Channel Islands Film
Restoration Channel Islands Debate
Introduce learners to the debate format with an activity that uses the National Park Service's controversial Channel Islands restoration program as a topic. Class members learn how to generate provocative debate questions, how to prepare...
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Genetically Modified Food (GMF)
Explore genetically modified foods through various experiments. In this biology lesson, students discuss the safety issues related to GMF's. They conduct a PCR analysis to identify the presence of genetic modification.
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Shasta Dam: How High is Too High?
Research water use in California, environmental protection laws, and the proposition to raise Shasta Dam by 200 feet. Researchers use their findings to build an argument which will be presented at a mock decision panel. Groups then...
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Genetic Engineering: Friend or Foe?
Students brainstorm and discuss ways genes can be altered, transferred and cloned. They will complete a subject sampler, opinion paper and prepare to debate their opinion on genetic engineering.
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Coastal Threat: A Story in Unit Conversions
Students convert measurements from one unit to another. In this math instructional activity, students study the environmental consequences of oil spills. They replicate an oil spill event by modeling and scaling.
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The Great Scientific Debate
Fourth graders examine scientific issues that affect the public by debating their classmates. They also write brief essays that show they have learned how to express their reasons for their pros and cons of a particular topic.
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Agriscience
Students research and write a paper on any agriscience related topic. In this series of agriscience instructional activity, students create a presentation to teach their peers about the animal industry. They explain the uses and...
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Children's Health: Children Aren't Little Adults
This instructional activity is a compilation of interdisciplinary, technology-infused activities that focus on the often complicated and sometimes controversial issues related to toxic chemicals in children's environment. Special...
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Military Women
Students review the history of female participation in the armed forces and throughout various conflicts. They participate in a class discussion and consider many of the controversial issues surrounding women in the military.
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Latex Helium Balloons: Any Alternatives?
Students discuss the latex balloon release controversy and review suggested alternatives to the latex balloon.
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Hey, You Stole My Rain!
Students review various scenarios in regards to the water cycle to determine what the best solution is to the problem. Students write their opinions on the controversies.
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Language Arts: Climate Change Debate
Students debate climate change and its causes. They examine articles about the topic and use the information to form their arguments. Students use debate sequence sheets and debater's grids during the exercise.
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Exploring Evolution Lesson Plans
There are evolution lesson plans that can help teachers get past the controversy to increase student understanding of natural selection.
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Conflict and Debate
Students take a medical issue and explore it, debate it, and convince others of their point of view. They improve research skills and writing skills. Students are able to define a problem, debate it, and identify which is the best...
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Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH
Fifth graders enjoy learning more about animals and their habitats as they explore the Internet sites in these Student Activities based on the main characters in Mrs. Frisbee and the Rats of NIMH.
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Just (Don't) Do It
Students create age-appropriate, informational brochures examining health topics relating to sex, after learning about federally funded abstinence-only sex education.
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SeaWorld: Education, Entertainment, or Exploitation?
Students discuss SeaWorld, research marine animal biology, investigate one animal currently collected by SeaWorld, and decide whether they oppose or support SeaWorld's collection policy. Students then gather information relating to...
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Renewable Energy Sources
Place learners into groups to research and present different renewable energy sources. As individuals listen to the class presentations, they take notes and then write a persuasive article defending the form of energy that they feel...
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Dietary Supplements and the Chemistry of Life
Students study the effects of dietary supplements on bodily functions. In this health lesson students calculate their caloric needs and research dietary supplements.
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Endangered Species - Can We Help Them Survive?
Learners, in groups, select an animal that has been identified as endangered and then identify its characteristics. They discuss why the animal has become endangered, evaluate adaptations for its survival and include an illustration.
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Difficult Decisions: The Sakinaw Sockeye Case Study
Eighth graders examine Sakinaw Sockeye as species at risk, participate in role playing exercise to consider different perspectives of various interest groups, and try to come to consensus on how to deal with dwindling Sakinaw sockeye...
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Decision Making and Bioethics
Students demonstrate an ability to apply their knowledge of genetic engineering. They use decision making strategies to recommend a decision concerning the future use of genetic engineering in humans.
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The Risk-Benefit Factor Challenging Our Environment
Seventh graders examine the factors that are contributing to the degrading of the Earth's environment. In groups, they analyze the types of hazards when dealing with pests and give an example of each. For each situation given, they...
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The Kyoto Protocol: What Should We Do?
Students examine why the United States did not ratify the Kyoto Protocol. They develop their own opinion on the Protocol and share them with the class. They also discover how scientific data may be organized to use in a debate.