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The Global Grapefruit - Maps vs Globes

For Teachers 3rd - 9th
Young scholars tell how maps differ from globes, state some characteristics of 3 different types of map projections, and realize that distortions are inherent in various systems of map projections.
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Rain Garden

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students build rain gardens. In this community service activity, students study the effectiveness of rain gardens in allowing water to run off. Students build a community rain garden at their school.
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Let's Tesselate

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students investigate the geometrical concepts of translation, reflection, and rotation. They make different observations looking for the concepts that are displayed in classroom items like floor tiles, carpet designs, and visuals hung in...
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The Great Art of Henri Matisse

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Learners discover the artistic works of Henri Matisse, and examine what his work means. For this art lesson, students observe the different paintings/collages of Henri Matisse, eventually creating works of their own based on his style.
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Mud Splat Craters

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students simulate crater formation using mud. In this earth science lesson, students identify the features of a crater. They explain how the force of impact affect the crater's appearance.
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Erosion and Deposition

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders study the processes of erosion, transportation, and deposition in soil. They walk outside the school to see examples and then accurately create a physical model which shows each type of soil movement and allows them to...
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Cut Up Painting

For Teachers 9th - Higher Ed
Students work on color planning and painting skills and reinforce principles of design. They alter a work of art to create a low relief assemblage.
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Elements of Design

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers define basic design vocabulary. They examine fabrics and sort into similar piles, design a picture of a beautiful room and label each art element in the design. They read an article from an interior design magazine and...
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The Grand Canyon

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders study the Grand Canyon. They research the Grand Canyon and locate the Colorado River on the map of Arizona. They discuss erosion and read how sedimentary rock was formed. They view photographs of the Grand Canyon and...
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Tracking Current "Earth" Events

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders utilize Internet research skills, and practice their communication skills by presenting their research to the clas. They actively consider the types of hazards for humans associated with Natural Disaters and ways that...
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Prototype Production

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners create a product out of concrete. In this concrete lesson plan, students also demonstrate safety when using the tools provided.
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Airplane Wings

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students examine the aerodynamics of a wing and how it generates lift.  In this flight lesson students complete several experiments including how to build a paper plane and how airfoils affect performance.
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Landforms of Iowa

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students observe the landscape and different landforms where they live.  In this landforms lesson plan students list and define materials that make up their local landforms.
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Sorting and Classifying with Tree Products

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders sort and classify wood.  In this sorting tree products lesson, 4th graders sort and classify tree parts and pieces of wood, both natural and manufactured according to their properties. 
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Russian Dolls Investigation

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Pupils measure a set of Russian dolls using the metric system. In this measurement lesson plan, students identify certain relationships between sets of measurements by measuring a set of Russian dolls and presenting their findings to...
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World Projections

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Learners identify map projections and examine polar maps. In this map skills lesson, students use a flat world map to identify various projections and calculate the distances between locations by using a map scale.
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The Geography of Tornadoes OR

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Students learn some basic facts about tornadoes and map two selected tornado statistics by state, and observe, analyze and speculate about the pattern(s) created by the completed map.
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The Wedding of a Mountain

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students examine the differences between weathering, erosion, and deposition as it pertains to mountains.
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Landform Dictionary

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders use a word processing program to create a working dictionary, including definitions and pictures, of physical land forms used in the study of different regions of the world.
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Wetlands: Pave or Save?

For Teachers K - 6th
Students discuss the characteristics of wetlands and how to make them more productive. Using a map, they locate the major wetlands in the United States and color them using a key. They read an article and in groups answer discussion...
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Inroads On Erosion

For Teachers 3rd - 12th
Learners investigate the concept of farming as found in Puerto Rico an focus on how to prevent erosion. They use a sand table to conduct an experiment to observe the process of erosion and how it is influences by natural factors like...
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TOPSY TURVY MAPS

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders use the data analyzer and motion detector to collect data and measure distances. They create topographic maps drawn to scale of a given setup and relate the concepts to the creation of historical ocean maps.
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Gridding a Site

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students establish a grid system over an archaelogical site. They label each grid unit. They determine the location of artifacts within each grid unit. They construct a scientific inquiry concerning the location of artifacts on the site.
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Geology with Peanut Butter and Jelly

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students will enjoy smashing the two tectonic sandwich plates together in faulting and compression fashions! They may even desire to capture their instructional destruction in a slideshow.