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What Have We Done?
Learners investigate the effect of dams on the ecosystem. In this environmental lesson, students read case studies on the Aswan Dam and the Colorado River Basin and construct a T-chart to compare the effects on the region.
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Red Tail Ridge Wetland Study Project
Fifth graders use a real life scenario of the wetlands to gather information on creatures of the habitat. In this wetlands lesson plan, 5th graders research the interdependence of organisms in a healthy habitat. Students collected...
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Is Anybody Out There?
Students focus on the tremendous public interest in the potential of extraterrestrial life. They read and discuss an article about the search for alien life. They divide into small groups and discuss the issues and implications of this...
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At The Site Of The Quake
Students research and design an educational earthquake Web site, using the current disaster in Afghanistan as a starting point. They begin by reading and discussing As Many as 2,000 Feared Dead in Afghan Earthquakes which is imbedded in...
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Mad About Madagascar
Students read/discuss "On Madagascar, A Treasury of Fauna and Flora," examining the issues affecting the biodiversity of Madagascar. They present information on issues affecting Madagascar's ecology, and write policy statements on...
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Putting Toxicogenomics To The Test
Students evaluate the pros and cons of a new approach to food, chemical, and drug testing. They read and discuss the Times article, 'DNA Chip May Help Usher In a New Era of Product Testing.'
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The Cream of the Crop
Young scholars read and discuss article, "Simple Method Found to Vastly Increase Crop Yields," then research the basic components of conventional and organic agricultural methods. They, in groups, organize and present their research to...
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Fabulous Fossils
Students investigate how fossils are formed. They read the book, "Digging Up Dinosaurs," examine fossil samples, create a fossil imprint using play-doh, and complete a Fossil Questionnaire activity sheet.
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Mission Makeover
Young scholars examine their prior knowledge of the space program. After reading an article, they explore the conclusions of the Columbia accident. In groups, they research various space programs and discover the scope of NASA. They...
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The ABC's of DNA
Students describe genetics as if they were explaining it to a young child. After reading an article, they discover new discoveries in the human genome project. Using the internet, they research a pair of genetic terms and develop a...
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Underground Vault Protects World's Seeds
Students share ideas about keeping things safe, then read a news article about a huge vault built to store billions of seeds. In this current events instructional activity, the teacher introduces the article with a discussion and...
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Rising Temperatures Threaten Penguins
Students examine the continent of Antarctica, then read a news article about the decline in the Antarctic penguin population. In this current events lesson, the teacher introduces the article with a discussion and vocabulary activity,...
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Egg to Butterfly
Students examine the life cycle of the butterfly through literature. In this butterfly life cycle lesson, students listen to a read aloud of Eric Carle's, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, and discuss the life cycle shown in the story. They...
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Building A Bug Bungalow
Students chart how milkweed bugs grow and change. In this growth and life stages lesson, students read two stories and discuss how and why things grow. Students brainstorm what can be measured about humans, review and discuss...
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Compare and Contrast
Students learn about similarities and differences between different types of weather patterns. In this weather lesson, students read Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs and Weather. Students create a word search puzzle,...
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Biases, Assumptions, and Stereotypes
Students examine stereotypes and how to identify their own assumptions. In this bias and assumption lesson plan students read a story and complete a worksheet.
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Animals in Sports and Entertainment
Students explore how people's views on animal treatments differ. In this animal treatment and attitudes lesson, students review cases on animal treatment and evaluate whether or not the case was animal cruelty. Students understand...
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Poetry In the World Around Us
Students engage in a lesson plan which is designed as a literacy connection to science lessons on the effects of water on plants. This lesson plan uses an excellent Reading Rainbow episode on the effect of drought, and then rainfall,...
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Water Everywhere: Is There Enough to Drink?
Students examine water supply issues caused by population growth and land use. They read and discuss an article, develop a water usage trivia game, write a news article, illustrate a desalination process, and research aquifer systems.
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Activity Plan 5-6: Bugs, Bugs, Bugs!
Students become entomologists for a day. In this life science lesson, students go on an insect hunt and investigate insects and their homes. This leads to the creation of an insect by each student. Lesson includes a take-home activity...
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Hands on Biome-Building
Students explore Earth science by participating in an environment activity. In this biome lesson, students discuss the importance of a healthy ecology in order to sustain life, both animal and plant. Students utilize a cardboard or wood...
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Mining Riches
Students research and map how various mining ventures have changed local geographies and populations. First they read the article provided--Examining the Environmental and Social Impact of the Mining Industry.
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A Whale of a Difference
Students research various perspectives on Japan's commercial whaling industry and formulate position papers representing these views. They read the Times article, Yuk! No More Stomach for Whales. Groups present their perspectives on...
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Can You Dig It?
Students use a mock archaeological site to dig up artifacts. They read an article about artifacts found in Syria. They develop a list of artifacts that are related to specific sites in the community. They create an exhibition of these...