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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How Caves Are Formed

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students explore caves. In this cave formation lesson, students take a virtual tour of a cave and then participate in a scientific investigation that requires them to grow crystals and chart data regarding their growth.
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Unit Plan
Curated OER

Watch Them Grow

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Students explore the growth of plants and animals. Through research and observation, students create a habitat for specific plans and animals. As a group, they examine the similarities and differences of living things. Students identify...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Energy Transformation with Simple Machines

For Teachers 1st
First graders identify both potential and kinetic energy in a game they play in the classroom. They listen as the teacher explains the difference between potential and kinetic energy when observing a simple machine. Using simple...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Magma Also Rises

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Convection is thoroughly demonstrated using a model of Earth's mantle. Detailed background information is provided for the teacher, as well as a list of materials. Although a colorful and detailed worksheet is available for the class,...
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Activity
Exploratorium

Antigravity Mirror

For Teachers 5th - 9th
Is it a bird? Is it a plane? It's super student! Physical science stars can fly during a unit on light as they see the reflection of one leg in a mirror, behind which the other holds them up. 
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Get In Touch With Trees

For Teachers K - 1st
Learners feel tree parts inside of 3 mystery boxes. Then they go outside and find the 3 trees the parts came from. They draw their favorite tree including details of the part they felt.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Matter and Heat

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Students examine how heating causes substances to expand, and cooling cause it to contract. They investigate the states of matter.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Structure of Matter

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders, in groups, distinguish between mixtures, solutions and suspensions.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Exploring Muscle Action in the Human Body

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Learners collect and graph data and use the internet to research the skeletal muscles.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Minerals - The Building Blocks of Rocks

For Teachers K
Students examine how rocks are composed of different minerals. They analyze rock samples, then examine cookies, sorting out the simulated mineral ingredients from the cookies and identifying the mineral ingredients.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Leaf Weight-Loss Plan

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Pupils measure the weight of a container of leaves daily to discover how quickly it grows lighter as the foliage dries.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Plastic Bag Pond

For Teachers 1st - 5th
Young scholars investigate the pond water from a local water source. They collect the pond water from the bottom or near vegetation in order to obtain the best sample possible. Then they use microscopes in class in order to examine the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Multiplying Microbes

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders investigate the techniques of culturing bacteria. They culture bacteria using agar plates. Students identify and describe some environmental conditions that effect bacteria growth.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Earth Systems

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders investigate biological systems. They summarize relationships between systems. Students determine how systems relate within the biosphere. They analyze the carbon cycle.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Circulatory System - Part II

For Teachers 1st
First graders recognize that the heart muscle requires food. Students observe a Venn Diagram to identify foods that are good for them. Students provide one ingredient to make healthy heart soup.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Take Me to Sesame Street!

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Young scholars will apply concepts learned in genetics, such as Punnett squares and pedigree charts, in creating their own monster family. Also they will work cooperatively with a partner to create their monster family.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Twice the Rice, or More?

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students review the metric and customary systems of measurement. In groups, they experiment with rice to discover the difference between the two systems. They record their observations on a worksheet and examine how capacity differs. To...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Prairie Plants Lab

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Learners recognize and identify 3 grasses and 9 common forbs of the fermilab prairie and which were common in IL, identify using resources and write 3 critical attributes of each plant.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Heart Stopper

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Use the pump from a spray bottle to drive a model of the heart in action! In addition to modeling the function of the heart and blood vessels, aspiring anatomists also simulate arterial blockage. They compare the effects of increased...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mussel Ecology

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students are introduced to the marine environment of the mussel. The emphasis of the lesson is upon what human factors are present to influence the environment in positive and negative ways. They brainstorm in groups in order to conduct...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Biomanipulation

For Teachers 8th - 11th
Students explore the effects of aquatic trophic relationships on water transparency. They observe and explain the effects of reducing nutrient inputs on agal density on water transparency.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Science and Art Museum

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Imagine each one of your learners on task and interested in scientific material. Learners investigate science related art by creating a small museum! Using digital cameras, pupils photograph different scientific actions that look...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Caterpillar to Butterfly

For Teachers K - 3rd
Students draw the life cycle of a butterfly. In this life cycle lesson plan, students read about and discuss the life cycle and then draw what they have learned. 
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sink or Float?

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Young scholars predict and test different items to see if they sink or float. In this sink and float lesson plan, students predict whether an item is buoyant or not, and learn that size and weight do not matter when it comes to buoyancy.