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Plants and Air Purity
Students explore how green plants help improve air quality. They read an article and discuss the importance of air quality and its effects on the human body. They investigate by connecting hose to the top of a Bell jar and to a funnel....
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Eggs
Students know the following parts of an egg as the yolk, white, shell, membrane, chalaza, and air sac. They also sequence the growth of the chick in the egg. An egg is broken and students touch, smell and see it. They locate the six...
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Insects
Students work in groups to investigate the concept of insects. They participate in a variety of activities that include the gathering of samples and making observations like identifying different body parts. The lesson integrates...
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Ecosystems
Third graders identify and define an Ecosystem and the basic needs of all animals. They collect pond water in a pickle jar. They observe the organisms that are in the jar to keep an ongoing record of the creatures and their population.
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Rocky Observations
Students examine two images of rocks, make their own observations of individual rocks through drawing, and explain how the same observation skills can be used in the study of geology.
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Organic Matter in Soils
Students examine soil samples for the presence of organic matter. They determine which soil sample from their area contains the highest amount of organic matter.
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Fun with Ecology
Students explore their environment. Given a question and a scenario, they conduct a field study of a designated area. In that area, they count and tally the number of insects that are present.
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Soak It Up
Young scholars examine the various materials that make up their local soils. In groups, they record how each material is different and use cheesecloth to filter them into a bottle based on particle size. They use the soils to determine...
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Soil Organisms
Students work together to collect soil samples from different locations. In the samples, they identify the macroorganisms and classify them. They identify the conditions that affect how macroorganisms grow. They also analyze and identify...
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Paper
Students study the process of creating paper. They read and discuss a flier and visit centers in small groups to study Paper Fun, Historical Paper, What Paper Is Made Of, and Homemade Paper. After visiting each center, they share the...
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Brine Shrimp 1: Hatching Brine Shrimp
Students review their prior knowledge on brine shrimp. In groups, they raise a group of brine shrimp and design an artificial environment in which they can live. They change the conditions of the environment to see how the shrimp react...
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Have You Ever Wondered?
Learners use their personal knowledge and the Internet to discover where and how spiders live. In groups, they discuss their experiences with spiders and how their lives differ from other insects. They use new vocabulary to discuss their...
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Plant Activities: A Seedy Job
Students collect seeds outside to study under the microscope.
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You Are Where You Live
Students explore where insects live and how they have adapted to their environment.
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Do Human Practices Affect Water Quality?
Young scholars determine if human practices have any noticeable effects on the quality of stream life as measured by the presence of certain macroinvertebrates. They collect, preserve and identify macroinvertibrate samples and quantify...
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Inside A seed
Students examine the inside of a seed to see the beginnings of a plant. They identify the elements that plants need to grow and survive. They grow their seeds in the classroom.
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Pinhole Viewer
Students make a pinhole viewer to demonstrate how it inverts light passing through it which produces inverted images.
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You Are Where You Live
Third graders observe insects in a number of habitats. They recognize which insect characteristics are adaptations to their habitats.
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Look Out, Below!
Students study the four layers of soil while identifying the substances that each level is composed up. They investigate the properties of soil such as color, texture, water retention and the ability to maintain life by growing a plant.
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Particulate Matter: The Lorax
Students collect air samples to test it for air pollution. They are read the story The Lorax and discuss the effects of air pollution. They share their observations with the class.
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Get Out in the Field
Students visit a shoreline--of an ocean, a lake, a pond, a riverbank, etc., survey it and record what they find there. They map the shoreline and surrounding area and conclude where potential waterfront projects could occur.
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Particulate Matter: The Lorax
Students investigate how dirty air is outside. They read and discuss the book, The Lorax, by Dr. Seuss. They investigate using jars and lids to compare the dirt left each day as they remove the lids. They observe the lids and discuss if...
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Our Schoolsyard is Full of Biology
Students study the habitats found in their schoolyard. They apply firsthand, what they have learned in the classroom to something familiar to them. Students look at biotic, abiotic habitats. Small groups will present their findings to...
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How Does Water Cause Weathering?
Fourth graders explore the weathering process of water on rocks. They observe how water and friction from other rocks cause them to weather. Students discuss examine and discuss various rocks found on the playground, beach, etc. They...