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Mariposas

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students examine how animals use camouflage for survival.  For this investigative lesson students define vocabulary words and see how it is the environment that controls which adaptations will help in survival. 
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Invasive Species

For Teachers 10th - Higher Ed
Students explore invasive species. In this species analysis instructional activity, students observe invasive species and review the impact the species have on the environment. Students work in groups to investigate the species in...
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Looking at Different Species

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students research a species of bug that they find in a pond.  In this species instructional activity students work in groups and find the similarities and differences between different species of bugs. 
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Invasive Species

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders explain the impact of exotic species to an ecosystem. In this environmental science lesson plan, 8th graders brainstorm ways to eliminate invasive species. They share their ideas in class.
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Natural Selection

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Young scholars model natural selection by using various utensils to "capture food" using a simulated species called "Woolybooger's."
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Oobleck

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Students incorporate within this lesson scientific observations, senses: touch, sound, smell and sight, classification, states of matter and surface tension. Students make a substance and use scientific observations, as well as their...
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The Solar System: Why do we Explore?

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders act as scientists. In this property discovery lesson plan, 3rd graders explore the substance "Oobleck" (cornstarch, water, food coloring). They work in groups to investigate the substance and make observations as a...
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What's in Our Woods?

For Teachers K - 12th
Students observe their local forest and document the change that occurs over the school year.  For this forestry instructional activity, students utilize a GPS to mark a certain area of the woods as their study area for the...
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SHOW 303: The Channel Island Fox

For Teachers 5th - 9th
Learners explore how archaeologists and other scientists use different clues to piece together a picture of the past. Students perform activities that allow them to conduct three types of scientific research. They discuss their...
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"For the Birds" [part I]

For Teachers 4th - 7th
Students identify birds that appear in Chinese and Japanese art, learning about their physical characteristics, classifying them according to scientific principles, and exploring their habitats and migration patterns. This is part one...
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SEXUAL LIFE CYCLE DEVELOPMENT USING MONOCYSTIS

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students perform a lab to becoe familar with scientific concepts. The skill of inquiry is essential and this lesson furthers its development. The intelligence of kinesthetics is used as learners perform the many aspects of this lab...
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Pottery Analysis

For Teachers Higher Ed
Students study how archaeologists analyze artifacts to answer questions about past cultures. They explain why pottery is important to archaeologists and how they use classification to answer their research questions.
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Trail Adventure

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students create a trail with numbered specimens. Students complete an accurate and functional interactive trail activity brochure. They complete a web page tree identification guide and interactive identification activity. Students...
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What Are Alternative Fuels? Concept Mapping Alternative Fuels Investigation

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Learners compare and contrast the different types of alternative fuels. They create a concept map to understand their classification. They examine the properties of matter and energy as well.
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Studying Aquifers in Outcrop

For Teachers Higher Ed
Students describe two or more different rock types found in outcrop. Students look specifically at the hydro-geologic properties of the rocks and complete the lab with a paper explaining a scientific phenomenon in layperson terms.
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An Introduction to Thermal Spray Technology

For Teachers 11th - Higher Ed
Students discuss difference between kinetic and thermal energy, develop and demonstrate understanding of key concepts and characteristics underlying thermal spray techniques, list items used in their daily lives that are coated, examine...
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What It Is, What It Isn't

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders classify and sort different types of beans to be introduced to the classification system in science. As a class, they identify the characteristics of living and non-living organisms and make a chart in their journal to ...
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Adaptations To the Environment

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Young scholars design and construct an imaginary animal that is perfectly adapted to a particular type of biome. They give the animal a scientific name, place it in a phylum and write descriptions about its behavior, reproduction,...
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Catch as Catch Can

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Students investigate insects. In this insect analysis lesson, students catch insects using nets they make. They identify the insects they catch and create a chart to show the numbers and varieties. This lesson includes a vocabulary list...
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Polar Food Web Comparison

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders practice the evaluation component of the scientific method while comparing and contrasting the similarities and differences of the food chains and webs of polar animal life. They study about classification and ecology...
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Exploration of 'pill bugs'

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders define words. They create a dichotomous key. After carefully examining pill bugs, 5th graders record observations. They compare and contrast habitats of pillbugs.
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Quadrant D: Bringing Learning to a New Level

For Teachers 4th - 6th
As young learners prepare to be successful in the 21st century, teachers can promote critical thinking by implementing Quadrant D learning activities.
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Who Lives in the Water? Stream Side Science

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Andree Walker thought of everything when he wrote this resource. It includes a detailed list of materials and background information links for the teacher. In addition, it has procedures, a macroinvertebrate identification key, and tally...
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Keying Rocks

For Teachers 5th
Young geologists learn how to use an identification key in order to classify rocks. The key is designed to help them classify rocks into three types: ignesous, metamorphic, and sediimentary. After an initial teacher-led demonstration,...