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Energy Divide
Fourth graders, after viewing a video on "The Future" Fossil Fuel grade, participate in an energy consumption simulation game in order to analyze how consumption, population, and choice of resource affect the availability of future...
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People, Places and Events
Students participate in the game People, Places, and Events to practice their science, and social studies skills
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Earth: Land Use Picture Project
Students explore how changes in human land use are impacting local environments. They also explore some of the social impacts of various land uses in their area. They identify and discuss some social impacts of the different land uses.
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How To Find a Site
Fourth graders identify the three basic needs of humans. They identify on a map the best places to live and make a list of items that they can find on a map - streams, river, hills, plains, forests, etc.
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America's Heartland
Fifth graders investigate imports and exports to discover its importance to America as a world power. In this Imports and exports lesson, 5th graders discuss how climate and natural resources aid a country in becoming a world...
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From Foraging to Farming
Students experience the difficulty that goes along with foraging for food. In this lesson plan on the importance of modern agriculture, students simulate how there simply is not enough food and water for everyone when agricultural means...
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The MPA “GamePlan”
Eighth graders explore the purpose of having Marine Protected Areas. For this environmental science lesson, 8th graders simulate the planning process by playing a board game. They explain the positive and negative effects of trade offs.
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Something Fishy Going On
Students create a video animation of how Swimmy gathered his fish friends together to form a great big fish that would frighten the predator tuna away. In art class each child create a small red fish which gets displayed in the ocean...
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Preserve is the Word
Students investigate a list of archaeological ethical questions. They select a question/issue and design a 3-minute (maximum) PSA to persuade the public to agree with their idea. They conduct research or interviews with experts to be...
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City Life or Desert Life
Learners study the Anza-Borrego Desert. They complete the Patterns Project and survey the history of San Diego. They present their research to the class in the form of poster or report.
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Hatching Chickens
Students observe chicks hatching from eggs. In this science lesson, students view a video to develop an understanding of the proper care and needs of eggs and live animals. This is a great precursor activity for hatching eggs in class.
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A Day Without Agriculture
Second graders define and create a list of agricultural products. In this producers and consumers lesson plan, 2nd graders participate in a contest to find as many types of agriculture as they can. The student who comes up...
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Agriculture Pays
Second graders role play one of the jobs related to agriculture and explain their role in getting one of the five "f's" of agriculture to the consumer. In this agriculture activity, 2nd graders are assigned a role and a...
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How Much is Dirt Worth?
Fourth graders graph the percentages of the materials that make up the Earth and complete computations based on their results. In this topsoil lesson, 4th graders diagram the different layers of Earth's composition.
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Bison on the Plains
Fifth graders explore U.S. geography by reading assigned text about American Indians. In this migration lesson, 5th graders identify the differences between Native Americans and European settlers who traveled through middle America in...
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King Cotton
Fifth graders explore the cotton plant. In this cotton lesson, 5th graders research the process of growing cotton. Students explore the economic and cultural differences in the states that grew cotton for trade and industry.
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Ancient Mediterranean Lands: Greece
Sixth graders explore the processes developed by the Ancient Greeks, particularly olives and olive oil. In this Greek culture and inventions activity, 6th graders read an article and design a flap book. Students collect the olive...
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Ancient Civilizations
Sixth graders complete map-work in order to understand the progression of hunter-gatherer societies. In this hunter-gatherer lesson plan, 6th graders label maps with the Equator, the Tropics, and the vegetation. They complete associated...
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Play Doh Map of Your State
Young scholars create a state map using Playdoh. In this hands-on state geography lesson, students work in groups to form a three-dimensional map of their state using Playdoh made at home following a (given) recipe. Young scholars...
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Lettuce Us Be Different
Students evaluate their differences, then look at differences in plants. In this class team building and life science lesson, the class play a game that focuses on similarities and differences in the group, then students plant three...
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It's Everyone's Home
Students research environmental destruction. In this cause and effect lesson, students students gain an understanding of everyday things we do to harm the environment. Students work in groups to create a brochure that tells the...
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Polar Energy
Learners define and read an article on polar energy. In this polar energy lesson plan, students answer questions about the article. Learners participate in activities related to isotopes, half-life and radiocarbon. ...
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The Desert is Theirs: Adapting to Our Environment
Students determine how animals and people adapt to the desert environment. In this desert lesson, students review vocabulary about the desert and how humans have to make changes to accommodate their environments. They listen to and...
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Eco-Kids: How Students Can Help Save the World
Fourth graders identify the different types of renewable and nonrenewable energy sources. In this ecology lesson, 4th graders create models of wind mills and hydropower. They discuss the pros and cons of using alternative forms of energy.