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Ice Breakers
Young scholars understand the effects of global warming on icecaps. They investigate the worldwide consequences that may result.
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Erosion
Middle schoolers model rain erosion. For this erosion lesson, students construct a landscape out of sand and dirt in a metal pan. They make it rain on the landscape and observe the erosion that occurs.
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Geology Rocks
Students discuss information relating to Illinois geology. They examine top mineral resources in Illinois to find detailed information about geodes and where they can be found. Students complete geode lab to explore external structure of...
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Rock of Ages
Students are given a classification table and samples from their location. They locate their samples on the classification table using the characteristics used in rock identification.
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March of the Polar Bears: Global Change, Sea Ice, and Wildlife Migration
Students study global change and how these changes impact wildlife. In this polar bears lesson plan students analyze maps and data to understand climate change.
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Rivers for the Common Good
Students explore what effects improper waste disposal and water pollution have on the water cycle. They explore how philanthropic acts can help protect the water cycle and keep our water and planet clean.
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Roaming Biomes
Students use the Internet to research the capabilities of earth-observation satellites. Using the information, they write a report on how remote-sensing technology is used to measure the impact of climate change. They identify the...
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Density Laboratory Gizmo
In this mass worksheet, students fill in a chart with different items and their volume, whether they float or sink, and their density. Students complete this for 10 items and answer 6 multiple choice mass questions.
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Biomes: Extreme Climate
Students create a web connecting global warming, the Arctic, and wold climate. They write a paragraph explaining the role of the Arctic in world climate.
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What's Under There?
Young scholars determine ways to make "observations" about unknowns, such as the land beneath an ice sheet or the interior of the Earth, using tools other than sight. They build "mystery boxes" and exchange them with other groups to...
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Landforms in a Tub
Fifth graders use common household items to build landforms and simulate weathering and erosion.
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Geological Features: How Weathering & Erosion Help Create Landforms
Students explore how the Earth's surface changes resulting in geological features and landforms. They perform a read-a-loud on Thomas
Locker's Mountain Dance, complete a KWL chart, and create a
landform using plaster of paris.
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Regolith Formation
Learners study what regolith is and how it contrasts with weathering on Earth. In this weathering lesson students divide into groups, hypothesize and confirm their guesses.
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Disappearing Rocks
Students explore the causes of erosion and observe how different surfaces erode differently. They recognize erosion and predict what type of erosion caused it. In addition, they predict the outcomes of erosion on different materials.
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When Land Ice Melts
Young scholars investigate what happens when land ice melts. They discuss how the melting of land ice is different than the melting of icebergs. Students observe what happens as the ice melts.
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Pressure Versus Force: Landing On Ice!
Young scholars experiment with the relationship between pressure, force, and area. They determine the force and pressure exerted by a LC-130, which is commonly used for cargo and personnel transport in Antarctica.
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Understanding Tsunamis
Students discover the causes of tsunamis in oceans and fjords. They perform an experiment to discover how calving icebergs can create different wave patterns in the ocean and in a fjord. In addition, they draw a diagram to illustrate the...
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Introduction to Restoration Lesson
Middle schoolers explore how pollution and invasive plants disrupt the ecosystem. In this restoration lesson plan students list materials that pollute wetlands, how people can keep them clean and ways in which invasive plants...
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River System
Fifth graders explore the parts of a river system and understand the importance of each part. In this river system lesson, 5th graders diagram a river system and write a paragraph explaining its parts.
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What's Eating Titanic?
High schoolers, in groups, research the bio deterioration of the Titanic. They write a report focusing on the rusting of the Titanic and estimate the amount of time it will take for the Titanic's bow section to completely dissolve.
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The Wind & Sun: Powerful Alternatives
Students examine the power that is possible from the sun through an interactive program. They also analyze how energy turns into different forms in different parts of the human body. They finally explore how wind is created and how wind...
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Communities and Biomes
In this biomes worksheet, students complete a crossword puzzle by figuring out the answers to 17 clues focused on communities and biomes.
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Living Sources of Weathering
In this sources of weathering activity, students read about the various things that cause weathering including plants and animals. They answer four critical thinking questions about weathering.
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Weathering Landforms
Fifth graders brainstorm a list of ways the Earth's surface can change. As a class, they are introduced to the concepts of erosion and weathering and discover how wind and water cause changes to the surface of the Earth. To end the...