Lesson Plan
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Biological Sampling Device Using a Sea Perch

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Students construct plankton nets to be towed and collect specimens to be examined and analyzed in the classroom. They develop research skills through collection of an aquatic sample. They write lab reports after interpreting, identifying...
Lesson Plan
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The Food We Eat

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Young scholars plan a menu for one day after they study the food pyramid and learn about their daily food requirements. They are given an updated food pyramid with a summary fo dietary recommendations that replaces the old standard...
Lesson Plan
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Sea Ice Research

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students study sea ice and its importance in climate and climate change. They discuss sea ice as a presence of a food source for marine animals in the arctic and complete a lab activity. After completing the lab, they watch a video...
Lesson Plan
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Finding Your Way Around A Map

For Teachers K - 3rd
Students use the Internet to learn and/or review map and globe skills and will recognize the difference in perspectives as shown on maps.
Lesson Plan
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What are Quarters Made of?

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students study the meaning, symbolism, and value of U.S. coins, especially the quarter. They l research why in 1965 the U.S. Mint decided to change the metal composition of the quarter to copper coated with zinc. In addition, they...
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Ice Core Research

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students study the work of Dr. Hajo Eicken through an audio conference. They engage in a conference call with Dr. Eicken to identify how ice core research is designed and conducted. After asking Dr. Eicken questions, they record their...
Lesson Plan
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Hatching Brine shrimp

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders investigate the life cycle using brine shrimp as an example. They conduct observations by watching the shrimp hatch out of cysts. Students design simple experiment to structure an observation. The experiment is approved...
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What Sticks Can Make You Sick

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students study adhesins and their receptors.  In this science inquiry lesson students experiment to find adherence and use agglutination to identify adhesins. 
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In Search of Cosmic Rays

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students compare rates to altitude. They conduct a class discussion about the results.
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Insect Matching

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders match insects to the proper order based on the characteristics. They culminate their study of the orders that insects belong in by looking at insects with magnifying glasses.
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Tree-ring Dating

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students complete activity sheets and participate in discussions while they study dendrochronology. They determine a tree's age and recognize how the climate varied over time.
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A Living Watershed

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students, through this series of lessons, use local resources, speakers, print and video materials, as well as standard text materials to study the ecosystem of the local watershed.
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Draw your Conclusions

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students analyze data from a student discussion website and write a report on the outcome of an investigation regarding their local water quality. As part of a larger unit students then post the summary of their investigation on the...
Lesson Plan
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Acid and Base Testing

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students study descriptions of indicators and the way they are used to identify acids and bases. They use this information to determine if unknown solutions are acids or bases.
Lesson Plan
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Dissolved Oxygen and Temperature

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students are shown how temperature affects dissolved oxygen and they create a graph showing this relationship. They think about the adaptations of animals to live in different water temperatures. Students test four different water...
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Dissolved Oxygen Introduction

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners are shown how dissolved oxygen enters the water. They are taught the difference between a water sample that has been exposed to the air and one that has not. Students brainstorm what organisms need to survive. They use dissolved...
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Is Our Water Healthy?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students test water for a least one chemical characteristic. They hypothesize how a storm event might change the chemical characteristics of a stream. Students collect water samples and use the chemical test to test the water.
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Aquatic Ecosystem Exploration

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners visit a local stream, pond, creek, or river and collect macroinvertebrates. They sort macroinvertebrates and identify each species using a dichotomous key. Students decide on trophic levels and construct a possible food web for...
Lesson Plan
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What If There's No Light?

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
students discuss the importance of light and the consequences of living without it. Using a plant as a demonstration, students predict and observe what happens to a plant when it does not receive enough light. In groups, they experiment...
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Runoff: Intro to Watersheds

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students are taught that a watershed is, what types of basic land cover are impermeable and permeable to water. They trace the flow of water around their school and around their home. Students determine what watershed their school is a...
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Invasives and Marsh Birds

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students are taught that invasive plant removal can have a variety of impacts. They are shown this by using graphs. Students view maps of vegetation change on Iona Island. They discuss implications of changes on marsh birds using data...
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Water Chestnut Graphing Activity

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students are taught how to format and enter data into an Excel spreadsheet. They make a graph and interpret graphed data. Students discuss possible impacts of water chestnut invasion. They graph data on water chestnut. Students report...
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Water Quality with Samples

For Teachers 6th - 11th
Students recognize whether one wants to drink water, swim in it, or for the health of the organisms living in it. They prepare different water samples to observe and collect samples regarding the water quality.
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Bottled Water vs. Tap Water

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students analyze the similarities and differences between tap water and bottled water. They make informed decisions about their use of each. Students are asked if they drink mostly tap water straight from the tap or water fountain. They...