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Race the Track! Shoot the Loop
Students experiment with a steel ball and matchbox car to find the effects of force and motion. In this force and motion lesson plan, students assemble a track, conduct experiments and record on a shoot the loop worksheet. Students...
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Illuminating Climate Change: Connecting Lighting and Global Warming
Students analyze energy usage and connect energy usage to fossil fuel consumption. In this global warming and pollution lesson, students what fuels are used to generate electricity and how much CO2 each fuel produces, then graph the...
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In Search of a Land Ethic
Students research the theory that everything is connected to everything else. Students explore the concept of how do we put normative values on our nonhuman environment. Students investigate an ecologist and write an informational...
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Scientific Method in Action
Students investigate the current environmental movement by cleaning up their own campus. In this environmental care activity, students practice cleaning their "environment" by picking up trash on their campus and decrease litter by...
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Rock-A-Bye Pendulum
Third graders analyze the effects of force on an object in motion and its relationship to a change in speed. This lesson uses a pendulum to demonstrate the principle.
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TE Activity: You're in Hot Water
Students study different ways of using solar energy. They design a solar water heater and determine how much water it can heat in a set amount of time. They examine how the heaters work by solar radiation and convection.
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Habitable Zones
Students focus on stellar luminosities to estimate size of habitable zones, map out habitable zone around hot light bulbs that serve as models of stars, investigate how size of model "habitable zone" around light bulbs depends on...
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Measuring Temperature
Students conduct an experiment using the steps of the scientific method. In this scientific method lesson plan, students experiment with temperature and record their findings using the scientific method. Students complete a data sheet...
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Weather Walks
Students study weather by taking walks in various types weather conditions.
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Newton Gets Me Moving
Students discuss Newton's laws of motion. The conduct motion experiments by building "Newton Rocket Cars" from assorted materials. They propel the cars with rubber bands and wooden blocks and record the distance traveled on data sheets.
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Kite building activity
Students explore how a kite flies; this instructional activity is a precursor for the windmill activity. By exploring how a kite flies, the students explore the power of the wind; particulary how drag, lifft and gravity enable objects...
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Soil pH Effect on Germination of Specific Weeds
Students collect weed seeds from three varieties of weeds (knapweed, thistle, or toadflax, for example they may choose others in addition to the spotted knapweed.) They sterilize soil for thirty containers, plant seeds in sterile soil,...
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Galvanometers
Students construct their own galvanometer. In this physics lesson plan, students explain how it is used to detect electric current. They conduct an experiment to measure how much electricity flows through the circuit.
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Tornado
Students study the classification system of tornadoes. In this tornado instructional activity students make their own tornadoes in different mediums.
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Photosynthesis
Learners conduct a variety of experiments on photosynthesis. In this biology activity, students identify the factors required for the process to occur. They perform computerized experiments to test the amount of oxygen produced when...
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Plant Transpiration
Students conduct various experiments to investigate plant transpiration. In this biology instructional activity, students explain how this process helps maintain the hydrologic cycle. They measure the rate of water loss in plants using a...
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Me And My Shadow
Students investigate the concept of a shadow. They design a tool to create shadows for an experiment. They make observations and record the size and shape of shadows. The lesson contains background information for the teacher to deliver...
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Water Resources Engineering
Students illustrate the chemical differences between surface and tap-water. They investigate the common chemical and physical parameters relevant for water quality and gain hands on experience with water quality testing.
They enhance...
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This Old Tubeworm
Students plot data to construct and interpret a graph about vestimentiferans at cold-seep sites in the Gulf of Mexico. In this deep sea lesson, students plot data provided for the growth of tubeworms. They use the graphs to determine...
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Soil Permeability
Learners discuss how soil permeability is affected by permafrost. In this soil lesson plan, students freeze soil over night, and discuss how the environmental conditions of freezing affect soil and further affect vegetation.
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How can my breakfast help the birds?
Sixth graders design farms with a bird's habitat in mind. In this farm lesson plan, 6th graders research how sun grown coffee destroys a bird habitat, and then they make their own farm with a bird's habitat being preserved. They then...
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Vermicomposting
First graders investigate composting. In this biology lesson plan, 1st graders identify ways to use garbage as fertilizer. Students examine soil and compost matter as well as the role of worms in the dirt.
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How Microbes Help Ecosystems
Sixth graders observe different microorganisms under the microscope. In this biology lesson plan, 6th graders draw and describe the samples they see. They study the root nodules of plants and explain how the plants benefit from those...
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Lamarck And Darwin
Students compare Lamarck's mechanism for evolution with Darwin's theory of natural selection.