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Activity
Science Buddies

Science Buddies: The Big Dig

For Students 3rd - 5th
Even though many cities have recycling programs, a lot of trash still ends up in the dump. Find out which materials will break down and which materials won't. Will the results of this experiment change which products you often buy?
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Activity
Science Buddies

Science Buddies: How Fast Do Seismic Waves Travel?

For Students 6th - 8th
Here's a geology project that uses historical seismograph data that you can collect from the comfort of your own computer. You'll use a web interface to a network of seismometers run by the Northern California Earthquake Data Center, at...
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Activity
Science Buddies

Science Buddies: What's All That Shaking? Make Your Own Seismograph!

For Students 9th - 10th
If you live in an area where earthquakes happen, you might be especially interested in this science project. You'll learn how to build your own seismograph and how to use it to detect ground motion.
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Website
PBS

Pbs Teachers: Rivers of Destiny

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
This site explains the importance of rivers in the natural balance of life on Earth, and describes what happens when people begin to tamper with rivers. This will also help students identify options for dealing with the outcomes of human...
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Activity
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Mini Landslide

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students explore how different materials (sand, gravel, lava rock) with different water contents on different slopes result in landslides of different severity. They measure the severity by how far the landslide debris extends into model...
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Lesson Plan
Other

Alaska Sea Grant: Investigation 4 Human Impact Survey

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students examine and record data about the impact human activity has on a local aquatic environment in this teaching unit. They then analyze the information and develop a plan for improvement. The unit depends on being able to take the...
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Lesson Plan
Teachnology

Teachnology: Guide to Tsunamis

For Teachers 9th - 10th
For any educator preparing a teaching theme/unit on tsunamis, this is the site for you! Links to a myriad of lesson plans, worksheets, interactive sites, teacher resources, and much more are all found on this one site.
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Activity
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Survive That Tsunami!

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students use a table-top-sized tsunami generator to observe the formation and devastation of a tsunami. They see how a tsunami moves across the ocean and what happens when it reaches the continental shelf. Students make villages of model...
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Lesson Plan
Purdue University

Purdue University: An S and P Wave Travel Time Simulation

For Teachers 9th - 10th
A classroom simulation modeling how earthquake waves travel through Earth at different speeds. A graph is constructed to demonstrate the relationship between the distance and time of travel of seismic waves, and then used to locate the...
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Lesson Plan
Discovery Education

Discovery Education: Dynamic Earth, Tsunami

For Teachers Pre-K - 1st
Use this site to teach your learners what a tidal wave or tsunami is from this lesson plan. The discovery activity shows how a tsunami happens.
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Activity
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Trash Talkin'

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
In this activity, students collect, categorize, weigh and analyze classroom solid waste. The class collects waste for a week and then student groups spend a day sorting and analyzing the garbage with respect to recyclable and non...
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Activity
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Composting Nature's Disappearing Act

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
In this activity, students explore the idea of biodegradability by building and observing a model landfill. This serves as an introduction to the idea of composting. Students learn about the role of engineering in solid waste management.
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Activity
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Product Development and the Environment

For Teachers 6th - 8th
In this activity, students investigate the life cycle of an engineered product and how the product impacts the environment. They analyze a product using a simple life cycle assessment that assigns fictional numerical values for different...
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Activity
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Bury Your Trash!

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
This activity will allow students to bury various pieces of trash in a plotted area of land outside. After approximately two to three months, the trash will be uncovered to allow the students to investigate what types of materials...
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Lesson Plan
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Solid Waste Takes Over

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
In this lesson, young scholars explore solid waste and its effects on the environment. They will collect classroom trash for analysis and build model landfills in order to understand the process and impact of solid waste management....
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Lesson Plan
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: 3 Rc (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Compost)

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
In this lesson, students expand their understanding of solid waste management to include the idea of 3RC (reduce, reuse, recycle and compost). They will look at the effects of packaging decisions (reducing) and learn about engineering...
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Lesson Plan
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: How Should Our Gardens Grow?

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
In this activity, students will learn about types of land use by humans and evaluate the ways land is used in their local community. They will also consider the environmental effects of the different types of land use. Students will...
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Lesson Plan
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Earthquakes Rock!

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students learn the two main methods to measure earthquakes, the Richter Scale and the Mercalli Scale. They make a model of a seismograph - a measuring device that records an earthquake on a seismogram. Students also investigate which...
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Lesson Plan
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Land on the Run

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Learners learn about landslides, discovering that there are different types of landslides that occur at different speeds - from very slow to very quick. All landslides are the result of gravity, friction and the materials involved. Both...
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Lesson Plan
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Checking the Surf

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
This lesson introduces the concepts of wavelength and amplitude in transverse waves. In the associated activity, students will use ropes and their bodies to investigate different wavelengths and amplitudes.
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Activity
Other

Clean Sweep u.s.a.: Energy to Burn [Pdf]

For Students 3rd - 8th
This informative and interactive site examines how we can get power from garbage. Topics include: waste to energy plants, only ash remains, a bright idea, and more.
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Lesson Plan
Alabama Learning Exchange

Alex: Researching Hurricanes With Technology

For Teachers 9th - 10th
This lesson will help students to understand the formation, power, and history of hurricanes. Students will do this using a combination of technological skills. Examples of technology used include: PowerPoint, Word, Netscape Composer,...
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Lesson Plan
Science and Mathematics Initiative for Learning Enhancement (SMILE)

Smile: Earthquake Waves and Their Destructions

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Looking for the epicenter of an earthquake and measuring the magnitude of waves are goals for learners in this lesson plan for intermediate to middle school students. Learners get to analyze the P and S waves.
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Lesson Plan
PBS

Pbs Teachers: Scientific American: The Frontiers Decade: Environment Decade

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Investigate man's impact on the environment. Observe different species to see how sensitive they are to human presence, and record your observations in a field notes log.