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Mini-labs on Newton's Laws
Students are divided into 6 groups with each group rotating to a different lab. The labs can be run over the course of a few days; or spread out for a longer period of time.
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Graphical Analysis of Straight-Line Motion
Learners investigate the concept of straight line motion. They determine the pattern and graph it looking for the motion maintained at a constant speed. Students also write a description of the significance of the line. The skill of...
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Touch and Feel Box
Students investigate their sense of touch to help become more descriptive with their observations. In this sensory lesson, students reach inside a box to feel an object then guess what it is. Students then use both senses of...
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Endosymbiosis: A Friend Within
Students research the ecological principle of symbiosis. Using a microscope, students observe the relationship of mutualism between termites and flagellates. Students examine a live termite and protozoans. They discuss the principles...
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Radical Raptors
Pupils are introduced to raptors and their role in the environment. They identify three characteristics of raptors and list several types of raptors found in nature. They discuss their positive and negative experiences with raptors and...
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The Earth's Layers: Day 6: Landforms II
Young scholars closely examine the earth's crust and various landforms. In this Earth's layers lesson students work in cooperative groups and analyze their roles and responsibilities therein. Each group is assigned a specific landform to...
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What are Conductors and Insulators?
Students explore simple circuits. Students conduct a variety of experiments to discover their level of conductivity. Students summarize and explain experimental findings. Students are introduced to passive causality.
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Recycling and Resources
Sixth graders examine ways to conserve natural resources. In this environmental lesson, 6th graders read the book Just a Dream and discuss the natural resources that they recycle. Students brainstorm ways to conserve natural resources...
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California Primary 2000
Students explore the open primary system and the candidates that appeared on the ballot in California's Presidential Primary in 2000. A variety of issues and sites are explored and form the focus of this instructional activity.
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The Importance of Water
Young scholars explore the importance of water. They discuss why water is important and students design an experiment that evaluates the water quality and methods of improving water quality. Young scholars perform testing and report...
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What is the Problem of Boston Harbor?
Students recognize the affects of technology on the environment. They examine data to determine methods to improve waater quality. A research paper is written to desribe recommendations for improving water in the future.
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Analyzing Journey North Maps
Students analyze what's happening and interpret why it's happening as the season progresses.
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Pioneers of Space
Students explore how to use natural resources in the next millenium. Students create a KWL chart and then research information on our solar systsem, natural resources, and environments. Students build a model of a future community and...
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Clean Coal?
Learners determine, based on their knowledge of coal pollutants, the effectiveness of clean-coal technologies. They state and defend a position on whether power plants in the United States should be required to upgrade to available...
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Learning about Biotechnology and GMO’s
Tenth graders describe the different methods of biotechnology. In this biology lesson, 10th graders assess the pros and cons of using GMO's. They create posters that either supports or discourages its use.
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Exploring the Careers in Landscaping, Botany, Grounds Maintenance, and More.
Students explore experiences of people employed in careers dealing with various plant species. They consider if there is a career in this area that appeals to them.
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Build a Journal
Learners prepare for field journaling at Yosemite Institute. They create and decorate their Institute journal giving them both a place to journal and ownership of it.
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Determination of Phosphates
Young scholars engage in a laboratory instructional activity in order to increase understanding of the impact of phosphates at the chemical and ecological levels. The lab exercise is completed with the goal of getting them to predict the...
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Graphing Lesson Plans
By using hands-on graphing lesson plans students can learn how to collect data, and display the information using graphs.
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The Blood Flow through the Heart and Body
Pupils discuss the importance of the circulatory system and how drugs and alcohol can affect our bodies. They interact with a CD ROM and then outline their bodies and label the parts of their heart and the blood vessels throughout the body.
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Yeast Cells and Their Environment
Students create their own experiment in which they have yeast cells growing in liquid environments. They examine the relationship between humans and microorganisms. They also practice using the scientific method.
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Fish Kills!
Learners investigate a fish kill occurrence, the Lake Iluka simulation. They examine what would happen if a fish kill happened today in their watershed area? what type of problems it might cause? They also discuss in groups any specific...
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Laetoli Trackway Puzzle
Students try to reach a "best explanation" after viewing diagrams. In this trackway instructional activity students complete several worksheets, make observations and hypothesize.
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Why Don't Whales Have Legs?
Students are given a variety of materials and are asked to design a heat loss experiment that results in a reasonable explanation of "Why don't whales have legs?" students work with the theory of natural selection.