Discovery Education
Cushion It!
Sugar cubes, collide! Groups design protection systems using bubble wrap to protect sugar cubes from being destroyed by falling batteries in the STEM lesson. They consider how the experiment relates to collisions in real-world...
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Researching Plant Life
Fourth graders examine the process of photosynthesis. Given websites about plant life, 4th graders retrieve and record accurate information about the parts of the plant and photosynthesis. Students solve a "Plant Life Mystery" from...
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Where is Flat Stanley?
Students create a story map of the basic elements and significant events of the book Flat Stanley. Students brainstorm places they would like to visit if they had been flattened and then, write about an imagined experience. Students...
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Butterfly and Caterpillar
Students listen to the story "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" and create their own "Very Hungry Caterpillar" book to learn the life cycle of a butterfly.
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C.M. Beg
First graders are introduced to a pretend boy named C.M. Beg. The initials of the boy be a mnemonic device to help students explain the basic characteristics of living things.
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What is An Insect?
Students investigate the concept of an insect. They conduct research about six different insects and identify the different body parts. Students look at the life cycle of the developing monarch butterfly. They also use the library to...
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A Rainbow Under the Sea: How Do Animals Survive in the Ocean?
Second graders, with adult help, create a PowerPoint presentation on a selected ocean animal.
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Modeling Mitosis and Meiosis
Students construct and manipulate models of mitosis and meiosis and compare/contrast them. They create the models using index cards and yarn, interpret diagrams and photographs, and summarize written descriptions.
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What Tree is That?
Students examine leaves and the trees in their neighborhood that they came from. In this ecology lesson, students read the book, I Can Name 50 Trees Today, and discuss how a tree goes from a forest to a wood shop. Students...
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How Microbes Help Ecosystems
Sixth graders observe different microorganisms under the microscope. In this biology lesson, 6th graders draw and describe the samples they see. They study the root nodules of plants and explain how the plants benefit from those bacteria.
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Cells=Life!
Ninth graders share what they know about cells. In this biology lesson, 9th graders study different microscopic images of the cell. They draw one and explain to their partner why they chose that image.
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Life is Weird!
Students describe major features of cold seep communities, and list at least five organisms typical of these communities. They infer probable trophic relationships among organisms typical of cold-seep communities and the surrounding...
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Applied Evolution: How Will We Get There from Here?
High schoolers explore the basic process of natural selection and how people can manipulate that process today. The consequences of natural selection on daily life and the implications of evolutionary biology in basic and applied science...
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Biosphere
Students examine the basic biosphere and its components. In this ecology lesson students complete several experiments including designing a system that is balanced to sustain life.
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Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss!
Learners examine the life and works of Theodor Seuss Geisel. In groups, they compare and contrast the stories, characters and illustrations he used. They complete a book review on one of the books and share them with other students in...
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Writing: Planning and Organizing
Twelfth graders examine the five step prewriting process used before writing essays. They select a common topic and determine the purpose,and audience for the essay. They list examples in daily life where planning and organizing are...
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To Smell or Not to Smell, That is the Ester
Students explain the basic concepts of polymerization. Students participate in a lab to create a crude preparation of carboxyl esterase and test its effectiveness in reducing the residual monomer in an emulsion such as paint.
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Native American Research
Students investigate an Native American tribal group. They conduct research using a variety of resources. The subject areas to focus on are religious life, history, social structures, economics, geography, and environment. Students...
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Resume Writing
Students discuss the basics of resume writing. They review resumes and discuss what is effective and what is ineffective. They select a resume and change it from one format to the other. They review the changes and discuss advantages.
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Weaving Technology into Thematic Units
Eighth graders are taught to give an understanding of an author's time period and life.
Teachers support the writing process and research techniques with technology and research books. Alternative assessment is used for evaluation.
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Wegener and Plate Tectonics: A Hands-On Lesson
Students are introduced to and experiment with the basic concepts of plate tectonic theory as well as assess the history of the theory of plate tectonics. They explain and illustrate the basic concepts through diagrams and models of...
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Plant Life
Middle schoolers study plant parts and their functions. In this plant life instructional activity students participate in an activity of planting plants.
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Gene Regulation Mechanisms
Students explore genetics. They discuss how chromosomes and/or genes are regulated during the life of an organism. In a lab setting, students compare and contrast the genomic regulation of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells using...
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Daisyworld: Stella Mac or PC
Students investigate Daisyworld, a very simple planet that has only two species of life on its surface - white and black daisies, and bare ground. They construct a Stella model of Daisyworld and perform guided experiments to explore the...