NOAA
Importance of Deep-Sea Ecosystems – How Diverse is That?
When judging diversity of an ecosystem, both species evenness and species richness must contribute. After a discussion of diversity and a guided example using the Shannon-Weaver function, scholars use the same function on two other...
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Candy Quakes
Eighth graders, using a candy bar, gum, and Twizzlers, demonstrate the effects of deformational forces on the earth's crust. They examine the processes of rock and fossil formation.
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Idaho Earthquakes
Students examine the types of earthquakes that occur in Idaho. In groups, they compare and contrast the types of energy released and how they affect the movement of the Earth. To end the activity, they analyze a map showing the...
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Nature Scavenger Hunt with Pedometers
Learners integrate the study of plants/soil/rocks within a physical education classroom.
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Erosion
Students study various types of erosion. The purpose of these activities is to increase students awareness to the point where they can make intelligent decisions on proper land use.
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The Extraordinary Life of the Alaskan Tundra
Students investigate the characteristics of the tundra on the North Slope of Alaska. They conduct Internet research, develop a chart of the types of vegetation, plant growth, and fauna found on the tundra, identify examples in their own...
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What is Soil?
Third graders examine what makes soil by creating a Venn Diagram. In this Earth environment lesson, 3rd graders identify the different components that soil is made from. Students bring soil from their homes to examine and create a...
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Impressions in Clay
Students examine how fossils are created. They make impressions of different objects in clay and compare them to examples of fossils.
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The History of Religion
Young scholars learn about the two main types of religions. For this religion lesson, students define religion and learn about early religion as well as religion in the west. Young scholars define animism, polytheism,...
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Home Design
Students investigate house structures by examining photographs. For this architecture lesson, students read the book Houses and Homes, analyzing the different structures and materials. Students utilize mud to create model...
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The House on a Waterfall
Students analyze Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater house. in this architecture analysis lesson plan, students analyze the pictures of the home and discuss Wright's style. Students research the similarities and differences in Wright's...
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Hair Styles/ Do You Stereotype?
In this career worksheet, students examine the words and determine if each type of person has either long or short hairstyles.
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Making Fossils
Third graders examine the differences between cast and mold fossils. They discuss geological time and how many fossils are millions of years old, then create a cast fossil using clay and a shell, and a mold fossil using a shell and...
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Take a Hike!
Students explore the benefits of staying active by going on a hike. In this physical education lesson, students discuss the concept of a hike, where a good place to hike is and what types of foods are necessary to stay nourished....
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I Can Find that Where? - A Study of Landforms
First graders make landform maps of the United States. For this landform lessons, 1st graders participate in a discussion of local landforms and make a landform map of the United States. They follow the teacher's directions to add...
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Population Densities
Students explore biological impact by completing a worksheet in class. In this animal population lesson plan, students utilize river rocks and jars to conduct a coqui frog population role play activity. Students define a list of...
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Skeletal System
Seventh graders explore the functions of the skeletal system. They collaborate in small groups to determine the function of the skeletal system, the types of joints and movement, bone strength and growth, and bone injuries including...
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Determining the Age of Fossils
Students examine the concept of radioactive dating. In this radioactive dating lesson, students investigate how to determine the ages of fossils and rocks as they learn about half-life radioactive decay.
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Volcano Under the City
Young scholars examine the different flow rates of liquids and how lava's viscosity influences flow. In this liquids lesson plan students complete several handouts and a lab activity.
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Space Science: A Scoop of Moon Dirt
Students discover soil characteristics and how it is formed on Earth and the Moon by examining local samples to a lunar simulant. They replicate the effects of wind erosion by scraping dry bread with sandpaper. Students use rocks and...
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Forces Inside the Earth
In this faults worksheet, students identify the three types of faults and the characteristics that define a normal fault, reverse fault, and a strike-slip fault. This worksheet has 3 fill in the blank and 3 short answer questions.
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Erosion: Changing the Face of Earth
Fourth graders explore how the landscape of the planet can be changed by different elements of wind, water, ice and chemicals through hands-on activities. They examine pictures of areas around town and discuss anything they think is out...
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Shells on the Mountain Top?
Students work in groups to remove fossils from sediments, classifying as many organisms and parts of organisms as possible into major groups. They study the data from each formation and make conclusions about the types of organisms and...
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What Is Mining
Student develop a vocabulary of "mining words" and study about exploring and mining for minerals. They break into groups and are assigned an area at the "mine" to do their "exploration" for the valuable "coal". The coal is represented...