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Getting Through the Day Duck Style

For Teachers 1st - 2nd
Students observe ducks at a local wetland. They answer various questions about the ducks behavior and write the answers on a downloadable worksheet.
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Designing and Building Catapults

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders complete a challenge to create a catapult that projects a marble or other projectile at least one meter. While experimenting they apply the Four Question Strategy to answer the question, " How can I make one modification...
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Backyard Critters

For Teachers K - 3rd
Students explore the characteristics of invertebrates in their backyards. They observe, describe, and classify specimens. They conclude with a "snail race."
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Aquifer Model

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Young scholars, after researching and brainstorming about aquifers and locating aquifer maps of Texas, participate in the building of a model of an aquifer complete with a pumping station. They also answer a variety of questions at the...
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Archaeology

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine how observations lead to investigations, and how archaeologists conduct their investigation.
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To Float or Not to Float, That is the Question?

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders develop operational definition of density, do computations using density equation, categorize pieces of matter as being able to float on water or not, based on density, explain why some objects sink or float based on...
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Honesty and Ethics in the Science Lab

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students complete a variety of lab and discussion activities as they are introduced to ethics and honest lab practices. They perform various biology, chemistry, or physics labs which test their ethical lab practices.
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Square Foot Garden

For Teachers 9th - 11th
Students plant a garden and keep track of it. In this geometrical garden lesson, students collect data from their garden twice a week. They graph their finding and figure out how many square feet of growing space each person needs...
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Case Study Two: Shark Dissection

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers read an article on sharks prior to beginning a dissection lab. As part of the lab, students identify differences between the shark anatomy and human anatomy and hypothesize why those differences exist.
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Evolution Lab

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine the pattern of natural variation in a society. They examine Darwin's theory of evolution and analyze data. They use computer programs to graphically display the variation in organisms.
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Bat Ecology

For Teachers 3rd - 12th
Students, through hands on games and activities, discover how bats live and how bats benefit ecosystems. They play a game designed to show them how echolocation works and another to show how mother bats locate their young through their...
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Simulating the Greenhouse Effect in a Terrarium

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students identify what factors effect global warming and how the greenhouse effect occurs.  In this environmental lesson students view videos then complete an experiment using a terrarium to observe greenhouse gas.
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VARVES: Dating Sedimentary Strata: Geology, Paleontological Patterns

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Young scholars count the number of varves (annual layers of sediment) in shale billets, taken from the Green River Formation in Wyoming. The count is then extended to reflect the entire 260 meters of sediments where the billets originated.
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Introduction to Friction

For Teachers 11th - Higher Ed
Students study the properties of the frictional force between two surfaces in contact. They inspect various phenomena in nature where friction plays an important role and demonstrate
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A Study of Hydra Cluster Galaxies

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Students analyze a designated galaxy with a partner or in a small group.
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The Case Of The Sour Employee

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders are presented with a problem that has to be solved. The scenario is a mystery that is purely hypothetical. This does draw on the knowledge of previous lessons. The lesson plan contains background knowledge explaining the...
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Structures and Behaviors of Planarians

For Teachers 2nd - 11th
Students investigate planaria of the phylum platyhelminthes. They use DigiScope technology to observe and describe the structure and movements of planarians.
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Plant Nutrition and Nutrients

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students observe seeds growth and examine the different parts of the seedling. In this biology lesson, students compare the growth of seeds planted in soil and in hydroponics. They record their observations in their science journal and...
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How Far Did They Go?

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Students create a map. In this direction and distance instructional activity, students come up with familiar places in the community and calculate the distances from these places to the school. Students create a map that displays these...
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Understanding How Potatoes Grow

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders make a KWL chart and brainstorm what they need for the project of growing potatoes. They choose one potato and plant it in water or peat moss cups and choose a location in which meets the needs of the plants and make their...
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Comprehension of Word Problems

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders explore math functions by completing a worksheet in class. In this word problem solving lesson, 3rd graders read a book titled Counting on Frank by Rod Clement and utilize the information in the story to answer study...
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Incorporating Literature While Teaching Math

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders solve story word problems based on the story Twas the Night Before Christmas. In this word problems lesson plan, 3rd graders incorporate literature with math.
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Crystal Growing

For Teachers K - 12th
Students explore the different phases of a crystal.  In this mineral lesson students grow their own sugar crystals using a sugar recipe. 
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Science with Mud!

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders give some examples of chemical reactions they see everyday. In this chemistry lesson, 8th graders investigate how much water soil can hold. They collect data and compare results with others.