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Cherishing the Water of Life
Learners work in small groups to brainstorm a list of all creatures, plants, natural, and artificial processes that use or depend on fresh water. The class views an aquarium filled with water representing all the water in the world. The...
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Investigating Bean Pods and How They Grow
Third graders observe and create a record of seed growth over time. After planting a seed, 3rd graders record their observations of the seed's growth over a three week period. Upon conclusion of the experiment, they write a paragraph...
NOAA
What's New?
Biodiversity in some areas is more diverse than one might think. Using a two-day lesson, pupils consider the biodiversity of the Hudson Canyon and the characteristics of one organism. They begin with an analysis of the common earthworm...
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Preying on Beans
Students act as predators searching for prey (beans) in two different settings to demonstrate the processes of adaptation and selection.
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Enzymatic Action
Students observe how a cell uses an enzyme to rid itself of a poisonous substance by experimenting with hydrogen peroxide, potatoes, liver and carrots. They record the temperature and changes of the hydrogen peroxide as other elements...
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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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Shake It Up
Learners explore the three types of mixtures through the use of interactive video. They experiment making mixtures using a variety of ingredients, while observing, comparing and contrasting, and identifying the types of mixtures.
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Do Plants Need Sunlight?
Students investigate why plants need sunlight and what happens if they do not get the light they need.
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Radioactive Decay and Half-Life
Students describe how the mass of a radioactive isotope changes with time and the factors that affect the rate of radioactive decay. They write nuclear decay equations to represent natural transmutation. This activity is accomplished...
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What Is The Concept?
Students systemically determine the concept that the waste items placed in a "yes" category are biodegradable and those in the "no" category are not. This activity is a motivating way to introduce a unit on wastes by having students use...
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Thumbs Up, Thumbs Down: Grasping the Idea of Evolution
Students compare their performance of a series of tasks using their thumb and fingers to their performance of the same tasks without the use of their thumb. They discuss the role of fine and gross motor skills and speculate on the role...
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States of Matter and Chemical/Physical Changes Stations
Learners break into four groups, starting at different stations. Each station should take about 10 minutes depending on prior knowledge of the topic. They then rotate when everyone is finished to the next station and discuss answers of...
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How Sweet It is! A Colorful Sugar Solution Density Column
Students examine the affect of density. Using a graduated cylinder and equally prepared volumes of sugar-water solutions and food color, students observe a sugar rainbow. They discover that the greater the amount of sugar in the...
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Energy Efficient Buildings
Seventh graders create plans for an energy efficient addition to the school. They work in small groups with each group having responsibility for examining one aspect of the problem. They create working diagrams and a model of their...
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Understanding pH, Alkalinity, and Hardness
Learners comprehend the interactions of pH, alkalinity, hardness, and carbon dioxide in aquaculture water. They read the SRAC fact sheet number 464 "Interactions of pH, Carbon Dioxide, Alkalintiy and Hardness in Fish Ponds." Students...
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Chemistry Lab-Molar Volume of Gas
Students determine the molar volume of hydrogen gas. In this molar volume lesson plan, students find the molar volume of hydrogen produced in a reaction between magnesium and hydrochloric acid. They use a eudiometer to measure the volume...
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Penny Lab
In this percent composition worksheet, students carry out an experiment to determine the percent of zinc in a penny. They write a balanced equation for the chemical reaction they performed with the penny and hydrochloric acid.
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Making Mayonnaise - An Edible Emulsion
Students find a way to mix oil and water. In this emulsion lesson, students attempt to mix oil and water, then add egg yolk to the mixture to serve as an emulsifier and observe the results.
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Recycling Game ABC's and Sorting
Students participate in an ABC game based on recycling. In this recycling lesson, students sort objects into bins based on the first letter of each object. Students discuss the community and how to improve recycling.
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Perception and the Brain
Students experience how the brain adapts over time to changes in what they perceive. In this human perception lesson, students wear special prism goggles that initially disorient the user. Over time, the student is able to adjust to the...
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Rock Candy Crystals
Students discover how rocks are created. In this rock formation lesson, students investigate saturation, evaporation, and phase changes in geology. Students create rock candy from skewers, string, boiling water and sugar.
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What Am I?
Students identify various shells. For this oceanography lesson, students create a KWL chart to activate background knowledge on shells. Students read the book Ocean Day and learn about waves, tides, and the seashells that can...
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Investigating Soil
Students investigate soil contents. In this soil lesson, students gather samples of soil and record their findings on a graphic organizer. After analyzing the material in the soil, students illustrate the layers they found.
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Soil Properties
Students explore the porosity of soil. In this soil lesson, students conduct an experiment which shows the porosity of different types of soil. They use sand, silt, and clay to see how soil particles are more or less aerated and thus...