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Lesson Planet Article
Curated OER

Leprechaun Traps Using Simple Machines

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Are you looking for a fun way to incorporate St. Patrick's Day into your science curriculum? Try designing and building leprechaun traps!
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Lesson Plan
Cornell University

Catapults

For Students 4th - 8th
Ready, aim, fire! Launch to a new level of understanding as scholars build and test their own catapults. Learners explore lever design and how adjusting the fulcrum changes the outcome. 
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Activity
Exploratorium

Stripped Down Motor

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Mostly for teacher's use, here are instructions for making a traditional electromagnetic motor and a detailed explanation of how it works. 
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Inventions 2: The Impact

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Tomorrow's engineers visit an intriguing website about inventions that have changed the way we live. Biographies of child inventors on the suggested website aren't easy to find, so make sure to find some stories to share in place of...
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Lesson Plan
Polar Trec

Technology Enhances KWL

For Teachers 3rd - 12th
To introduce learners to the ways people share information through the use of technology, the class makes podcasts. Each child chooses anything he is curious about regarding the Arctic or Antarctic regions. Learners then complete a KWL...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Conservation in Small Places - Composting

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
A fabulous instructional activity introduces the art of composting to your gardeners. In it, youngsters learn about the composting process and how it actually works. They discuss the environmental benefits of composting, and use the...
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Lesson Plan
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Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics

Jupiter’s Relative Size

For Teachers 4th - 6th
How do you properly illustrate the extreme size difference between two planets—Earth and Jupiter? With the help of jellybeans, of course! Create a scale model of Jupiter's mass compared to Earth using a fishbowl, 1,400 beans, and a dixie...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Crafting Models of Efficiency

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students build and compare models of both an energy inefficient and efficient classroom. In this energy efficiency lesson, students creatively use recycled materials to build two separate classroom models. They factor in concepts such as...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Closer look at Oil and Energy Consumption

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Upper graders analyze basic concepts about the consumption, importation and exportation of the worlds oil production. They create several graphs to organize the data and draw conclusions about the overall use of oil in the world.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Solar Arrays for the Space Station

For Teachers K - 4th
Students explore the challenges that are faced when transporting materials into space. They review the various forms of energy, including solar arrays, that are used on the International Space Station and how generating this energy calls...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Planets in Our Solar System

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Each member of a four-student group takes on a specific aspect of an assigned planet to research. After gathering information, the team works together to create a travel brochure and a presentation intended to convince other classmates...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Nailing Rust

For Teachers 4th - 8th
When your upper elementary or middle school class is learning about chemical changes, these activities help demonstrate the concepts. In Part A, they submerge and place a nail partially underwater, then after a week they make...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Acid Rain Effects

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Get out the goggles and conduct a simple experiment to model and explore the harmful effects of acid rain (vinegar) on living (green leaf and eggshell) and non-living (paper clip) objects. Young chemists observe and describe the harmful...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Moebius Strips

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Young scholars make Moebius strips and use them to demonstrate the interconnectedness of an environment. They explore the natural cycles (water, oxygen/carbon dioxide, carbon, nitrogen) within the environment. They describe how the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Are Dams Forever?

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
  Students consider the life span of dams, and what would happen if a dam falls apart.  In this environmental impact lesson, students discuss what the purposes of dams are, how they could be damaged.     
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Exploring Parts and Wholes

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students explore the concept of parts making up a whole. In this parts and whole instructional activity, students come to understand that parts of a system must come together in order for the system to work properly. Students investigate...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Arizona Plant Booklet: An Introduction to Arizona Plants & Cacti

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Young scholars explore variety of plants & cacti in their Arizona community by collecting samples and taking photographs. Can be adapted to other areas.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Pocket Full of Posies: Ceramics

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
After studying the plant or flower life cycle, have the class create a basket of flowers out of clay. They hone their ceramics skills while they push, pull, then paint clay to look like flowers they've seen in nature. There are several...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Soft Sculpture Birds

For Teachers 2nd - 8th
Art can mimic life, and animals are always interesting subjects. Learners create large soft sculptures (stuffed) birds using paper, paint, and other basic collage materials. They view images of birds, and discuss bird traits and shapes....
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

April Showers Raindrop Painting

For Teachers K - 5th
I love this idea! After discussing rain, spring, and the weather, take your class outside and let nature do the painting. They shake power paints and glitter onto a piece of heavy construction paper, then take their paper outside and...
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Lesson Plan
Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey

The Great Peregrine Scavenger Hunt - On the Internet

For Teachers 4th - 8th
The story of one bird provides valuable insight into general animal behaviors and interactions. Young researchers investigate the peregrine falcon using a web search. They analyze the behaviors of the raptor including its migration...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Blog Your Truth

For Teachers 3rd - 7th
Students explore communication by participating in a digital journalism activity. In this aboriginal research lesson, students view a sample blog on the Internet and identify the techniques behind blogging and Internet journalism...
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Lesson Plan
Illinois Department of Natural Resources

Section Four: How Can We Protect Biodiversity?

For Teachers 3rd - 5th Standards
Look into the future with a lesson plan on biodiversity and natural habitats. Learners read articles about different perspectives when it comes to planning future development, and decide which angle is the highest priority in a group...
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Lesson Plan
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University of Wisconsin

Getting the Word Out

For Teachers 4th - 12th
An appropriate way to celebrate and conclude the construction of a rain garden is to share it with the community. Small groups collaborate to design an outreach product such as a PowerPoint presentation, brochure, or poster, to draw...

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