Curated OER
Going My Way?
Students, in groups, study how a magnet works and how people use the Earth's magnetic field to orient themselves.
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Sundials: Keeping Time Like Native Americans
Learners explore the use of sundials. They observe the shadows cast by the sun and record the times at various points throughout the day. They create sundials and record the location of the shadows and the time of day. They view a...
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Constellations
Middle schoolers explore the major constellations. After reviewing the Earth's basic motions and their significance, students discuss the moon's orbit and revolutions. Using a Digitarium Alpha portable planetarium projector, they...
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Movement of Air II
In this movement of air worksheet, learners determine the deflection of air masses that result from Earth's eastward rotation. Then they describe what winds provide for different trades. Students also identify and describe the imaginary...
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Retrograde Motion of Mars
Middle schoolers investigate the motion of Mars. In this space science lesson, students use transparencies to trace the path of Mars through constellations. Middle schoolers discuss the characteristics of the planet.
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Climatology Forecasting
Students make weather predictions using the climatology method. For this climatology lesson, students review using trends and persistence when forecasting weather. Students discuss the climatology method for forecasting and complete the...
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Graphing Changes in Weather
Students graph current temperature and weather conditions for three days. For this weather lesson, students go to the Weather Channel's website and look up weather for their zip code then graph the conditions and record the current...
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Shadows All Around Us
Students create shadows. In this shadow casting lesson plan, students read books about shadows, view a demonstration on shadow casting and then practice shadow casting on their own. Students cast a shadow using the position of the sun.
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The Role of Fire in Healthy Prairie, Brush and Forest Lands
Students create a Venn diagram to compare and contrast wildfires and prescribed fires. In this earth science lesson, students conduct a series of experiment to explore fire characteristics. They describe favorable conditions to start a...
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Rube Goldberg
Students study Rube Goldberg machines. In this architecture lesson, students build a Rube Goldberg machine.
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Water Cycle Stories
Students explore the water cycle. In this water cycle lesson, students simulate the water cycle by placing an ice cube in a Ziploc bag and observing the changes which occur over time. Students record the mass of the Ziploc bag and record...
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Habitat Collage
Students explore habitats. In this science lesson, students discuss habitats and the insects that are found within each habitat. Students create a habitat collage.
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Create Your Own Animal
Students design and create their own hypothetical animal. In this biology lesson, students identify the factors organisms need to survive. They classify their animals according to its correct phylum.
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Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Fourth graders discover the differences between: reduce, reuse, and recycle by performing hands on examinations. They list what would happen to the soil if we allowed the earth to wash away and briefly discuss the meaning of erosion.
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Water Pollution
Students explore the causes of water pollution. In this environmental instructional activity, students conduct experiments with natural filtration systems.
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Exploring Our Watershed System
Students study watersheds and examine how they are composed. In this watershed system lesson students explain how water enters a watershed and the concept of stream order.
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Water 1: Water and Ice
Students explore forms that water can take and examine the water cycle. In this hands-on science lesson, students participate in activities that require them to change water to a solid and back to a liquid again.
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Landforms
Students research landforms created by tectonic movement. For this landforms lessons, students discuss caves, canyons, mountains, valleys, and undersea vents and the ecosystems unique to these environments.
Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics
A Classroom Solar System
Create a scaled model of our solar system in your classroom! Scholars work collaboratively to build paper mache planets and hang them in their proper position to showcase each planet's location in the solar system.
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Astrology: Fact or Fiction?
Students explore the topic of astrology and review the beliefs behind it. They read sample horoscopes. Using a portable digital planetarium, they view the night sky and the zodiac constellations. They examine and discuss the science...
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Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Students develop a recycling plan. For this environmental lesson, students develop a recycling plan for their school. Students write an outline of the plan to present to their class.
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Taking a Stand: Pros and Cons of Forest Fires
Students explore the pros and cons of forest fires. In this science instructional activity, students research the ecological implications of forest fires. Students record their findings in journals and compose a persuasive e-mail to...
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Become an Expert
Students practice their researching techniques by preparing a presentation with little notice. In this information research lesson, students utilize the Internet to research one of several subtopics concerning panthers. Students...
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Food Chains
Students create their own food chains on Kidspiration starting from the energy of the sun and what it creates. In this food chains lesson plan, students learn about how insects eat plants and so on.