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Creepy Crawlies
Second graders study the world of insects. They join Greenpatch Kids, an organization of young people who are interested in nature and want to protect our environment. In addition, the students assess use of technology as a valuable...
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The Birth of a Butterfly
Students explore the life cycle of a butterfly. For this butterfly lesson, students visit Internet websites, observe a live butterfly culture, and examine pictures of the stages of the butterfly life cycle in order to independently...
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People of the Desert
Students study the importance of caring for desert water sources. In this desert lesson, students investigate water resources that are available in deserts. They listen to a read aloud about the Sonoran Desert before working in groups...
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Destination Outer Space
Fourth graders use effective writing skills, their imagination, and their knowledge of the nine planets as they create travel pamphlets of the solar system.
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Vanished!
Middle schoolers research how certain types of animals became extinct, and write report about their chosen species, explaining scientific theories or facts about how it became extinct, and how extinction has affected other species and...
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Who Lives Here?
Students explore the concept of philanthropy. In this environmental stewardship instructional activity, students examine water conservation efforts in desert regions as they act as members of a city council committee investigating the...
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Summarize This!
Students explore how to summarize a reading passage. They read non-fiction books. Students use a Venn Diagram to compare and contrast the two animals they read about. They write a summary using the information in their Venn Diagram.
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Wild Animal Investigation - Habitat Diorama
Students research wild animals in cooperative groups and use their information to construct habitat dioramas. They demonstrate competence in using different information sources, including those of a technical nature, to accomplish...
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Machines Help
Fourth graders review the six simple machines, and locate simple machines on the school grounds. They chart what machines are found and how they are used to make tasks possible.
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Vertebrates are Cool!
Students conduct research on various vertebrates. They read the eBook 'Vertebrates,' select a vertebrate, conduct research, and create an eBook with one photo about their chosen vertebrate.
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Food Webs
Students research rainforest animals and use that information to make a flow chart to show the order in which energy is transferred through several organisms. They label the producers, consumers, and decomposers in their chart.
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Proper Hygiene
Third graders discuss the importance of personal hygiene and cleanliness. They examine why good oral hygiene is a significant part of maintaining a healthy body. They focus on the need for daily baths, hair care, and teeth cleaning. They...
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Enrichment Activities - "Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH"
Fifth graders read the novel "Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH." They discuss the various characters in the book, and the different types of conflict that take place within the book. They also research owls and rats to make comparisons...
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How to Summarize
Students review techniques on how to read a passage smoothly making the words connect, and with expression. They then read the instruction to the chapter in their science book and answer questions that are written on the board. They...
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Heredity, Genetics, Traits
Eighth graders study how an embryo develops into a fetus by undergoing many physical changes which they observe on a poster. They examine the metamorphosis of fruit flies as they develop through a series of changes. They record the...
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Petroglyphs: Protecting the Past
Fourth graders investigate the three types of rocks and study about petroglyphs. They explore why petroglyphs were used by the Nez Perce People. Students investigate the properties of the three types of rocks and they discuss cultural...
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Goldilocks and the Three Hares
Students read the book Goldilocks and the Three Hares and complete activities to go along with it. In this Goldilocks and the Three Hares lesson plan, students complete activities on puns, facts about weasels, rabbits and hares, and more.
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Metamorphosis
Students select organic object and transform it to an inorganic object in five or six steps, and complete value rendered drawings.
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Dinnertime On The Reef
Middle schoolers identify the main parts of a coral reef. They describe a coral reef food chain.
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Women in Math
Students explore the concept of women in mathematics. In this women mathematicians lesson, students research the role of women in mathematics using books and the Internet.
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Other Worlds
Students explore the variety of 'other worlds' in fiction and their uses in reflecting our own. They explore the role of myth and
legend as the basis for modern story telling. Book extracts are provide for classroom use.
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Exploring Ecosystems
Fourth graders investigate ecosystems. In this ecosystem instructional activity, 4th graders explore producers, consumers, and decomposers and study the interdependence of each.
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GeoHunt
Students describe the difference between geological resources and othe natural resources. They list the rocks, minerals, and fossil fuels that are found in Illinois and their uses. They identify ways to conserve natural resources.
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What is a Nanometer?
Students develop a concept of the relative size of objects in the nanoscale. They complete an internet assignment using the website,"Scaling the Universe to Your Desktop". Using analogies to common objects they get an appreciation for...