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Liquid Crystal IR Detector

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students experiment with one method of detecting infrared radiation. They simulate the detection of infrared radiation using a liquid crystal sheet.
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Heat of Vaporization of Liquid Nitrogen

For Teachers 9th - Higher Ed
Young scholars determine the heat energy needed to vaporize (boil) one gram of liquid nitrogen.
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Physical Properties Of Coal

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students examine and identify the observable properties of coal. After a lecture/demo, students perform a simple experiment. They observe samples of coal and record data in an organized manner.
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Red River of the North Flooding 1997

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students describe factors that affect the flow of rivers and explain their relationships. They research the factors involved in flooding events. describe the effects of present and future practices in land use, and river control methods.
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Mixing Colors

For Teachers K - 1st
Students listen to a story about mixing colors. They explore color using cups of water, color and coffee filters. They use sight word vocabulary to describe the colors.
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Sink or Float

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Students construct clay boats and predict whether the boats will sink or float. Students will hypothesize what caused the boats to sink or float.
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Teaching about Diel Temperature Variation

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore temperature variation in lakes and deal with the data.
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Mapping the Ocean Floor

For Teachers 4th - 12th
Students study the bottom structure of underwater habitats and how they can be mapped.
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Is It Alive?

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders define the boundaries of living organisms. They determine what makes something a living organism and identify factors that constitute "living." Pupils write a conclusion about the evidence they found that yeast is alive...
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Paleogeographic Mapping (o.k. Fossils Are Neat But What Good Are They?)

For Teachers 1st - 7th
Students examine how evidence from fossils can be used in paleogeographic interpretation. They gain experience in developing multiple hypotheses.
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Physical Difference and Classification

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students use a microscope and observation skills to compare and contrast several physical properties and develop a classification system.
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Wildlife Sampling

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders use paper bags and crackers to simulate a wildlife sampling of salmon. They record data on spreadsheets and determine a formula to estimate salmon populations.
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Relative Humidity of Your School

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students predict the location where the relative humidity the highest and lowest in and around their school. They use a sling psychrometer to measure the relative humidity of the various locations.
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Science: Hurricanes As Heat Engines

For Teachers 3rd - 12th
Students conduct Internet research to track the path of Hurricane Rita. They record the sea surface temperature of the Gulf of Mexico during and after the hurricane and draw conclusions about how hurricanes extract heat energy from the...
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Streamflow

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students discuss the topic of streamflow and how it occurs. They take measurements and analyze them. They interpret data and create their own charts and graphs.
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Japanese Fish Printing

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students examine the characteristics of Japanese fish printing. Using a fresh or frozen fish, they create their own unique fish print. They paint the fish in the colors they chose and place it on a piece of colored paper. They...
Lesson Plan
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Layers Upon Layers - Lesson Plan

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students study rock layers and the sequence of events that occur when a canyon forms.  In this sedimentary instructional activity students  complete a lab while in groups and discuss what happens. 
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Phases of Matter

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students describe the motion of solids, liquids and gases. In this chemistry lesson, students describe how temperature affect motion of the particles. They determine the physical properties of each phase.
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How Big is a Crowd?

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders compare the relative sizes of the five Great Lakes and their human populations. They describe some of the problems that arise when many people depend on a limited resoure. Students discuss how the Great Lakes and the...
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the Wonder of Wetlands

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Students explore the importance of the wetland ecosystem, its properties and functions, as well as, the many birds, animals, and plant life found there.
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Twisters

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students build a tornado in a bottle and do various readings to explore tornadoes.
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Fish Tank Optics: Learning How Light Travels

For Teachers 2nd - 8th
Students examine light waves and see how they travel. They explain that light moves in waves, which can bounce off of or go through materials. They use a flashlight to shine on a variety of objects.
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Urban Impact on Chollas Creek (California): A Field Study

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students, in groups, take samples from a creek and keep a field journal on their samples. They also perform tests on their samples.
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A Rainbow Under the Sea: How Do Animals Survive in the Ocean?

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders, with adult help, create a PowerPoint presentation on a selected ocean animal.