Virginia Department of Education
A-Mazing Plants
Have your young scientists questioned why plants grow a particular way? Through this learning opportunity, scientists gain firsthand knowledge about how plants develop and various factors that affect rates of growth as they bring plants...
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Appearances Are Deceiving
Young scientists study creeks around their area to see how clean the water really is. One way to tell is by the invertebrate populations that are present. This lesson introduces a game which learners simulate a variety of species found...
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Statistical Accuracy and Reliability
Ninth graders assess the accuracy and reliability of current survey data and how it is represented. They design a survey, collect data, and use technology to analyze the data and present the results. Students examine scatter plots and...
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Should Populations in an Ecosystem be Restricted?
Fourth graders experiment to determine how overpopulation effects ecosystems specifically plants. In this ecosystem lesson, 4th graders conduct an ecosystems experiment after listening to Claire Daniel's, Ecosystems. They watch a video,...
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Get the Picture?
Students explore the movement to design low-cost solutions for the world's population and create a graph to represent the information. In this design and graphing lesson, students review the concepts of graphing and visit the...
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Fibonacci Patterns
Learners solve problems using the Fibonacci Patterns. In this geometry lesson, students trackthe growing rate of a rabbit population. They collect the data and graph their results. They make predictions based on their results.
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Be A Bug Scout
Students perform outside activities to determine the amount of insects, flowers, or common weeds within an area. They predict the number of insects they will find within their square area. Using calculators, students organize the data...
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The Dead Zone: A Marine Horror Story
Students graph dissolved oxygen versus depth using data taken from NECOP Program. In this marine science lesson, students explain the causes of hypoxia. They recommend possible solutions to this problem.
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Amphipods
Students identify organisms that live at the bottom of the body of water. In this biology lesson, students evaluate the effects of pollution to amphipods population. They examine collected data and create a bar graph comparing them.
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How Many Bears in the Forest?
Third graders model the tag and recapture of bears and use proportions to estimate the population of the bears in their forest. This is a statistical sampling method used by scientists and naturalists to determine population numbers.
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Harmful Algal Blooms in Full Bloom
Students calculate the total percentage of samples from the data on the graphs. In this marine science lesson plan, students analyze the concentration levels over a period of time. They suggest ways to lessen the effect of these blooms.
National Wildlife Federation
Prairie Chicken Pageant
Diminishing habitats is a real concern that is threatening endangered species. Learners examine these concerns by studying the prairie chicken. Groups get a card with characteristics and threats to the species that they turn into skits.
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Impact of Exotic Species on Lake Ecology
Students examine the effect of foreign species on various habitats. In groups, they identify the population dynamics of the zebra mussel. They calculate averages and graph data from Seneca Lake in New York. They develop hypothesis...
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What's Russia To Do?
Students watch a PowerPoint presentation on the Gulag system in Russia. In groups, they use the internet to create maps on climate and population pyramids for the country of Russia. They must use this information and develop a plan to...
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Living in an "Olympic" Country
Students research countries participating in the Olympic Games. They create a database which includes graphs for comparing population density, the number of athletes, per capita income, etc. for each country. This project is completed...
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The Effect of Temperature on Cricket Chirping
High schoolers examine the effect of temperature on how often crickets chirp. In groups, they complete the experiment and answer lab discussion questions. They create a graph of temperatures and the amount of chirps and discuss the results.
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Where Do People Move To Or From?
Students identify countries of origin of their ancestors, graph patterns of migration to the U.S. and Hawaii, then utilize oral history as a primary document by interviewing their ancestors or parents to explain why they moved to their...
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Technology Integration Lesson Plan: Civil War Spreadsheet
Eighth graders discuss and analyze Civil War data, manually graph data on handout, work with partners to enter data into spreadsheets, and create charts on spreadsheet for each data set.
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Beam Me Up Scotty#153
Students analyze population and land use data to predict future environmental problems. They use fictitious data for this exercise while pretending that they are helping aliens who have come to them for advice.
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Predator-Prey Simulation
High schoolers simulate a predator-prey interaction in an ecosystem. Students use different size squares cut from paper to represent predators and prey. They simulate the interactions of the species by following instructions for the...
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Insect Monitoring
Students participate in an interactive lesson plan using the scientific method to study biodiversity. In this insect monitoring lesson plan, students simulate the layers of soil and the insects that would live there. Students design...
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Poetic Math Greeting Cards
Fourth graders work in groups; collect data in a survey; depict in tables, charts, or graphs the results of the survey; and make predictions. They use creative writing skills and computer skills to generate a greeting card of their own.
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The Lynx Eats The Hare
Students investigate the predator and prey relationship. This is done using a simple simulation. The simulation is done as an arts and craft activity. Students record data and track it using a graphic organizer and then they discuss the...
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Grid Frame Mapping
Students map and describe small area of the schoolyard and discuss habitats.