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Lotic Environment Lesson Plans
Learners create and conduct experiments on a "classroom river habitat." They manipulate the biotic and abiotic factors so that they are able to compare an artificially prepared river model to a naturally occurring lotic ecosystem.
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Air Masses
Students examine the physical characteristics of several types of air masses to discover how air masses can be identified and defined by their temperature and moisture content.
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Fred the Fish
Students read and retell the story of Fred the Fish. In groups, they create their own story of a similar nature and identify a situation in their community like the one in the story. They create possible solutions to the problem and...
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Make a Rain Stick
Young scholars create a rain stick to imitate the nature sounds in a rainforest habitat. In this rainforest habitat lesson, students create a rain stick to mimic the cultural tools used in the South American rainforest. Young scholars...
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Termite Biology
Students explore the physical characteristics, distribution and habitat of termites. The lesson focuses on the termite as a social creature contrary to most other insects.
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Plotting Plates
Students investigate plate tectonics and their correlation with natural phenomena like earthquakes and volcanoes. They use the internet to see real-time data about earthquakes and volcanoes. Students plot latitude and longitude points on...
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When Things Heat Up
Ninth graders investigate relationship between the temperature and concentration of dissolved oxygen in water. They examine how pollution and other natural influences can cause the parameters to change. In groups, 9th graders collect...
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Animating Motion
Students apply what they recall about objects in motion by animati ng sequences of pictures that model a set of physical conditions. They animate the orbital motions of the Earth, the space shuttle, and the Moon based on calculations of...
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Scientific Inquiry: Periodic Motion
Students construct their own pendulum. In this physics activity, students design an experiment to find the factors affecting its period. They formulate a conclusion based on experimental data.
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Local Area - What Is a Region?
Students examine the physical characteristics of the Connecticut River Valley. They analyze maps and pictures, identify physical characteristics of the region, and color in the Connecticut River on a map.
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Variations
Sttudents examine populations of living things and identify variations in physical features.
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Come on In- the Water's Fine
Students examine how coastal erosion effects seaside communities. They investigate how people have to make choices when manipulate the physical environment such as when dredging and constructing seawalls in coastal areas. They complete a...
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Litter Garden
Students discuss what man-made and natural materials are visible in litter. Using a sample of litter, they review the concept of decomposition between the two types of materials. They examine the two samples once and a while and record...
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Eisenhower 1/26
Eighth graders identify and explain what Bernoulli's Principle is and draw diagrams to incorporate Pascal. They also perform simple calculations of density, buoyancy, and fluid pressure. Finally, 8th graders describe fluid pressure in...
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Rocketry in Motion
Students investigate why a balloon flies in one direction as air escapes in the opposite direction, which helps them understand the nature of rockets and fireworks. Individually and in teams, students conduct research to create a...
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Candy Quakes
Eighth graders use candy to show the effects of deformation forces on the earth's crust. In this rock and fossil formation lesson students construct models and simulations to describe and explain natural phenomena.
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The Best Place in the United States to Live
Students, working in small groups, analyze information provided in U.S. maps to make a logical determination of the best place to live in the United States in regards to natural and human-made hazards. Then, working individually, they...
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The Little Transistor That Could
Students research the history of the transistor to explore the nature of technology. They complete a worksheet that coincides with given websites. Then they write a one-page essay about their findings.
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Antarctic Jukebox
In this environment activity, students read an excerpt about Antarctica, including the many challenges explorers face. Then they imagine that they are a sound recordist in Antarctica and record 3 CDs. Students look at the images given...
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Universal Gravitation
Students create a KWL chart about gravity. In this astronomy class, students investigate the nature of gravity. They discuss common misconceptions and address them.
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Mellowing With Age, A Closer Look
Students realize that aging is a "natural, continuous process" and develop sensitivity to the needs, desires, and capabilities of the elderly by interviewing elderly community members and photographing age related things.
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Coin Investigation: How Can You Use Tools?
Students, by exploring a simple investigation system, see how technology can allow people to extend their senses and "see" beyond the world of their natural vision.
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Catch Me if You Can
Third graders investigate behavioral and physical adaptations, such as camouflage, that allow animals to respond to life needs.
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Tackling Taxonomy
Students study physical characteristics of separate phyla and place them into similar groups. This lesson is part of a multi-segmented unit on the diversity of life. students develop a classification system by grouping animals into...