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So Many Inventions!
Students listen to a teacher read aloud of two books about Chinese inventions. They examine some items that were invented by Chinese inventors such as dominoes, an abacus, a silk scarf, or kite. Next, they determine how a compass works...
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Let's Go to the Video Tape!
Students examine biological diversity and see how it relates to the concepts of variety and relative abundance. In this investigative lesson students view a video on biodiversity and complete an activity.
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Easy as Pi
Students describe the importance of structural features that increase surface area in a coral reef habitat. In this investigative lesson students quantify the impact of modifications on surface area in model habitats.
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Sonar Simulation
Students explore how a side-scan sonar can help locate underwater objects. For this hands- on lesson students compare side-scan sonar and other methods used to search for underwater objects by creating their own "simulation" of a...
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Rain Machine (Solar Still)
Young scholars experiment with a solar still. In this distillation lesson, students find a simple way to use evaporation to make salty water drinkable.
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Mushrooms Can Save the World
Middle schoolers use mushrooms to solve problems. In this environmental lesson, students study how fungi have been used to combat environmental problems. Middle schoolers design strategies that employ mushrooms to combat other...
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Waves Lesson Plan
Students demonstrate an understanding of tsunamis and possible causes. In this investigative lesson plan students view a video and explore earthquakes and movement of tectonic plates.
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Investigating Different Rock Types
Students analyze a rock using their eyes and then a hand lens. In this science lesson, students determine and discuss how hard or how easy it was to find and classify the assigned rock. Students record their observations on an index card...
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Carving Mountains
Students explore geography by participating in an illustration activity. In this land-form lesson, students define vocabulary terms associated with glaciers and forests. Students utilize pens, cardboard and pottery clay to draw and...
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Mapping the National Parks
Students research national parks. In this science lesson, students view a video about the national parks and discuss the environments found within the national parks.
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Save A Reef!
Students identify the major threats to coral reefs and the ways that they benefit from humans. In this coral reef conservation activity students create a public education program on coral reefs.
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Beaver Succession Mural
Students explore the concept of beaver pond succession. In this succession lesson, students discuss what succession is and how it works. Students create a mural to present their understanding of this concept.
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What is the Composition of Soil?
Students examine the different components that make up soil. Using data, they identify the components of soil in their local area and discover how scientists use the soil to see how it was formed. They also describe the soil forming...
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Controlling the Flow of the Colorado River: A Study of Dams
Students research and map the Colorado River and its dams and predict the effects of a dam on an area. They suggest reasons a dam would be built and compare the Colorado River system with other major river systems within the US and...
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The Geography of Tornadoes OR
Students learn some basic facts about tornadoes and map two selected tornado statistics by state, and observe, analyze and speculate about the pattern(s) created by the completed map.
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Plate Tectonic - Volcanoes (K)
Pupils observe how lava flows from a volcano by watching the teacher create a mini volcano with shaving cream.
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In Your Prime
Students study how to find prime numbers. They investigate the teachings of the mathematician Eratosthenes and apply his theory of prime numbers less than 100.
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The Water Cycle - Family Page
Students discuss the steps of the water cycle. They create their own model of the water cycle. They complete the Family Page at the end of the lesson.
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The Search for Secret Agents
Learners embark on a scavenger hunt around the school looking for indoor air pollution and mapping source locations. They predict and observe sources of indoor air pollution, understand and give examples of technologies we use related to...
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Corals and Coral Reefs
Students label the continents, oceans, and seas on a provided world map and use it to determine where they would expect most of the world's coral reefs to be found based on provided information the teacher has read to them.
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It's a Wrap
In this problem-solving, action-oriented activity, middle schoolers explore the impact that wrapping paper has on our landfills. Students brainstorm ideas to address the problem and also write an article to educate adults and peers about...
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A View from Overhead
Students explore the concept of mapping. Using given illustrations, students observe views of a park from above the ground. They compare and contrast the different views. Students discuss uses for maps. Using a resource from the...
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The Rock Cycle
In this rock cycle worksheet, students will review the characteristics of the three rock types: igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks. Students will also compare and contrast rocks and minerals. This worksheet has 16 fill in the...
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Magnets
In this magnets instructional activity, students review magnetic properties and define an electromagnet. This instructional activity has 10 fill in the blank, 1 drawing, and 3 short answer questions.