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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Testing the Caverns

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students build model caverns using paper mache or clay and bury them in a tray of sand. They test the models by dropping balls onto them to simulate an asteroid hitting the earth. They evaluate the effectiveness of a structure against...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Crustal Sinking

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students measure the rate of sinking of a test tube into a beaker of "glop", representing a model of the interaction between the Earth's crust and upper mantle. This task assesses students' abilities to make simple observations,...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Petroglyphs: Protecting the Past

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders investigate the three types of rocks and study about petroglyphs. They explore why petroglyphs were used by the Nez Perce People. Students investigate the properties of the three types of rocks and they discuss cultural...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Planetary Orbits

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students explore space science by completing a solar system identification worksheet. In this planets lesson, students discuss the different planets in our star system and identify their traits. Students complete an orbital system...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

I Can See and Feel the Change in the Seasons

For Teachers Pre-K - 1st
Students use their senses to investigate changes in the seasons. Identify the seasons and represent each with pictures and songs. Observe and describe typical weather for each of the seasons. Describe the information each of the five...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

TE Activity: A Roundabout Way to Mars

For Teachers 6th - 7th
Students investigate Hohmann orbit transfers using cardboard and string while focusing on the orbits of Earth and Mars. They look at the planets orbits around the sun and transfer orbit form one planet to another to determine what a...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How Can We Live Here? Life In Extreme Environments

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore the limits of life on Earth to extend their beliefs about life to include its possibility on other worlds. They investigate three hypothetical environments and the bacterial life forms that could exist on Earth.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Modeling Geologic Time

For Teachers 5th - 9th
Students design, construct and interpret a model of geologic time and investigate change through geologic time.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Check Out Lights and Shields with Beads

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students explore Ultraviolet detecting beads and conduct several investigations with them.  In this investigative lesson plan students participate in an experiment to see the harmful effects of UV light and discuss their findings. 
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Water, Water Everywhere

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students explore water. In this water cycle lesson, students conduct a scientific investigation that requires build a terrarium models of the earth. Students record their observations of the changes regarding water in the terrarium.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

WATER CHEMISTRY

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students list reasons why water is important and investigate and graph the freezing points of different solutions.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Earthquake Waves And Their Destructions

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Young scholars investigate primary and secondary waves and how to measure the magnitude of waves. They discover how to find the epicenter of earthquakes. They examine why waves are more destructive in some areas than others through these...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Going My Way?

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students, in groups, study how a magnet works and how people use the Earth's magnetic field to orient themselves.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Environments of Big Sur -- Which Do We Protect?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students investigate the geological, climatic, and biological features of Big Sur. They watch a video, conduct Internet research, and create a script and images in the form of an outline in a simulation of an environmental group.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Strawkets and Control

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students investigate the effect that fins have on rocket flight. They construct two paper rockets that they can launch by blowing through a straw, one with fins and one with wings, and observe and record the results of the rocket flights.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Using A Winogradsky Column to Analyze Microbial Communities

For Teachers K - 12th
Students use easily obtained materials to study ecological succession in a microbiological community. This investigation is appropriate for a variety of age groups. Elementary Students be fascinated by the changes occurring over time...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Detecting Meteors by Radio in the Classroom

For Teachers 12th
Twelfth graders describe and interpret the science of optical and radio telescopes, space probes and remote sensing technologies (Unit E) They explain the role of radio and optical telescopes in determining characteristics of stars and...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Hurricanes and Climate

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students investigate maps and data to learn about the connections between hurricanes and climate. In this exploratory lesson students describe and graph the 6 regions where hurricanes happen and discuss how hurricanes have changed over...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Planet Protectors

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students explore ways to protect the earth.  In this environmental issues and technology activity, students investigate the water quality in their community and compare their findings to the water quality in other geographic areas. ...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Remote Sensing - What Can We See When We Can't Touch?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners discover how remote sensing is used to identify the signatures of life even when the particular life form is not directly observable. They investigate how a satellite "sees" objects on the surface of Earth.
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Lesson Plan
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Shadow Trackers

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students use online websites to inquire about the cycle of day and night. In this web based lesson, students are able to see the movement of the sun and Earth. Students can look at different parts of the Earth as if they were on the Sun...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Lab Safety

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students investigate the concept of lab safety using a variety of different activities. The equipment necessary is covered. They draw the different types of lab tools using a graphic organizer.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Water Filtering

For Teachers 1st - 2nd
Young scholars investigate how polluted water is filtered so people can use this recycled resource. They conduct an experiment in which they put "polluted" water through a filtering system. They investigate what happens at a water...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sky Pictures

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students investigate constellations. In this space science instructional activity, students view transparencies of constellations and identify the zodiac constellations. Students research the legends connected with the constellations.