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Rising Water!
Young scholars observe water change from a liquid to a gas state when heated and then return to its liquid stage when cooled. They learn that gas molecules move faster than liquid molecules. They discover physical properties that...
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Something Fishy Going On
Students create a video animation of how Swimmy gathered his fish friends together to form a great big fish that would frighten the predator tuna away. In art class each child create a small red fish which gets displayed in the ocean...
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Is Global Warming Happening?
Students investigate the probability of global warming and the effects of global warming on the environment. They conduct Internet research and collect data, transfer the data onto an Excel spreadsheet, and create a presentation that...
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Ship of the Line
Students discover boats by researching 18th century ships. In this Naval history instructional activity, students identify and describe the different components of an 18th century naval ship after researching information on the...
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Density Derby
Students explore the relationship between mass, volume and density. They use model boats to discover how changing mass and volume affect density. This is a very engaging lesson which provides great demonstrations and hands-on activities.
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"Measurement in Motion"
Ninth graders examine the rate of motion and changes in motion using a ramp and a rolling object. They conduct the demonstration, determine the average speed, and describe how a moving object can have zero acceleration and deceleration.
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How Texas is Planning To Manage Its Water
Students research water management strategies in Texas. They analyze projected demand for water in the year 2050, interpret graphs and tables and then discuss the data as part of a written report. They research and map the locations of...
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Touch and Discover
Students identify the physical properties of items using the sense of touch. In this touch and discover lesson, students describe items. Students sort items using a Venn diagram.
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STRAINING FOR SOUND
Sixth graders use a laser along with computer microphone probeware and the appropriate software, 6th graders determine the speed of rotating objects.An audio amplifier is connected to a solar cell to change the laser light signal into a...
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Research Ethics
Learners develop an ability to distinguish between simple error, misconduct and fraud. Students are lead to consider a widening circle of the consequences of misconduct and fraud. They expand their knowledge on the self-regulating...
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Reflecting on Reflectivity
Students plan and construct a "mini-lab" to measure the reflectivity of different earth surfaces. They measure reflectivity of materials, including ice, soil, rocks, etc., and then extrapolate from what they have learned to consider the...
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Magnets---Polarity
Young scholars identify and describe the poles of a magnet. They demonstrate how the poles interact with one another.
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Cutt-Off Genes
Students explore how gene sequence analysis can be used to examine phylogenetic similarities of different organisms. Students work in groups to simulate a gel electrophoresis separation of fragments using poster board to create their gel.
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Animals, Soil, Trees
Fourth graders describe the various kinds of soils and how plants and animals are affected by them. They describe the baic needs of plants, scoring at least a 3 or 4 on a 4-point rubic. Students are able to predict and/or infer what...
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Hydrologic Cycle Scavenger Hunt
Students explore the water cycle using educational resources. In this water cycle lesson, students use a global climate DVD to complete a scavenger hunt on the hydrologic (water) cycle.
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Hurricanes and Tornadoes (Grade 4-8)
Young scholars investigate the concepts of hurricanes and violent weather conditions. In this violent weather instructional activity, students access an Internet site and watch a video about how air masses behave, how a tornado forms,...
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Activit #2 Matter: Is It Conserved?
Students support the law of conservation of matter with evidence. They discuss the changes observed from the burning of the candle, and the differences in mass which are observed when the same reaction is carried out in an open or...
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Tree Seedling Planting- My Relationship and Responsibility to our Forests
In this trees lesson, 4th graders read the book, A Tree is Growing and complete a KWL chart on how trees grow and how they are used. Students research the symbiotic relationship of humans and trees, create tree collages, plant a...
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Death On Board La Belle: Finding Clues from Old Bones
Students practice analyzing skeletal remains for clues by using the Internet. In this scientific investigation lesson, students research the La Belle shipwreck using the Internet and written materials, later completing a Skeletal...
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Prototypes and Model Designs
Fifth graders examine prototypes and model designs. In this engineering lesson plan, 5th graders build a prototype out of a deck of cards and test their design. Upon completion, students write a letter to an architect which includes the...
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Battery Power
Sixth graders examine how much energy they use in the form of battery power. They examine the cost of using regular vs. rechargeable batteries and examine the effect on the environment of the two types of batteries. They discover that...
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It Comes In Waves
Learners investigate the behavior and different origins of tsunami waves, and they then research and chart the path of certain tsunamis from recent history using the Internet, maps and firsthand accounts.
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Decidedly Different
Fifth graders inquire as to why scientists use observable characteristics, how they sort the characteristics, and why they do so. They write journal entries to be used throughout this unit.
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Lead Critical Reading
Students read opposing views on the lead contamination issue, identify the facts and opinions in each article, and infer the opinion of the author. They create an essay expressing their opinion on the issue complete with citations.