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Bird Populations
learners study bird migratory patterns and the methods that researchers use to study them. Students are introduced to the concepts of the study of bird movements.The skill of scientific questioning is used to find results.
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Blast's Cosmic Carnival
Students, after analyzing the history of a concentrator, model how a Genesis spacecraft concentrator works by playing a game. In groups of three or four, after being given materials to work with, are challenged to roll the rubber balls...
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Popcorn Neutrino Lab
Students parcticipate in a modeling activity that simulates the cyclical role of experimental and theoretical science. Initially, students measure the mass of popcorn. They also record predictions of the mass of the kernels after they...
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Bridges
Ninth graders use model-building to help comprehend the forces and phenomena at work in the world around them. They describe gravity as a universal force that pulls everything toward the center of the earth. Students distinguish between...
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Your Blooming Pond
Students model a pond system that becomes enriched with nutrients (fertilizer). They manipulate variables, make observations over time, and draw conclusions that may lead to further inquiry. They, in groups, simulate a pond environment.
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Chemical Bonding
Eighth graders identify the three main types of chemical bonds. In this chemistry instructional activity, 8th graders draw Lewis dot diagrams of elements and determine the bond formed. They create a model water molecule.
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Classification
Students work in groups of 4-6 for the experiment/activity part of this exercise. They classify ten animals using the information on the picture to group the animals. Students develop descriptions, explanations, predictions, and models...
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Tee Off!
Students explore about one of the many products created by gain-based process. They investigate the ways agriculture can protect and preserve the environment. Pupils use their scientific processing skills to conduct a full inquiry based...
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Being Nosy About Our Neighbors
Students use the scientific method to explore the effect of size on impact cratering. They compare images of landforms on Earth to those of other planets to compare surface processes. Students infer the geologic history of another...
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Attenuation of Light in Water
Students explore what happens to light intensity as depth increases using a light intensity logger. They construct a PVC model to hold water and identify what factors could influence the amount of light attenuation.
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Water Density Boundaries
Students create observable layers in water that represent a separation based upon density differences. They model density boundaries using differences in temperature and salinity. They, in groups, perform a meaningful experiment...
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Learning About Our Five Senses
Students study the sense of touch and various degrees of heat. They design a model that displays how the human hand reacts to heat using a touch sensor.
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Using FoilSim to Measure Your Elevation
Students, after designing model wings, demonstrate an understanding of wing design by testing models of the wing types both experimentally and by computer modeling in FoilSim and then presenting their results.
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The Paper Dutch Kite
Students construct a Dutch Kite using simple materials. In this math lesson plan, students measure kite dimensions according to specified instructions. They also describe and define the different parts of a kite.
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Yeast Cells and Their Environment
Middle schoolers create their own experiment in which they have yeast cells growing in liquid environments. They examine the relationship between humans and microorganisms. They also practice using the scientific method.
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Fun with Balloons
Fifth graders design their own hot air balloon. In this science lesson, 5th graders investigate how factors like weight and sizes affect a balloon's lifting power. They also write math problems based on facts written in the book "The...
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How Can You Study Things You Can’t See Like: Atoms?
Learners simulate how scientists studied things they can't see like atoms. In this chemistry lesson, students predict what is inside the numbered obsertainers. They design a way to investigate what's inside without opening it.
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Virial Theorem Lesson
Ninth graders describe how equilibrium can occur as the balance of two effects. They model the stability of elliptical galaxies based on how fast stars within the galaxy are moving.
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Collisions Lesson
Tenth graders explore the role that collisions and near collisions of galaxies play in determining the shape of galaxies. They model the collision of disk shaped and spherically shaped galaxies.
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Earth's Orbit Lesson
Tenth graders devise a computational model to explore how the orbit of the Earth might change if its velocity were different. Using accurately recorded data, 10th graders defend a scientific argument.
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Up, Up and Away with the Montgolfier Balloon
Young scholars construct hot air balloons. For this science lesson, students assemble their own balloon using tissue paper and glue. They time the duration of the flight, record data and calculate team averages.
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Causal Patterns in Air Pressure Phenomena
Pupils explore a scientific concept to obtain understanding by performing an experiment. The inquiry can be done in groups or as a whole class. The outcome is that students can use models to obtain futher understanding.
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Perception And The Interpretation of Experiences
Students describe a problem and propose alternative strategies for the solution. They use a model or drawing to visualize the solution to a problem. Students identify alternative factors to be considered when examining possible...
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The Energy Debate - Sea Level Rise
Students comprehend the impact of global warming on our coastal cities. They appreciate how geographic information systems can be used to represent scientific data. Students research the melting of the ice caps in Antarctica and the Arctic.