Lesson Plan
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Organisms and Their Environment

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students explore Earth's biosphere. In this biosphere lesson, students participate in group activities regarding biotic and abiotic factors, population density, and species' habitats.
Lesson Plan
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Sun and Shade

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students explore the ways that plants adapt to their environments. They examine plants that thrive in the shade, versus plants that thrive in direct sunlight. Special attention is devoted to the shape of leaves on respective sun and...
Lesson Plan
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Earth's Weather

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders learn how solar radiation, latitude, and other factors affect weather. They break into six groups and are assigned a topic to research and to present their findings orally.
Lesson Plan
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Variation

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore how variation is affected by the environment. They explain ways in which variation can be altered by the environment. Students investigate the effects of sunlight on skin.
Lesson Plan
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I See a Coyote

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students role-play coyotes looking for natural resources.  In this natural resources lesson, students examine the relationship between animal life and the environment.  Students play a game that demonstrates how natural...
Lesson Plan
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How Does the Loss of Ozone Affect Our Climate

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students explore the greenhouse effect and what it does to the environment. They discuss if and how human behavior contributes to global warming and test natural materials for carbon content.
Lesson Plan
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Design a Plankton

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students explore animal and plant adaptation.  In this ecosystems science lesson, students view websites to gain information about plankton and its  interdependence within ecosystems. Students identify ways in which plankton...
Lesson Plan
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The Science of Weather

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students read an article. In this seasons lesson, students discuss the seasons and seasonal affective disorder. Students find an article that illustrates other ways that the environment negatively effects humans.
Lesson Plan
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Life is Weird!

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students describe major features of cold seep communities, and list at least five organisms typical of these communities. They infer probable trophic relationships among organisms typical of cold-seep communities and the surrounding...
Worksheet
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Rolecards Sheet 1

For Students 4th - 12th
In this science and environment worksheet, students answer short answer questions about different science and environment topics on these role cards. Students complete 16 questions.
Lesson Plan
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Sunshine Experiment

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students investigate how sunlight is used to help plants grow. They use different factors of artificial and natural sunlight in order to simulate the environment of Alaska. Students make observations and then write a report based upon...
Lesson Plan
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What Are the Layers of the Rain Forest?

For Teachers 3rd - 7th
Students investigate the different levels of the rain forest by comparing it to an apartment.  In this ecology lesson plan, students practice using forest related vocabulary words and complete a vocabulary data sheet.  Students...
eBook
CK-12 Foundation

CK-12 Earth Science Concepts for Middle School

For Students 6th - 8th
Explore a variety of science concepts in an interactive textbook created for middle school scholars. A lengthy table of contents takes readers to pages comprised of a subject overview, outline, and summary. Follow links further to find...
Lesson Plan
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Monsters of the Deep

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students describe major features of cold seep communities and list the organisms that are typical in these communities. In this deep sea environment lesson students work in groups and research their given cold seep group. 
Lesson Plan
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The Greenhouse Effect in a Jar

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students explore climate change by participating in a physical science experiment. In this greenhouse effect lesson, students discuss the impact global warming has on our environment and how it works. Students utilize a glass jar,...
Lesson Plan
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Populations and Ecosystems

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders create a model of an ecosystem and label it to show structure and function. They research the food web of an aquatic animal and also trace energy flow from the primary producer up the food chain.
Lesson Plan
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The Awful 8: A Play

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Learners perform a play that presents the causes and effects on people and the environment of the eight major air pollutants.
Lesson Plan
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Earth Systems Science

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students perform experiments designed to grow plants and bacteria in a controlled environment.  In this ecosystems instructional activity students investigate varying conditions for growing plants and bacteria. 
Lesson Plan
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Making Mummies

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students examine how mummies are made. In this ancient mummification lesson, students discover types of mummies and discuss the environments naturallly preserve bodies. Students research noteable mummy discoveries and present...
Lesson Plan
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Greenhouse Effect

For Teachers 4th - 9th
Learners investigate the greenhouse effect. In this environmental lesson, students investigate why the greenhouse effect changes the climate through an experiment. Learners use vinegar to simulate how acid damages the environment.
Lesson Plan
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Explore! Fun with Science

For Teachers 2nd - 8th
Pupils explore the challenges of living in space by designing a facility that can provide everything required to support humans and can protect them from the harsh environment of space.
Lesson Plan
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Where Plants and Animals Live

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students explore and discuss facts about a woodland environment, the plants and animals that live there, and changing seasons in the woods. They conclude that plants in the woods provide food and shelter for animals living there.
Lesson Plan
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Observing Brine Shrimp

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students observe brine shrimp eggs, create an appropriate environment for their survival, and observe their growth.
Lesson Plan
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Hometown Ecology

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students examine how ecology is at work in their own community. As a class, they identify what they already know about the world around them and discuss how they personally affect the environment. Using magazines, newspapers and the...