Lesson Plan
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The Blue Bottle: An Example of Teacher-Guided Inquiry

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners observe a demonstration in which a bottle containing a colorless solution is mixed, turns blue, then becomes colorless again. They record observations, form and discuss hypotheses, and draw a conclusion based on the evidence.
Lesson Plan
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Cave Activity: Mapping Fractures

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Learners tour a cave and observe fractures in the cave's ceiling. They record characteristics of the fracture. They locate three major passages in the cave and ten major fractures.
Worksheet
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Desert Adaptations

For Students 5th - 10th
In this desert adaptations worksheet, students are given a water filled sponge which represents an animal. Students observe their "animal" for a 24 hour period and conserve the water in the sponge as best they can. They measure and...
Lesson Plan
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Orientation of the Earth in Space

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students hypothesize the location of the sun in the sky at diferent times of day and at different latitudes. They perform several experiments to provide evidence for their hypothesis. Experiments including observing the sun's position at...
Lesson Plan
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Biodiesel: An Alternative Fuel Source

For Teachers 9th - 11th
Students explore the advances that are being made in alternative fuels.In this biodiesel lesson students evaluate different petroleum and alternative fuels.
Lesson Plan
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Climate Change

For Teachers 6th - 7th
Students compare weather data and draw conclusions. For this climate change lesson plan, students determine whether data collected over a period of ninety years shows a warming trend. 
Lesson Plan
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Rising Water!

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students observe water change from a liquid to a gas state when heated and then return to its liquid stage when cooled. They learn that gas molecules move faster than liquid molecules. They discover physical properties that describe how...
Lesson Plan
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Something Fishy Going On

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students create a video animation of how Swimmy gathered his fish friends together to form a great big fish that would frighten the predator tuna away. In art class each child create a small red fish which gets displayed in the ocean...
Lesson Plan
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Is Global Warming Happening?

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students investigate the probability of global warming and the effects of global warming on the environment. They conduct Internet research and collect data, transfer the data onto an Excel spreadsheet, and create a presentation that...
Lesson Plan
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Ship of the Line

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students discover boats by researching 18th century ships.  For this Naval history lesson, students identify and describe the different components of an 18th century naval ship after researching information on the Internet....
Lesson Plan
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Density Derby

For Teachers 8th - 10th
Students explore the relationship between mass, volume and density. They use model boats to discover how changing mass and volume affect density. This is a very engaging lesson plan which provides great demonstrations and hands-on...
Lesson Plan
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"Measurement in Motion"

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders examine the rate of motion and changes in motion using a ramp and a rolling object. They conduct the demonstration, determine the average speed, and describe how a moving object can have zero acceleration and deceleration.
Lesson Plan
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How Texas is Planning To Manage Its Water

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students research water management strategies in Texas. They analyze projected demand for water in the year 2050, interpret graphs and tables and then discuss the data as part of a written report. They research and map the locations of...
Lesson Plan
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Touch and Discover

For Teachers K - 4th
Young scholars identify the physical properties of items using the sense of touch. In this touch and discover lesson, students describe items.  Young scholars sort items using a Venn diagram.
Lesson Plan
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STRAINING FOR SOUND

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders use a laser along with computer microphone probeware and the appropriate software, 6th graders determine the speed of rotating objects.An audio amplifier is connected to a solar cell to change the laser light signal into a...
Lesson Plan
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Research Ethics

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students develop an ability to distinguish between simple error, misconduct and fraud. Students are lead to consider a widening circle of the consequences of misconduct and fraud. They expand their knowledge on the self-regulating...
Lesson Plan
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Reflecting on Reflectivity

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners plan and construct a "mini-lab" to measure the reflectivity of different earth surfaces. They measure reflectivity of materials, including ice, soil, rocks, etc., and then extrapolate from what they have learned to consider the...
Lesson Plan
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Magnets---Polarity

For Teachers 1st - 5th
Students identify and describe the poles of a magnet. They demonstrate how the poles interact with one another.
Lesson Plan
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Animals, Soil, Trees

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders describe the various kinds of soils and how plants and animals are affected by them. They describe the baic needs of plants, scoring at least a 3 or 4 on a 4-point rubic. Students are able to predict and/or infer what...
Lesson Plan
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Hurricanes and Tornadoes (Grade 4-8)

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students investigate the concepts of hurricanes and violent weather conditions. For this violent weather lesson, students access an Internet site and watch a video about how air masses behave, how a tornado forms, how hurricanes form,...
Lesson Plan
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Cutt-Off Genes

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers explore how gene sequence analysis can be used to examine phylogenetic similarities of different organisms. Students work in groups to simulate a gel electrophoresis separation of fragments using poster board to create...
Lesson Plan
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Hydrologic Cycle Scavenger Hunt

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students explore the water cycle using educational resources. In this water cycle lesson, students use a global climate DVD to complete a scavenger hunt on the hydrologic (water) cycle.
Lesson Plan
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Activit #2 Matter: Is It Conserved?

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students support the law of conservation of matter with evidence. They discuss the changes observed from the burning of the candle, and the differences in mass which are observed when the same reaction is carried out in an open or...
Lesson Plan
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Tree Seedling Planting- My Relationship and Responsibility to our Forests

For Teachers 4th
In this trees lesson, 4th graders read the book, A Tree is Growing and complete a KWL chart on how trees grow and how they are used. Students research the symbiotic relationship of humans and trees, create tree collages, plant a...