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Tree Hunt
Students identify the common trees of Iowa and make observations while creating a key. In this tree hunt lesson, students write a letter to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources to receive a pamphlet of Common Trees of Iowa. Students...
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Working with Clay
Second graders investigate how to work with clay after examine the book "Being Friendly to Trees." They make a clay square which they decorate with leaves that they find while taking a nature walk. They glaze their artwork and then...
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Trees at Work... Just Look!
Students investigate the significance of trees. They collect magazine pictures of animals that live in trees, list products that are made from trees, collect twigs and create an item using the sticks, and bring in and discuss food from...
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Plant Classification
Students participate in an experiment that involves plant classification. They identify and are able to employ three methods of classifying leaves. Each student classifies leaves by each of the following methods: K-I 4.b, d, & e;...
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Branching Art From Nature
Young scholars construct an art piece from nature. In this visual art lesson, students use objects from the environment (petals, leaves, and stones) to create a unique art piece.
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Wacky Water Critters
Students visit a local creek or stream. They collect water samples from the creek and observe and sort the "water critters" they find in the sample, observing smaller organisms under a microscope if necessary. They identify each organism...
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Animal Tracks
Sixth graders practice using logic and scientific proof while examining animal tracks. In this scientific method lesson, 6th graders identify different animals and the type of tracks they leave behind by observing photographs. Students...
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What a Waste
Students analyze components of garbage. They collect and sort a few days' worth of garbage. They chart the results of an investigation.
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From Seeds to Plants
Second graders review the process of plant reproduction and the role of seeds in that process. The students dissect a seed, analyze their finds, collect and record data, and make predictions about seed germination and plant growth.
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Coho Salmon Enhancement
Students build a fish trap across a small stream. The purpose of the trap is to collect baseline data of Oncorhynchus kisutch, Coho salmon, smolt numbers coming out of a spring-fed pond. Other biological data also be measured.
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Signs of the Seasons
Students closely observe the natural world, record data, and notice patterns as the seasons unfold, they build a deeper understanding of seasonal change! The definition of phonology is the focus of this lesson and how it changes...
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Evaluating Data
In this data learning exercise, students learn how to organize the data collected during an experiment and practice finding patterns. Students graph a table of experimental data and complete 1 short answer question.
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Biological Flight
Students examine the many different ways that seeds fly in birds, in air, and why. In this science lesson plan, students collect seeds, learn Bernoulli's principle including lift, ailerons, elevators, drag and how to make a paper...
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Personal Ecosystem
Students build an aquatic ecosystem using large glass pickle jars. In this ecology lesson, students build and ecosystem then observe and collect data on the habitats. In this long term project students observe a population of guppies...
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Fossil Fantastic
Students collect found objects, including leaves, twigs, and buttons, and create hand-made "fossils" in this 2-day lesson for the 7th and 8th grade Science or Art classroom. This is a great cross-curricular exploration of fossils and...
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"Quack Said the Billy-goat"
Second graders read the poem together, "Quack Said the Billy-goat" and discuss what makes the poem funny and which words rhyme. They observe the teacher writing a new first verse, changing some of the text, but leaving the original rhyme...
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Spring Potted Plants
Students identify and interpret plant growth as well as gain graphing skills and other important knowledge related to potting plants. They take a regular milk jug and cut off the top, leaving the handle and the rest intact. Then,...
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Amazing Bean Races
Students experiment with bean growth in varied conditions. In this plant biology instructional activity, students plant beans in soil and in spun cellulose (absorbent material in diapers) and measure the growth of their seedlings. They...
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Reptile and Amphibian Defense Strategies
Students study the stages of the Eastern newt either by collecting a live specimen or from pictures. They note the colors of the eft stage before reading the "Eastern Newt Species Account" that shows the newt's life stages, migration,...
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Dusty Air
Students discover the types and amounts of particulate matter found in the air. They collect particulates using a Petri dish coated with Vaseline then classify and count the collection under a stereoscope.
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Trip Around the World
Students embark on a simulation journey around the world. They make a stop at each of the seven continents. At their first location, they board a plane, buckle their seatbelts and enjoy an in-flight movie about the next country. Once...
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Tree Lesson
Students compare and contrast characteristics of conifer and hardwood trees. After collecting samples of branches around the school, they classify the branch as hardwood or conifer. Groups of students identify given twigs. They go...
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Looking for Minibeasts
In this minibeasts instructional activity, students participate in a "minibeasts safari" where they collect a variety of different types of bugs in a jar, examine them and then return them to their original inhabitants.
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Diversity of Life
Students study fungi and its characteristics. In this fungi lesson students collect and observe fungi then answer questions on what they saw.