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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Do You Need a Map?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explain ways marine navigation is important in modern society.  In this map study lesson students use a retrieval tool to obtain real-time information on weather forecasts. 
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Determining the Age of Fossils

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine the concept of radioactive dating. In this radioactive dating lesson plan, students investigate how to determine the ages of fossils and rocks as they learn about half-life radioactive decay.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Biodiversity in Illinois-Pond Habitats

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders construct a pond habitat in the classroom using a small swimming pool partially filled with water, real cattails, a tree log adjoining, and plastic animal life appropriate to a pond setting. They examine the frog in detail...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Inside of an Apple

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Students review the life cycle of apples before they study information about the inside of apples. They work in small groups to color and identify the parts of the inside of an apple. Finally, they use real apples to have an hands on...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Butterflies

For Teachers 1st - 4th
Students will explore the life cycle of the Painted Lady butterfly by raising their own. They will incorporate math, science, and language arts as they graph, pattern, journal, observe, and artistically create.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Water and Ice

For Teachers K - 2nd
Learners examine how water changes state, from a liquid to a solid.  In this water lesson students study the water cycle and how temperature and pressure effect it. 
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Inside the Egg, Hatching Chickens

For Teachers K - 3rd
Students conduct an egg candling activity to show the life inside a fertile egg. Students discuss the needs the egg has of the hen, as well as similarities and differences between plants and animals. Students complete a life cycle wheel...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A WebQuest about Ocean

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders explore the realm of an ocean through an ocean WebQuest. The Problem Based Learning Theory is used within this lesson. They complete several activities on the different concepts of oceans. Students are challenged to solve...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Inventions, Puppets, and Commercials

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders invent a product and present it to the class. In this inventions lesson plan, 4th graders get into groups and have to come up with an invention. They also advertise by writing a television commercial with a script and part...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

In the Desert

For Teachers Pre-K
Students explore earth science by completing several environment activities. In this desert instructional activity, students identify where the U.S. deserts are and what types of wild life inhabit them. Students utilize arts and crafts...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Magnificent Metamorphosis

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students discover stages in metamorphosis through up close and real encounters with video, hands-on investigative and interactive activities using mealworms.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Paleontologist: Can You Dig It?

For Teachers K
Students investigate what a paleontologist does. They participate in a dinosaur dig, write a story, and explore the Dinosaur Dig website to view and discuss photos of a real dinosaur dig.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Tadpoles

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars examine tadpoles at various stages of development. They make careful scientific observations and compare the changes that occur at five different phases of a frog's life.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Snowflake Crystals

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders explore physical changes and the true life story of Wilson Bentley. They observe the changes that take place with snowflakes. Students discuss what happens when snow flakes melt. They create their own snowflakes using...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

On the Surface Of Things

For Teachers 4th - 6th
The purpose of this unit is for young scholars to engage in thinking about the links between science and art. We want to provide students with the opportunity to see original artifacts related to natural occurances.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mushrooms Can Save the World

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students use mushrooms to solve problems. In this environmental activity, students study how fungi have been used to combat environmental problems. Students design strategies that employ mushrooms to combat other environmental challenges.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

An Automobile Phylogenetic Tree

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students study a list of cars and trucks and think about characteristics that can be used to show an "evolutionary relationship". From the characteristics they identity, students construct a phylogenetic tree to show how the automotive...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

2D Concept Visualization: Cell Organelles Presentation

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students create simple 2D concept driven visualizations of cells and cell organelles and organize them into an effective presentation.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Making Blood!

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders study facts about human blood and what it is made of.  In this blood composition instructional activity students divide into groups and complete several activities. 
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Smallville Prairie Development Project

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students research the characteristics of the prairie habitat focusing on scientific, social/historical and aesthetic values. They investigate how humans impact the prairie habitat while maintaining a daily journal of research and...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Dissect with Respect

For Teachers 9th - 11th
Learners, through exercises and discussions, examine ethics involved in the process of choosing and using laboratory animals, respect for the animal they dissect and how to behave in an ethical manner as they dissect various lab specimens.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Who's New in the Deep Sea?

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students examine the methods and technology that scientists use to study the deep sea and other remote environments.  In this ocean habitats lesson students make observations about organisms from video clips, generate questions and use...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What to do with Malus-domestica, Cultivated Apples?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students take on the roles of apple farmers. In this Arizona agriculture lesson, students explore the concepts of supply and demand as they role play apple farmers who create marketing campaigns when supply outweighs demand.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

First You See It - Auroras!

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students read science article on auroras and create a class bingo game with the scientific terms.