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Build a Paper Plane
Students study the history of the paper plane. In this design lesson students create several types of paper planes and determine if there is a difference in mean flight distances.
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Shoot for the Moon
Second graders distinguish the different phases of the moon. In this astronomy lesson, 2nd graders study the history of its discovery and myths about its origin. They simulate how the moon's surface is illuminated by the sun.
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Sense of Place: No River Too Wide-Bridges
Fifth graders discover the history of their hometown Des Moines River. In this U.S. Geography lesson students speak with Iowans that tell stories of the settlers and early villages near the Des Moines River. Students document...
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How Grandmother Spider Stole the Sun
Students explore U.S. history by reading a Native American tale in class. In this cultural storytelling lesson, students read the story How Grandmother Spider Stole the Sun and discuss the characters and themes of the Native American...
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Guidebook
Students create a guidebook page about a plant on the school grounds. In this life and plant science lesson plan, students identify plants around the school, then research the plant and write a narrative about it. Students publish the...
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Series and Parallel Circuits
Fourth graders explore electrical circuits. In this electrical circuit lesson, 4th graders research the history of the use of light and read a biography regarding Benjamin Franklin. Students the build basic circuits, series...
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Reflect on this Mote of Dust
Students explore space science by analyzing a speech by Carl Sagan. In this cosmos lesson, students view an online video of a speck of a "pale blue dot" in the distance of space which turns out to be Earth. Students write an essay...
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Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs
Second graders explore weather. In this weather lesson, 2nd graders read Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs and participate in four supplemental science activities. Students participate in Internet research, create weather maps,...
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Hands on Biome-Building: Build a Forest
Learners explore Earth science by identifying environmental factors. In this biome lesson, students discuss the importance of a functioning ecology and design a biome diorama. Learners utilize images of trees and plants which represent a...
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Impact Craters: Holes in the Ground!
Young scholars simulate crater formation through a lab activity. In this space science instructional activity, students calculate how much energy is transferred during meteorite impact. They identify different factors affecting the size...
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A Miniscule Adversary: Combating Epidemics and Infectious Diseases in America
Tenth graders discover the spread of different diseases in US. In this health science lesson, 10th graders research the role of CDC and PHS in protecting the citizens. They explore documented cases of pandemics and their impact on...
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It Comes In Waves
Students investigate the behavior and different origins of tsunami waves, and they then research and chart the path of certain tsunamis from recent history using the Internet, maps and firsthand accounts.
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Three Little Pigs and Heat Transfer
Students use the Internet to research the ancient practices of building structures and to help them recognize what building materials serve as good conductors and insulators of heat. They build a structure using straw bale walls.
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Illustrate the Constellations
Students research ancient Greek heroes immortalized in constellations. They choose three constellations in either the summer or winter sky to illustrate and reinforce their understanding of the northern constellations.
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Embryology as Evidence of Evolution
Students observe the two major developmental pathways (protostome and deuterostome). They analyze data regarding differences in nucleotide sequences and construct a phylogenetic tree. They observe the similar evolutionary history shared...
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Human Evolution
Students recognize that achievements of human beings throughout human history can be considered part of the ongoing story of human evolution. They research settings such as the biosphere and Mars and write imaginative short stories using...
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Polymer Basics
In this polymer worksheet, students use an on line site to complete sentences about plastics, their chemical make-up, their uses, their history and information about recycling plastics.
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Atomic Structure
Students investigate what is inside three different boxes using indirect observations and relate it to the discovery of the structure of the atom. For this atomic structure lesson plan, students explore the history of atomic structure by...
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A Bug's Journey
Students research the art of John Baldessari. In this art history lesson, students examine Baldessari's drawing of a beetle and discuss the characteristics of these bugs. They write a story from a bug's perspective and create their own...
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Flight Dreams - Flight Factors
Students investigate the physics of flight by experimenting in class. In this history of flight lesson, students define terms such as gravity, lift, and drag in order to better understand how a plane is able to stay in the air....
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Adopt a Constellation
Students adopt a constellation and find detailed information about their constellation. In this constellation lesson plan, students use the web to find information about a constellation of their choice. They identify the history of the...
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The Garbage Patch: Two Earth day Lessons
Learners view a seven minute video called Gorilla in the Greenhouse. In this Earth day lesson, students review the history of Earth day. Learners work in groups to describe the life cycle of a plastic bag. Students understand that...
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Invertebrate Diversity
Students observe different animals with bilateral symmetry. In this biology instructional activity, students compare how these animals move. They discuss the evolutionary history of observed animals.
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Get Ready to Rumble
Young scholars use the Internet to examine earthquakes. They discover the theory of tectonic plates and analyze faults throughout the world. They also examine the science of seismology to explain how earthquakes are measured.