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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Astronauts Train in Deep-Space Brine

For Teachers 5th - 9th
Students examine an article on astronauts training in deep space brine then discuss what they learned.  In this investigative lesson students get into groups and design an exercise that includes isolation, silence and conflict...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Intertidal Zone: Tides and How Creatures Survive

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Young scholars study the properties of ocean water and tides and learn about animals that live in intertidal zones. In this intertidal zone lesson, students participate in classroom stations to learn about fresh water and salt water,...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Water Quality Monitoring of Natural Water

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students create their own monitoring program for natural water. They collect samples from an appropriate sampling site. They perform chemical and biological analyses of their samples. They present their information to the class.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Effects of Ultraviolet Light on Lumbriculus

For Teachers 9th - 11th
Students explore the effects of ultraviolet light on Lumbriculus. They expose ultraviolet light to Lumbriculus (worm) and determine the lethal exposure time. They examine the worm and record their observations.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Using Yeast as an Ultraviolet Light Measurement Tool

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students accurately measure the relationship between radiation dose and either survival or some genetic event such as mutation or recombination. They investigate the damage that was done to the DNA molecule as a result of exposure to...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Student Peer Review Through a Discussion Board to Develop an Invasive Species Paper

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Students develop electronic communication skills through a discussion board while peer reviewing a paper on invasive species. Students work in groups of three to provide constructive feedback on a classmate's paper.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Trash We Pass

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students engage in a study of trash and how it is disposed of in the environment. They also research the impact of recycling and its effects upon the disposal amounts. Students calculate the advantages of recycling using real world...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Cloud Database

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Students research information on the types of clouds. They create a database and use a formula. They create various reports and access electronic information to obtain accurate pressure and temperature readings from the National Weather...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Just How Big is this Place?

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students are introduced to the the formula for calculating travel time. They listen to different scenarios relating to long distance travel into space and calculate travel time using the formula.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Investigating Erosion in an Outdoor Classroom

For Teachers 1st
First graders observe the effects of erosion. They work in groups to simulate erosion in a streambed, participate in class discussion, read books about fossils and rocks and then go on a fossil hunt.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Bats Migrate South

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Young scholars examine the life of bats in Illinois. Using the internet, they research the history of the bat in Illinois and describe the way they find prey by using echolocation. They report their findings to the class and answer any...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Space - In Your Face or Not?

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders, in groups, examine how it doesn't matter if they can see the planets in the solar system or not--they're there.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Noah's Ark, Revisited

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders do a visual presentation for a specific endangered species.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Waste Management

For Teachers 4th - 12th
Students set up a recycling program in their school. They first estimate the kinds and amount of trash generated and brainstorm ways to reuse the recyclables and create flyers explaining how their program will work at the school.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Air Pollution: A Local and Global Problem

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Young scholars work together to solve the problem of air pollution. Using the Internet, they research the pollution problem in one city. Using the data, they develop their own solution and pitch it to the class. They must identify the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Creeping Sheets of Ice

For Teachers 7th - 10th
Students conduct scientific investigation in which they observe glacial effects on landscape, develop and explain their own theories of how glaciers change land, and demonstrate understanding and explain basic motion and force principles.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Show Me the Way To Go Home

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students place a pencil perpendicular to the ground and trace its shadow between 11:30 AM and 12:30 PM. They measure the length of the shadow, periodically over several hours, in either English or Metric units. Using the data, they find...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Tales of Changing Seasons

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders create original myths explaining why the seasons change.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rovers on Mars

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers explore latest Mars rovers - Spirit and Opportunity. They investigate the nature of communications with the Rovers including use of Mars Orbiters as relay stations. They research needs of future missions and design...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Who Writes History?

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students examine why certain historical figures get credit for their accomplishments while others are forgotten. They read and discuss two informational handouts, discuss why people remember Columbus even if he was not the first person...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Create a Country

For Teachers 3rd - 12th
Learners work in small groups to list features and elements found on a variety of grade- appropriate maps. They develop a class list of map features and elements to draw from as they create a map of an imaginary country.
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Lesson Plan
Teach Engineering

Solar Power

For Teachers 9th - 11th
How much solar energy is available at my location? An engaging resource provides a presentation along with script to give the class background information on determining solar radiation. Pupils then work through a worksheet to...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Weather Watchers

For Teachers 4th - 9th
Students identify basic weather instruments and how they are used to record weather data. Students define several vocabulary terms as stated in lesson. Students use basic instruments to record weather data in their area. Students use the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Multi-dimensional Modeling of Ore Bodies Making Sense of Empirical Data

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Math scholars identify four different rock types in that strata and use this identification and data to construct a two dimensional geologic cross-section. They use data tables to construct a three-dimensional geologic cross-section.