Lesson Plan
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From Vibration to Sound

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students observe a series of demonstrations to illustrate wave movement. In this sound wave lesson plan, students witness how objects create waves when dropped in a dish of water, use a rope and slinky to produce transverse and...
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Exploring Magnetism and Electricity

For Teachers 9th - 11th
Students explore Faraday's Law. In this electromagnetism lesson, students investigate Michael Faraday. Students discover the history of the electromagnet. Students examine the parts of an electromagnet.
Lesson Plan
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Energy Transformation

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students identify different kinds of energy such as heat energy, kinetic energy, potential energy, and magnetic energy. They investigate the concept of conservation of energy.
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Sky and Cloud Windows

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Young scholars monitor the weather, clouds, and sky. In this weather lesson, students create a sky and cloud window to focus their sky observations. They write observations in a notebook and include the date, time, cloud cover, types of...
Lesson Plan
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Sound Box

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students make simple observations and identify relevant variables, such as frequency and diameter. They then discuss the relationship between variables. The task assesses students' abilities to make simple observations and make...
Lesson Plan
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Nerve Racking

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders study the components and function of the nervous system. They investigate how engineers design biomedical equipment to assist the nervous system and explain how the five senses are affected during spaceflight.
Lesson Plan
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2005 Submarine Ring of Fire Expedition: What's for Dinner?

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students compare and contrast photosynthesis and chemosynthesis as sources of primary production for biological communities, and describe sources of primary production observed in biological communities associated with volcanoes of the...
Lesson Plan
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Measuring Snowfall

For Teachers K - 4th
Students predict the amount of snowfall for the week and measure snowfall.  In this measuring snowfall instructional activity, student use a precipitation gauge to measure the week's snowfall; and analyze the data to determine...
Lesson Plan
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Hot Stuff

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Young scholars investigate mechanical and electrical machines in the classroom and school, and identify which produce heat while operating.
Lesson Plan
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DNA Extraction

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Young scholars participate in a lab activity in which they extract DNA from a strawberry. After mashing the strawberry into an even, smooth puree inside a bag, they add extraction buffer and mix the strawberry with the buffer. They...
Lesson Plan
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DNA Extraction

For Teachers 7th - 10th
Students extract the DNA from a strawberry. In this DNA technology lesson, students describe what they think DNA looks like. They use a procedure to isolate and extract the DNA from a strawberry.
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Plant Life Cycle

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders explore the plant life cycle. They discuss the sequence of events in the life cycle of the plant and illustrate how the life cycle never ends. Students explore the importance of water, sunlight, and nutrients during the...
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How Can We See Inertia?

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Students conduct 8 experiments to gain an understanding of inertia. Students use a variety of materials to conduct these experiments. Students learn the difference between objects at rest and objects moving in a straight line.
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Individual Sundial (Cloud/Rain Activity)

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students make a simple sundial to examine the changes in shadows over time. In this sundial and shadow lesson, students make a simple sundial out of a manila folder and pencil. They observe how shadows change over time, and relate it to...
Worksheet
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Kinds of Energy Word Search

For Students 6th - 8th
In this energy word search puzzle, students identify types of energy and related terms. They identify 18 words from a given list. An answer sheet is provided.
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Blast's Cosmic Carnival

For Teachers K - 4th
Students, after analyzing the history of a concentrator, model how a Genesis spacecraft concentrator works by playing a game. In groups of three or four, after being given materials to work with, are challenged to roll the rubber balls...
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Life of Thomas Edison

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students research the life of Thomas Edison. In this Thomas Edison lesson, students explore major life events of Thomas Edison. Students investigate the inventions of Thomas Edison.  Students discover how various fields of study...
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Oh Nuts! - Calories Count

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students measure and record the mass of the nut to be tested to the nearest 0.01 gram.
Lesson Plan
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Will they grow?

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders plant seeds and see how they will grow in a specific temperature and are questioned about different environments and how they think crops would grow there. They form a hypothesis, perform an experiment, and then collect...
Lesson Plan
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Turbidy and Water

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Young scholars use observation skills in assessing the water quality of water samples in this activity and learn that the tastes and preferences of others can be different.
Worksheet
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Astronomer sees a 'Brake' in Cosmic expansion

For Students 7th
Seventh graders examine and read an article.  In this investigative lesson students discuss questions about the article and complete an activity. 
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Energy Source

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders work in groups. They are given one type of energy to research. Students look through the different magazines or newspapers to identify pictures that show their type of energy. Students glue their pictures to the...
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Making Waves, Making Music, Making Noise

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders watch a demonstration on how talking cans produce sounds. In groups, they compare and contrast the sounds from different sized cans. They participate in a variety of activities to discover how sounds are made and how...
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Moon Watch

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders read books about the moon and discuss its perceived changes as it moves across the sky. They observe the moon over the course of a month and chart their observations. They discuss their observations and conduct further...