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Understanding Climate
Fourth graders create two dioramas out of household materials to compare the influence of various factors that impact climate. Each group discuss how the change in factors influenced the climate, flora, and fauna of their area.
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Topo Map Mania!
Seventh graders describe the major features of maps and compasses. They read a topographical map. They take a bearing using a compass. They practice using scales on a map.
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Tall as a Mountain, Flat as a Plain
Students examine pictures of various landforms before placing them on a chart under the appropriate label.They sing songs about landforms to the tune of "She'll Be Comin' 'Round the Mountain." Next, they use non-edible baker's dough to...
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Too Bright at Night?
Students explore the consequences of light pollution. They consider benefits and drawbacks of technology in order to acquire informed attitudes on the various technologies and their social, cultural, economic, and ecological consequences. .
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Looking into Space
Students explore how telescopes work, build a model of their own, and consider how real telescopes can be used to ask-and help answer-questions about the universe.
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Phase In, Phase Out, the Magnificent Moon
First graders discuss why the moon appears to change shape. They use flashlights and balls to simulate the sun's light shining on the moon during its different phases. They read books, paint pictures and write sentences about the moon.
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2105
Students read excerpts from Jon Scieszka's novel, 2095, prior to presenting their vision of the future in a creative project accompanied by written explanation. They design a museum exhibit which shows a scene from a science fiction book...
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Understanding Cause and Effect using A Sound of Thunder
Students listen to a short story, A Sound of Thunder, and retell parts of the story which is about time travel. They respond to the story by writing cause/effect outcomes about the ecosystem using a handout.
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Discovering Math: Concepts in Algebra
Students learn that speed is a function of time and distance, a quadratic equation can be used to figure out the path of fireworks, a photographer can use Algebra to figure out how many rolls he can afford if he needs twice as much of...
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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...
Small Planet Communications
Civil War
Students discuss political, social, and personal issues relating to the Civil War from various perspectives using internet sources. Students write various selections from Civil War characters' point of view.
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A Model of Earth's Atmosphere
Middle schoolers make a model of the four layers of Earth's atmosphere that represents the characteristics of each layer.
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Measuring Shadows
Students determine the pattern (length and direction) of shadows cast by sunlight during several month period, and develop interpretation of daily and seasonal patterns and variations observed.
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Leading Lives
Students explore a field of knowledge through the life of a leader in that field. They write a high-quality biography of the leader of their choice. In the end, publishing of the biography is completed on the Internet.
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Earth and Beyond!
Learners investigate one or more of the following topics and develop a plan for the future regarding it: global warming, lunar exploration, space travel, Mars exploration, or terraforming. They disucss the audio files and the video that...
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What? No Cars?
Students consider a world in which cars are banned. They work together to develop a sketch of transportation alternatives. They share their ideas with the class.
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Concept Mapping
Students develop a concept map about transportation. They connect the use of cars to different subjects. They share their findings with the class.
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How is our place connected to other places?
Second graders conduct a survey, they record their data with the help of maps. They use an aerial photo or Ordnance Survey map, 2nd graders pinpoint specific places and add them to a legend using the drawing tools. Students use...
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Space: The Final Frontier
Sixth graders construct a graph to demonstration information that they've learned about the solary system. They also write or illustrate a sonar or lunar eclipse.
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Celestial Photography
Students practice photographic skills and gain an awareness of photography as a scientific tool.
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Meteorologist for a Day
Students research weather patterns, predict the weather for a US city and write a weather forecast that be presented to the class. The forecast should explain their weather prediction and the weather patterns and conditions it is based on.
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Korean Road Trip
Students research the geographical regions of Korea. They plan a hypothetical road trip that could be taken in the country. Students also write a study journal for the trip that records possible events that could take place.
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Hyperstudio Solar System Review: Technology, Study Skills
Students use Hyperstudio to review important points before taking a test at the end of a study unit on the solar system. This concept could easily be switched to many different topics.
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"Space" Investigations
Sixth graders understand the patterns of change observable on Earth as a result of the movement of the different bodies in the solar system. They identify the physical characteristics of the different components of the solar system.