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Inventing Insects
Students explore the world of insects and discover what it might be like to live like one. They create an insect with physical characteristics and demonstrate how it moves. Students also compare and contrast insects to spiders and how...
American Museum of Natural History
What is the Greenhouse Effect?
Without the greenhouse effect, Earth would not be inhabitable. A thorough online resource describes the greenhouse effect and how it occurs. The source highlights the different types of gases that work together to absorb the sun's...
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Water Cycle
Young scientists explore Earth elements by conducting an experiment. They define water vocabulary terms such as condensation and precipitation. In addition, they conduct a water experiment in which they build a terrarium, so they can...
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Mayan Farming Practices
The introduction of this lesson requires reading a from The Maya by Jaqueline Dembar Greene. Learners sketch a Mayan during the reading. Teaching strategies include direct instruction, grouping the students for discussions, reasearch,...
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Plants
Sixth graders examine how plants collect water and breathe. In groups, they participate in a variety of activities in which they discover how plants operate in terrariums. To end the lesson, they discuss why plants are important to the...
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Terrarium Observation
Students observe the growth of plants in their terrarium. For this social studies lesson, students measure plant growth for several weeks. They predict what happens if other organisms are added in the terrarium.
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Building the Terrarium
Learners draw a layout of their proposed terrarium. In this social studies lesson, students discuss how Mayans farm to produce food for the family. They compare their farming method with modern farming practices.
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Life in a Cup
Third graders make and maintain a mini terrarium. They keep a daily journal of what happens in their terrarium and record daily observations and measurements.
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Terrariums for Project Pals
Students identify the components needed by plants to survive in the terrarium. For this biology lesson, students build their own terrariums using materials available. They present their project in class.
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Habitats: must live with them....cannot live without them.
Young scholars conduct an internet study regarding habitat, ecosystem, biome and the region they live in. They observe the habitat by visiting a State Park and observing the organisms in their habitat. In addition, they create their own...
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Water, Water Everywhere
Students study the location of Earth's water and study the water cycle using a terrarium. In this water study instructional activity, students study a model globe for the Earth and find Alaska. Students locate the bodies of water and...
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Plant Systems
Pupils examine plant systems. In this life science lesson, students explore leaf and root systems on paper in a terrarium that they design and construct.
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What Does It Eat?
Young scholars use crickets, mealworms, and pill bugs and observe what they choose to eat. In this science lesson plan, students record data, create graphs, and do a write up on what they see happening.
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Water Cycle
Second graders investigate the water cycle. In this water cycle lesson, 2nd graders discover how the water cycle effects erosion and weathering. Students create their own terrariums to view the water cycle. Students illustrate their...
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Food Webs and Making Miniature Ecosystems
Students model a food web and create a miniature ecosystem. For this animal interactions lesson, students engage in a role playing game which simulates a food web. Students then build miniature ecosystems using pop bottles, snails,...
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Forest Decomposition
Students explore decomposition. Students define and describe components of the decomposition process. Students make a composter in a terrarium. Students record observations and changes weekly, drawing conclusions about the results of...
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Exploring the Water Cycle
Students investigate the water cycle. In this water cycle lesson, students create an ecosystem within a 2-liter bottle. Students record scientific observations as they observe the water cycle within their ecosystem.
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Basic Needs of Living Things-Lesson Three
Fourth graders explore the interconnectedness of organisms in the environment and examine how different organisms obtain their basic needs. They discuss a frog's habitat and what is found in it. Students discuss the processes of...
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Rain Forest Adventures
Young scholars discover locations of the world's rain forests. Once they identify the animals, plants, products, and resources located in them, they construct they own rain forest terrariums. By comparing and contrasting the two types...
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Arthropods at Home- Spider, Isopod, or Any Arthropod
Students design a habitat for an arthropod. In this organisms lesson plan, students read the book, A House is a House For Me. Students find an arthropod and create a terrarium.
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Life Underground
First graders build a terrarium in order to observe animal and plant life dynamics. In this biology lesson, 1st graders compare how organisms survive in different environments. They write their observations and analysis in their journal.
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Student Designed Investigations: Observations
Students choose an organism and create an experiment with that organism. In this observation lesson, students expose a living thing to something from its environment and record their observations. Students must have some prior knowledge...
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Venus Flytrap
Students study the Venus Flytrap including its habitat and how it eats. In this ecology lesson students complete several experiments using a Venus Flytrap to see how it reacts to various conditions.
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The Water Cycle
Second graders conduct an a water cycle experiment. In this water cycle instructional activity, 2nd graders observe a puddle of water, they predict how it got there and what will happen to it. Students watch a demonstration on the water...