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Fires and Fire Suppression
Students examine their assumptions about forest fires. They explore the conflicts involved with the forest service's new strategy. in addition, they will study one case where a prescribed natural burn had a significant impact on a later,...
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Simple Machines
Students explain how simple machines work and design their own machine. They use the Internet for research.
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Working Together to Improve Our Community
Students from the fourth grade research a solution to a community problem and converse with eighth graders via email. Eighth graders study the political process and work with the fourth graders to present information to the public to...
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Relative Dating-Telling Time Using Fossils
Students explore how to read fossil range charts. They develop an knowledge of the strengths and weaknesses of the fossil record. Students become familiar with the concepts index fossil and fossil range. Students use bar graphs to...
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Mammals: Mammals and Their Ways
Students study the difference between innate and learned behaviors. They observe the adaptations and behaviors of mammals in this series of lessons.
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Mole Relations
Tenth graders investigate the mole using raisins, sunflower seeds and M&Ms candy. In this mole relations lesson plan, 10th graders create trail mix packets using the food items given to them using "dozen" as the units. Students write...
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Bacterial Transformation Kit
Students participate in an experiment in which they practice moving genes from one organism to another. They examine the results of a recombination of jellyfish. They identify different types of bacteria as well.
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A Closer Look at Voting Patterns
High schoolers examine the importance of voting. They analyze voter turnout graphs, conduct research, list the benefits and costs of voting, and write a paper that describes ways to increase voter participation.
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Family Life
Students investigate the lives of families in two different centuries. They compare the 1600's to the 1800's. Students write an essay about the differences and how they developed in history. Special attention is paid to the external...
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Illnois River and Lake Mussel Habitat Diorama Activity
Students identify the environmental elements of river and lake mussels. They compare the elements to the time before settlement and during industrialization. They also participate in a field trip to a mussel exhibit.
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Mussel Anatomy Lesson Plan
Students identify the parts and functions of a mussel. They explain how its physical adaptations help it survive in its habitat. They label the parts as a quiz to complete the lesson.
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GeoHunt
Students describe the difference between geological resources and othe natural resources. They list the rocks, minerals, and fossil fuels that are found in Illinois and their uses. They identify ways to conserve natural resources.
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Rocks, Rocks & More Rocks
Second graders work together to examine different types of rocks. They sort rocks according to their characteristics and properties.
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Heartfelt/Handmade Activity: Hand-Molded Pottery
Learners view and discuss examples of pottery. They discuss how pottery has always been made by hand and use a ball of clay to roll and shape into a form of their choice.
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Spider Anatomy Lesson: Is It a Spider?
Pupils review information on a website which shows different types of spiders. They sort images of spiders from other insects. They create their own spider out of materials and share them with their classmates.
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Rights and Responsibilities
Students focus on the rights and responsibilities of being an American citizen as they develop a T-chart and discuss the topic.
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Participating in the Political Process
High schoolers explain why it is important to participate in government, and name at least three ways citizens can participate.
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Igneous Rocks
Second graders examine igneous rocks in this lesson. They discuss the rock cycle and how rocks form. They also explore volcanic activities and build their own volcano.
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Iowa: Crossword Puzzle
In this United States history activity, students use the 14 clues in order to fill in the crossword puzzle with the appropriate answers pertaining to Iowa.
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Sorting Rocks
Students devise a rock word web and sort rocks by applying the categories they discuss.
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Prairie Activity: Prairie Quilt
Students investigate prairie life in the 19th century. They research quilts and prairie images online, take a photo of an object related to prairie life, transfer the image onto fabric, and create a class quilt.
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Creating the Pamphlet
Students create philanthropic brochures. In this philanthropy lesson, students make promotional pamphlets and offer theirs products to philanthropic organizations.
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Here a Bug, There a Bug
Students explore insects and discover that insects found in different parts of the country have characteristics that can be observed and described.
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Kentucky Coal, Reclamation and Subsidence
Students read and discuss the information that they read on the "Kentucky Coal, Reclamation and Subsidence." They then answer questions in reference to the reading. Some questions that students answer are: What is reclamation?, Name...