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Agriculture in Motion
Youngsters learn about simple machines that could be used on a farm. They learn about agricluture, listen to a farmer speak, compare and contrast different farm machines, and then design their own. Note that although the publisher...
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Conserving Natural Resources
Trying to plan an engaging elementary science unit on natural resources? Conserve your energy! This five-part series of lessons and hands-on activities has exactly what you need to teach young scholars about the importance of conservation.
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Biological Communities
Students identify consumers and producers in different communities. Students collect a variety of soil samples and record organisms found in the samples.
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Thinning and Transplanting
Learners identify and observe one plant per section in their quad and to transplant the surplus seedlings to empty quads and interpret why this is important. They then discuss the purpose of thinning and transplanting. Finally, students...
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Mini-Ponds
For this mini pond worksheet, students create a mini-pond ecosystem with soil, water, and plant life. Students let their ecosystem sit for a day and they observe a sample the next day. Students identify all the pond water microorganisms...
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Case of the Missing Pumpkin
Learners explore the process of decomposition. In this science lesson, students carve a pumpkin and observe as it decomposes. Learners compare the changes to an uncarved pumpkin. Students write about the disappearing pumpkin.
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The Dirt on Worms!
Fourth graders make predictions, observe, collect and record data. They investigate several soil and worm websites. Finally, 4th graders write a letter to The President which defends earthworms by explaining their value to the United...
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Seed Socks
Students explore how seeds travel. For this seed disbursement lesson, students head outside in their bare socks. Students walk around then before going inside they take the socks off and examine what their socks picked up. As a class the...
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Rainforest Food Chain
Students investigate a rainforest food chain. In this ecology lesson, students are shown pictures of plants and list what animals might eat the plants. Students continue to think of what other animals might eat those animals. Students...
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WORM WATCHING
Young scholars investigate how earthworms help build good soil. They examine the worms carefully to find the ringlike segments and swollen band at the front of the earthworm's body. Students take turns dampening the soil every day and...
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Teaching Kids about the Environment
Fifth graders identify the species of plants and animals found in an environment. They compare these findings to plant and animal species found in an unlike environment. Students acquire and compare soil samples from the two sites chosen.
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Rock Cycles, Crayon Cycles
Students examine the rock cycle and the path that rocks go through to rearranged in different ways. They define key vocabulary terms, then in small groups conduct a variety of experiments using crayon shavings as simulated rocks and...
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What is the Rainforest?
Students investigate rainforests. In this rainforest instructional activity, students brainstorm on a KWL chart about what they already know about the rain forest. Students are shown pictures of the rain forest and describe what they see...
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Unique Ecosystems
Fourth graders explain how in any particular environment, some kinds of
plants and animals survive well, some survive less well, and some cannot survive at all. They research the ecosystem of which each animal or plant is natively a part.
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Exploring the Water Cycle
Students investigate the water cycle. In this water cycle activity, students create an ecosystem within a 2-liter bottle. Students record scientific observations as they observe the water cycle within their ecosystem.
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Investigation 3 - Weathering
Fourth graders study 4 types of weather processes: wind, running water, plant growth, and freezing water. They explain how the processes of weathering and erosion change and move materials that become soil. They draw diagrams...
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Ecology
In this ecology activity students complete a crossword puzzle that incorporates all of the ecological vocabulary in the word puzzle.
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Wildlife Around the World
Middle schoolers examine how plants are able to adapt to their ecosystem and the role that fire plays in changes through the years. For this ecosystem lesson students complete several exercises focussing on plants and their...
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The Formation and Value of Temperate Grasslands
Young scholars get an overview of the climate and organisms of the North American Prairie. After a lecture, and watching some videos imbedded in this plan, students compile research data on the North American Prairie.
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How Many Hats Does a Farmer Wear
In this farmer activity, students make a spinning wheel to describe the jobs of a farmer. Students create 1 wheel with 8 different jobs for a farmer.
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Teaching about the Rainforest - Classroom Ideas
Students are introduced to the tropical rainforest through different ways that catch their attention such as: Visit a local botanical garden or conservatory so that students can see the variety of tropical plants in the world. They...
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Fertilizers: Friend or Foe?
In this fertilizer instructional activity, students read about natural and manufactured fertilizers. They answer four critical thinking questions about fertilizers and their use.
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Parts of the Seed
In this biology worksheet, students read about the parts of plant seeds and look at a seed diagram. They read about the roots, endosperm, embryo, and the process of germination. They answer 8 online multiple choice questions based on the...
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Sedimentary Rocks
Fourth graders discuss the basic properties of rocks, the processes
involved in the formation of soils, and the needs of plants provided by soil. They write descriptions in their Science journal and identify and discuss each type of...