Lesson Plan
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Soap, Wood, and Water

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students measure the properties of two different types of soap and wood and calculate their densities. Then they predict whether or not whether or not each object would float or sink in fresh or salt water.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Life Cycle of the Butterfly

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders investigate the stages in the life cycle of the butterfly. They create a picture using Kid Pix tools. They give a description of the picture that they have created.
Lesson Plan
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Weather/Climate

For Teachers K - 12th
Students examine traditional Native American weather/climate knowledge. They keep a weather journal and research cloud cover.
Lesson Plan
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Click, Clack, Moo: Electric Blanket Science

For Teachers 1st - 2nd
Young scholars read Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type by Doreen Cronin and discuss the similarities and differences between electric blankets and regular blankets. They brainstorm a list of reasons why the farm animals wanted electric...
Lesson Plan
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What Does Motion Have to do with Sound?

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders investigate and explore sound energy. They investigate how the vibrational motion moves through matter in waves. Students describe sounds and vibrations. They observe that vibrational motion creates sounds. Students record...
Lesson Plan
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Friction Restriction: Creating a Design Plan to Redesign the Tread of Tennis Sneakers to Increase Friction

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Young scholars evaluate the friction of tennis sneakers and redesign them to increase friction. For this physics lesson, students calculate starting, sideways and forward stopping friction. Using quantitative data, they prove that...
Lesson Plan
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Magnifiers

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students describe how several different objects magnify a provided sentence and decide if they are good magnifiers or not. They then write a sentence describing two properties an object must have in order to be a good magnifier.
Lesson Plan
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Properties of Matter: "Sink or Swim"

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders recognize that different materials have different properties which can be observed such as texture and bouyancy, and compare and contrast, through observation, ability of some objects to float because of action of...
Lesson Plan
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Discover the World of Machines

For Teachers K
Students participate in a project which incorporates science with reading, writing, social studies, and technology. Through several activities over a 15 day period, they explore the computer, digital camera, computer software programs...
Lesson Plan
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Albedo Transect Research (Field Trip Day 1)

For Teachers Higher Ed
Students explore how Albedo research is designed and conducted by interviewing the researchers at one of their research sites. They relate Albedo and it's relationship to the Arctic environment as well as assess how a small change in a...
Lesson Plan
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Carbon Dioxide Heats It Up

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students design an investigation to test whether vegetation in an area helps regulate the ambient air temperature. They make comparisons between the investigation and global changes in climate. In groups, they present their findings to...
Lesson Plan
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The Cantankerous Pathogen

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore what factors influence the spread of infectious diseases. They explain how human manipulation of the environment affects the transmission of diseases.
Lesson Plan
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Applied Evolution: How Will We Get There from Here?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore the basic process of natural selection and how people can manipulate that process today. The consequences of natural selection on daily life and the implications of evolutionary biology in basic and applied science is...
Lesson Plan
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Fraction Equivalence

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders explore fractions. They compare different fractions using fraction bars. Students find equivalent fractions and they use fraction bars to visualize addition of fractions.
Lesson Plan
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A Global Water Crisis

For Teachers 8th - 10th
Students study the contamination of drinking water and what human activities play a role in it.  In this environment lesson students complete worksheets and complete a lab activity. 
Lesson Plan
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Getting to Know Soil

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Students make predictions and analyze soil. In this soil properties lesson, students make predictions about soil properties for various soil samples. Students examine the types of soils and record their observations. Students analyze...
Lesson Plan
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Aerospace

For Teachers 7th - 11th
Students experiment with weight and balance of a glider.  In this flight lesson students construct their own flying glider and record their experiment with it. 
Lesson Plan
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Ancient Hunters of the Great Lakes

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students describe theories on how the first humans came to America and show the evidence that supports it.  In this investigative lesson students study given material and prepare written or oral reports in their groups. 
Lesson Plan
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The Puzzle of the Ice Age Americans

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners describe alternative theories for how the first humans cane to America.  In this human origin instructional activity students study the origins of the first Americans. 
Lesson Plan
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Living and Nonliving Things

For Teachers 1st
First graders distinguish between living and nonliving objects, and compare living organisms and nonliving objects.
Lesson Plan
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Magnetic Bookmarks

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Students design magnetic bookmarks with healthy living messages. They decide on the shape, length, color, and type of material to use for creating their bookmark. Students write in an "inventor's journal" about their design and...
Lesson Plan
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Electricity: Series and Parallel Circuits

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders explore electricity and electrical circuits. They explore series and parallel circuits using Christmas lights. Students pull lights out of each strand of lights. They observe the results when the light bulb is pulled out....
Lesson Plan
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Natural Indicators: How Do They Work?

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Pupils describe characteristics and common uses of acids and bases. They describe the role of natural indicators in the chemistry of acids and bases after testing and making observations on a variety of plant extracts. Students observe...
Lesson Plan
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Ocean Exploration

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars explore a simulated ocean floor. In this environmental lesson plan, students take on roles of an ocean dive team exploring the ocean floor. Dive logs will be created and the young scholars will explore their sections of...