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Survival Extravaganza
Fifth graders discuss the effects of scarcity. In this survival lesson, 5th graders use strategies that would help them survive in a survival situation. Students write letters about bears in need of help to survive. Students answer...
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Dust in the Wind; Chemicals in the Water
Students explore mechanical and chemical weathering at stations. They articulate some mechanisms of chemical and mechanical weathering through exploration in a lab. Students stations describe how chemical weathering differs from...
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Atomic Structure and Bonding
Eighth graders discuss and write about what led up to the discovery of the atom. Students label proton, nucleus, electron, and neutron in their notes. Students take notes on electron shells and how different atoms have different...
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Simple Machines
Students engage in a lesson that is concerned with the concept of a simple machine and uses the law of motion to justify why they operate. Students explore the laws by constructing some simple machines to illustrate the concepts.
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To Be or Not to Be - Abiotic/Biotic Factors
Students define and compare/contrast abiotic and biotic factors presented while using web cameras on the Web World Wonders website.
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Elements and the Periocic Table
Eighth graders draw the structure of an atom. They construct atomic models, list parts/locations of an atom, organize parts of the periodic table and write a descriptive report about an element.
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One Giant Leap
Students brainstorm important scientific advancements of the twentieth century. They examine the implications of the completion of the first rough draft of the human genome on society. They research a selected scientific advancement of...
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Punnett Squares
Eighth graders take a short quiz on genotypes and phenotypes. As a class, they are introduced to the concept of Punnett Squares and listen to a description of Gregor Mendel's pea experiment. In groups, they complete Punnett Squares to...
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How Much Energy is Stored in Wood?
In this energy lesson, learners create calorimeters out of soda cans and use them to calculate the amount of energy stored in different types of wood.
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Zoo Habitat Design
Students design a zoo habitat for an animals. In this zoo habitat lesson, students develop an idea for a zoo habitat that would meet the needs of a specific animal. They solve problems that might be encountered by using their knowledge...
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Flight Dreams: Birds Flew First
Young scholars observe how bird flight and machine flight are similar. In this aerodynamics lesson, students observe how birds fly and the shapes of their wings, and investigate how observing birds helped develop the concept of machine...
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Electrical Circuits
Sixth graders make an electrical switch. For this electricity lesson, 6th graders will make an electrical switch, a series circuit, and a parallel circuit. They explain an open and closed circuit and give examples of series and...
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Dr. Climatic
Students examine the principles that are involved in climate change. In this environment lesson plan students view a presentation on climate change and complete a handout.
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Return Of The Living Dead
Students research endangered animal species that have 'beaten the odds' as they continue to survive longer than scientists had expected. They write individual pages for a class book about endangered species.
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Clearing the Air
Students read a New York Times article and investigate a variety of emissions that contribute to global warming. They participate in a mock international summit in which they present recommendations for reversing the global warming trend.
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Speed
Students explore speed by calculating the average speed of several snowmobiles, and predicting which of them is the fastest. They watch a race to verify their calculations.
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Here It Goes Again!
First graders work on patterns in nature and to recognize how different living things adapt to different environments such as the rain forest.
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Teaching Kids about the Environment
Fifth graders identify the species of plants and animals found in an environment. They compare these findings to plant and animal species found in an unlike environment. Students acquire and compare soil samples from the two sites chosen.
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The Mighty Hudson Stretches its Mussels
Students brainstorm possible causes of zebra mussel migration and population expansion. They identify the key causes and effects of the disturbance of the Hudson River ecosystem and research causes and effects in the disturbances of...
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"What is an Engineer?"
Young scholars describe and draw what an engineer looks like and does. They descrie what they think an engineer does. Students volunteer to read their description to the class. They use their knowledge as well as their classmate;s...
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Introduction to Engineering Information Technology
Students demonstrate knowledge of information sharing skills by discussing each step with their group members. They demonstrate application of information sharing skills by working with a group to share specific pieces of data with...
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Temperature Scales
Eighth graders explore how to read a thermometer. They convert temperature between Celsius, Fahrenheit and Kelvin. Students explain that Celsius is used in the Scientific community and Fahrenheit is used basically only in the United...
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Caldecott Tunnel
Students visit the Caldecott Tunnel. They examine dark brown basalt and the gray-green sedimentary rocks and draw picture of the rock layers in the cliff face. In addition, they write a short paragraph describing what you observe about...
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The Magic School Bus Taking Flight
Students learn along with Ms. Frizzle's class. In this Magic School Bus lesson plan, students see how gliders coast by exploring the way different paper objects fall to the ground.