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Monumental Disappearance
Fourth graders compare the emissions listed on the EPA isopleths over the past five-year period for ten key states. They use this information to rank each region according to the degree of acid rain problem in those parts of the United...
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Human Impact on the Life Cycle of Corals
Students study the life cycle of a coral reef. They then participate in a simulated village meeting in which they roleplay various characters who must review proposed legislation dealing with reef management.
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Pollution Solutions
Young scholars explore the role of chemicals in the pollution and destruction of ecosystems. They research factors that affect ecosystems and the methods being employed to counter them. In addition, they choose one water ecosystem that...
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To Fish or Not to Fish?
Young scholars demonstrate the decision-making process for marine reserves designations. For this role-playing lesson students analyze maps and data relating to a proposed reserve. They formulate the best decisions based on overall issues.
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Just What are you Eating?
Students identify and articulate pros and cons of genetically modified foods (GMF) including references to scale of controversy worldwide. Students then identify where they might find GMFs in their diets, read different opinion pieces on...
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On the Microbe Trail: Bacteria and Aseptic Technique
Students pour, label, streak, seal and store plates in an incubator. They identify areas in their environment that provide a rich fauna of microbes once they have been swabbed. They identify areas of contamination through a laboratory...
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Water Quality and Dissolved Oxygen
Students investigate the relationship between dissolved oxygen and organic materials and aquatic organisms. This is a 3-lesson plan series in which students explore dissolved oxygen and then design an experiment testing the effects of...
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Cancer as a Multistep Process
Students analyze the causes of cancer from a genetic standpoint. They explain the increase in cancer with age and create a hypothesis for cancer development. They use the laws of probability as well.
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Temperate Forest: Comparing Deciduous and Evergreen Trees
Students compare deciduous and evergreen trees. In this tree lesson, students list the differences between these two species of trees.
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Community Distribution
In this community distribution activity, students will review 5 terms associated with biomes, ecosystems, and communities. Students will then match 11 terms as either relating to marine biomes or land biomes. This activity has 5 fill in...
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Food Safety Lab
Students determine the optimal living conditions for yeast and apply these results to microbes in food. In this microbiology lab lesson plan, students observe the reaction of yeast to elevated temperatures. They relate these results to...
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Bottle Habitat
In groups of four, students construct aquatic habitats in pop bottles. They create charts and record data from observations over a four week period. Then they graph their data and write explanations for what they observed.
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Sour Milk Experiment
Students experiment with milk to understand the importance of pasteurization. In this pasteurization lesson plan, students learn background knowledge about bacteria in milk and the process of pasteurization. They complete an experiment...
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Biologically Altered (B/A Fish)
Students complete a variety of activities as they examine the ethics involved in biologically altering fish. They hold a mock town meeting in which they determine whether or not a transgenic aquaculture should be allowed to locate in...
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A Sense of West Virginia
Students consider their perceptions of the world through their 5 senses while visiting the West Virginia State Museum. In this West Virginia history instructional activity, students discover how knowing about the past helps with their...
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Ecosystems
Seventh graders create a closed ecosystem and place it where is it visible to others in the school. They label it with posters describing the interdependence of living things in the ecosystem. They discuss what might happen to the...
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Land of Plenty, Land of Want
Students view a video about the state of the environment. They discover the topic of sustainable agriculture. They identify problems and how to solve them.
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Endangered Species Animal Masks
Students research endangered animals. In this animal science lesson, students visit suggested websites to learn more about endangered animals and create animal masks. Students need glue, cardstock, string and feathers to construct the...
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Learning in Cockroaches
Students make scientific observations. In this stimulus response lesson, students make observations and collect data to determine if cockroaches can learn. A secondary purpose of this lesson is to provide students with the opportunity to...
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Dissolved Oxygen in an Aquatic Ecosystem
Students explain why dissolved oxygen is important in aquatic ecosystems. They evaluate the optimal dissolved oxygen levels for living organisms.
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Droplets and Downpours
Students explore how storm water flows through different habitats by sketching the slope of their yard, compare runoff for erosion, and create a sand castle. In this storm water lesson plan, students measure where their yard started...
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How Does a Green Plant Grow?
Students of all ages can explore the question "how do seeds grow?", design an experiment to answer the question, predict the outcome of the experiment then conduct the experiment.
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Fires and Fire Suppression
Students examine their assumptions about forest fires. They explore the conflicts involved with the forest service's new strategy. in addition, they will study one case where a prescribed natural burn had a significant impact on a later,...
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Insects
Third graders research an insect and creates a brochure on that selected insect. Each student develops a Venn Diagram comparing similarities and differences between moths and butterflies.