about their journey through the water cycle...
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Enzymes in Action

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Students explore how enzymes are important in the chemical reactions of all living things.  In this enzymes and catalysts activity students complete an activity to see how enzymes change living things.
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DNA Extraction

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students extract and observe a visible amount of DNA from Escherichia. coli cells. They discuss the properties of DNA. Confirmation of the presence of DNA by a reaction with an indicator is confirmed within this lesson. Many hands-on...
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Design a Deep- Sea Vertebrate or Invertebrate

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students design a deep-sea animal. In this research based lesson, students research and design a vertebrate or invertebrate that lives in a methane hydrate habitat. They compile a class chart of the adaptations animals have in this...
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Proteins

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students conduct a variety of experiments to explore protein. In this biology lesson, students solve a mystery by testing for the presence of glucose, protein starch and triglycerides. They explain how DNA transcription and translation...
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Genetically-Modified Food

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students investigate the pros and cons of genetic engineering. They watch a short Bill Moyers video, conduct Internet research, create a poster, participate in a pro/con debate, and write an essay expressing their personal feelings on...
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Dust in the Wind; Chemicals in the Water

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore mechanical and chemical weathering at stations. They articulate some mechanisms of chemical and mechanical weathering through exploration in a lab. Students stations describe how chemical weathering differs from...
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The Sense of Hearing

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students study the cycle of how we listen and hear our own speech. They examine sound waves, and the role of the nervous system in hearing. They investigate the cues besides lipreading that deaf people rely on for comprehension.
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What Plants Need in Order to Survive and Grow: Light

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students conduct an experiment to evaluate whether plants need light to survive and grow. They observe and gather data about plant responses to different growth regimes, analyze the data, and make conclusions about basic plant needs.
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Putting on Mass: Just how do Trees grow?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students articulate an explanation of photosynthesis. They identify problems they have with comprehension of how a plant gains mass. Students describe a historical experiment.
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Dissecting Frog Embryos: Cell Membranes and Mitosis

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students use high powered dissection microscopes to dissect and examine frog embryos as well as see balls of cells that were produced by rapid division. The concept of mitosis links to the lesson.
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Desalination: Creating a Solar Still

For Teachers 4th - 6th
To better understand how solar power can aid in creating desalinated drinking water, the class creates a model still. They will build a model of a solar still, make observations, and discuss how the process works. While the idea behind...
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Amino Acids

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students explore what amino acids are, their history and how they are used in technology.  In this protein lesson students identify the properties of proteins and amino acids.
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DNA Extraction

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students are able to extract and observe a visible amount of DNA from Escherichia coli cells. They discuss the properties of DNA. Students confirm the presence of DNA by a reaction with an indicator.
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Science: What Is the Carbon Cycle?

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students examine the carbon cycle while identifying its sources, sinks, and release agents. Using magazines and newspapers, groups of students design collages illustrating the carbon cycle. Finally, they write responses to several...
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Cracking the Code - Cloning Paper Plasmid

For Teachers 10th - 11th
Students explore the "genetic code." They observe how genes may be manipulated for genetic research, gene cloning, and genetic engineering. In a lab setting, students examine the mechanics involved in cutting and ligating DNAs into a...
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Kernel Power" Ethanol Fuel from Corn

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students study why corn is a biodegradable, renewable resource.  For this ethanol lesson students build models and observe a chemical reaction.
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How do plant & animal cells make and use energy?

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Pupils show the relationship between the need for plants to undergo photosynthesis in order to generate oxygen. They see the flaws associated with this thinking because of the lack of CO2 and H2O and lack of sufficient gravity in order...
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Designer Genes

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students view a video on DNA. They discuss mitosis, meiosis and fertilization. They use strips of paper to simulate fertilization and analyze the genotype and phenotype of the combined chromosomes.
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The Water Cycle and Global Warming

For Teachers 8th - 9th
Students study the flow of water in the environment.  In this water cycle lesson students evaluate the consequences of changes in the water cycle using data. 
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Necessary Nitrogen

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students view a video that presents the biogeochemical cycle of nitrogen. They compare types of soils and consider how different fertilizers affect soil composition.