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Biodiversity in Illinois-Pond Habitats
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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The Inside of an Apple
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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Butterflies
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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Water and Ice
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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Inside the Egg, Hatching Chickens
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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A WebQuest about Ocean
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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Inventions, Puppets, and Commercials
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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In the Desert
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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Magnificent Metamorphosis
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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Paleontologist: Can You Dig It?
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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Tadpoles
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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Snowflake Crystals
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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On the Surface Of Things
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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Mushrooms Can Save the World
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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An Automobile Phylogenetic Tree
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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2D Concept Visualization: Cell Organelles Presentation
Students create simple 2D concept driven visualizations of cells and cell organelles and organize them into an effective presentation.
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Making Blood!
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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Smallville Prairie Development Project
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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Dissect with Respect
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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Who's New in the Deep Sea?
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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What to do with Malus-domestica, Cultivated Apples?
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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First You See It - Auroras!
Students read science article on auroras and create a class bingo game with the scientific terms.
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Do the Elephants Need Sunscreen? A Study of the Weather Patterns in Etosha
Learners analyze the weather patterns in Namibia. They create a graph of the yearly temperatures and use the internet to gather information. They discuss how the weather goes in cycles in the area.
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Career Investigators - Jobs of Family Members
Students investigate the concept of a job and how they can differ for each household. They examine a tool box filled with different tools and identify the types of jobs could be done with them. Then the teacher conducts a class discussion.