Curated OER
"Graphing Your Motion"
Students study the concepts of motion, velocity, and acceleration through graphing their own movement using LoggerPro. They explain the difference between speed and velocity using the weather vane example. They discover the difference...
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Plants 'n' Bugs
Second graders experiment to find if pollinators have color preferences. For this plant and bug lesson, 2nd graders gather information about how flowers pollinate. Students participate in a pollination experiment using...
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Franklin Mountains
Fifth graders examine photographs of the eastern and western Franklin Mountains. As a class, they discuss what is shown and the different colored rocks and the orientation of the layers. In groups, they are given clay of two different...
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ICT Activity 5 Modeling with Elmer
Students are introduced to the 'Elmer' stories. They take Elmer to different places through their story writing and painting. Students are shown how to use some painting tools. They experience a 'virtual' visit from Elmer the Elephant....
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What's Up With the Water Cycle?
Students explore the water cycle. Students identify the stages in a water cycle and create a PowerPoint presentation based on their knowledge.
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Curious Clouds
Second graders explore clouds. They read The Cloud Book by Tomie dePola. Students sort the cloud pictures into three categories. Students create a graph using the cloud pictures. They use Excel to create a bar graph.
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Your Day as a Cycle
Fourth graders examine a variety of cycles. They take a look at life cycles of plants and animals, the cycle of the moon and tides, and other sequences of events in their daily lives. An interesting part of the lesson is how kids keep...
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Let the Sunshine In
Ninth graders conduct an experiment which demonstrates the absorption and reflection of sunlight by measuring the heat flow through various window coverings. They predict the relative amount of the sun's heat. Students draw conclusions...
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Plate Tectonics & Land Forms
Fourth graders discuss the different interactions of plates and the ways mountains are created. In this plate tectonics lesson students complete an activity in groups.
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What Floats Your Boat?
This open-ended boat building exercise is meant to be part of a three-lesson series on ships. Links to the other two lessons are included. This particular part is mostly a group lab activity in which they build a boat, find its load line...
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The Magnetic Sun
Learners follow steps to build a simple version of a magnetometer, an instrument capable of detecting areas of strong magnetic field. Students use the magnetometer to investigate models of the Sun and examine images of the Sun.
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What's Gotten Into You?
Students use models to investigate the process and consequences of water contamination on the land, groundwater, and plants.
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Animals: Here and Now
Discuss and identify natural habitats of animals commonly found in zoos. The class constructs and displays small "zoo like" models to show a chosen animal habitat. They write a short story or diary about an animal or pet of their choice....
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Do You See What I See?
Students hypothesize the role of rocks, soil, and water by observing a terrarium and create a model to explore the water cycle. This is part of a five station set up.
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Up, Up, and Away
Learners create a model to explore the water cycle. Students also perform different experiments to witness water changing from a liquid to a gas. Learners are asked to if they can find ways for water to go away without pouring the...
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Smart Decision!
Fourth graders use a Decision Making Model to analyze and solve an environmental problem of public concern. Groups review a real life environmental problem, and use a worksheet imbedded in this plan to guide their decision.
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Backwards Goes It Does
Students create a three-dimensional model of the Chicago river watershed to determine the flow of the river at its mouth. They use prepared clear gelatin and topographic maps to discover that the building of canals actually reversed the...
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Wax On, Wane Off! the Different Views of the Moon
Students create a three-dimensional model of the Earth and Moon to show the different phases of the moon as they appear on Earth. In small groups, they draw a diagram for a phase, set up the model in the drawn positions then test it with...
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One-Way Valves
Students explore how the heart pumps blood through its valves. They observe fluid moving through a one-way valve and build a model of a valve. in addition, they explore biotechnology design.
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Tee Off!
Students explore about one of the many products created by gain-based process. They investigate the ways agriculture can protect and preserve the environment. Pupils use their scientific processing skills to conduct a full inquiry based...
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Hawks Migrate
Students examine the types of hawks found in Illinois and compile a list of them. Using different species of hawks, they compare and contrast their characteristics. They work together to create their own hawk model for the classroom.
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A Tasteless Tasty Test
Students review the inheritance patterns of simple dominant and recessive traits in humans. They use PTC tasting as a model trait. Each student determines whether or not they are a taster using PTC paper then they compile and discuss the...
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Volcanoes
Fifth graders study volcanoes. They watch a demonstration that represents the eruption of a volcano and discuss the similarities and differences between the model and a real volcano.
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Water Power
Students observe a model of a waterwheel to investigate the transformations of energy involved in turning the blades of a hydro-turbine into work. They work as engineers to create a model for a new waterwheel while considering resources,...