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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 lesson plan, the teacher introduces the article with a discussion and vocabulary...
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Rising Temperatures Threaten Penguins
Young scholars 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...
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Egg to Butterfly
Students examine the life cycle of the butterfly through literature. In this butterfly life cycle instructional activity, students listen to a read aloud of Eric Carle's, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, and discuss the life cycle shown in...
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Building A Bug Bungalow
Students chart how milkweed bugs grow and change. In this growth and life stages activity, students read two stories and discuss how and why things grow. Students brainstorm what can be measured about humans, review and...
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Compare and Contrast
Students learn about similarities and differences between different types of weather patterns. For 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 which is designed as a literacy connection to science lessons on the effects of water on plants. This lesson uses an excellent Reading Rainbow episode on the effect of drought, and then rainfall, have on the...
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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. For 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
Young scholars 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?
Learners 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...
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A Hard Sell on Stem Cells?
Students examine their prior knowledge of cell regeneration and therapeutic use of stem cells. After reading an article, they discover new techniques for deriving embryonic stem cells. In groups, they research on the different types of...
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Dream Big
Students discuss the success of privately built and flown space crafts by reading and discussing a news article. They develop adventure trip proposals to present to Sir Richard Branson. Students write essays reflecting on the importance...
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Getting into Hot Water
Young scholars discuss the effect of global warming on bodies of water after reading "An Icy Riddle as Big as Greenland" from The New York Times. Students work in groups to research topics related to global warming and Greenland's...
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Plasma 101
Learners examine the definitions and characteristics of plasma. After reading an article, they analyze new technologies to study plasma. In groups, they create a poster on how the different types of plasma work and write letters to their...
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How Do You Measure Up
Students investigate the concept of heart rate and how it is effected by environmental stresses like exercise. They conduct research readings and evaluate the data to form a hypothesis to initiate class discussion about the information.
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Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs
Learners read about weather and create a computer log about weather. In this Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs lesson, students listen to the story and discuss different weather patterns. Learners develop a list of weather...
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What Am I?
Students identify various shells. For this oceanography lesson, students create a KWL chart to activate background knowledge on shells. Students read the book Ocean Day and learn about waves, tides, and the seashells that can...
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Seed Surprises
Students investigate seeds and their growth. In this agriculture instructional activity, students read the book How a Seed Grows and discuss the seed cycle. Students examine real seeds and identify their properties. Students create a set...
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Oklahoma Stone Soup
Students discover the history of the Oklahoma Territory and what foods cowboys used to eat while on the move. In this culinary lesson, students read the ingredients to Oklahoma Stone Soup and prepare them in a crock pot over the...