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Wind Power
What a wonderful way to explore wind power! Through this lesson, learners get a background in the history of wind power, create their own wind turbine, and the test their designs. This is a terrific way to tie scientific principles to...
Center Science Education
Torrents, Droughts, and Twisters - Oh My!
What is causing the extreme weather happening around the planet? Middle and high schoolers read about climate change as a possible link to such phenomena. Then they form groups to discuss and research one of the types of weather events....
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Making Regolith
You may not be able to take a field trip to the moon, but that doesn't mean your class can't study moon rocks. Using graham crackers as the moon's bedrock and powdered donuts as micrometeorites, young scientists simulate the creation of...
Curated OER
Alfalfa Butterfly/Caterpillar Lifecycle Investigation
Young scholars collect and record data. They identify sex of butterflies. They make conclusions based on collected data.
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Name that plant!
What is a dichotomous key? When your kids ask, hand them a learning exercise like this one, to explain it. They use the key to identify four different trees, based on the budding twigs they've produced. Tip: Have learners extend this...
Curated OER
Classification: Dichotomous Key
Young scholars investigate the classification process and nomenclatures used for classifying organisms. They study dichotomous keys to identify organisms with 90% accuracy. Students organize information regarding the relatedness of species.
Curated OER
Why did the can crush?
Students watch a demonstration to ascertain why a soda can crushed. They make observations and hypothesize about why a soda can crushed and relate the difference in pressure to its affect on objects around us (soda can). Explanation is...
Curated OER
Apply Scienctific Inquiry and Scientific Habits Of Mind
Students describe science experience with appropriate attributes, units, and tools. They formulate inquiry question associated with the science experiences and curricular concepts from observations through class brainstorming. Pupils...
Curated OER
Investigating the Probability
Students investigate probability using coins and dice. They collect data, graph, organize and interpret data. They predict, describe, compare, compute and draw conclusions based on what they observe and record.
Curated OER
Historical Development of a Scientific Idea
Ninth graders examine how scientist's contribute to atomic theory. For this development of a scientific idea lesson students work in groups and research the development of the atomic model.
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Tree I.D.
Students explore various tree species. In this tree species instructional activity, students collect leaves on nature walks and use Internet sources to identify the trees that the leaves belong to. Students graph their data as well.
Curated OER
Ceramics Scientific Inquiry Through Chinese Art
Fourth graders explore, examine and study ceramics, a medium of historical importance to China. They review the advanced technology of the early Chinese civilization and are introduced to the scientific method of inquiry and make...
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Fertilized Death Water
Students investigate the effect of chemicals on Platyhelminthes and planaria development. They observe the growth and development of planaria and investigate what fertilizer can do to living organisms when it is introduced into their...
Curated OER
Scientific Inquiry
Students investigate the general geology, biology, and chemistry of Seneca Lake. They study how to use scientific instruments on the research vessel. They explain how the data they gather will be used by scientists and develop a hypothesis.
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Open-Ended Scientific Method Lab
Learners inspect a given problem and come up with a hypothesis. In this investigative lesson students come up with a hypothesis for a problem, test each hypothesis and evaluate how successful each one was.
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A Seed Dispersal Investigation
Students investigate the function and purpose of seed dispersal. In this garden lesson, students examine the importance of wind in the plant cycle. Students construct a flying seed model from an attached design and discuss if it can be...
Curated OER
Investigating the Biosphere With Planetary Models
Students create a biosphere using the computer program SImEarth. They work in small groups to create "Daisyworld" in which they model aspects of the Gaia hypothesis. They form a question to answer and choose variables to investigate in...
Curated OER
Investigation 3 - Condensation Chambers
Fourth graders investigate the concept of condensation and how it is formed. They conduct an experiment and make observations of the chambers. Students record the data and then write down conclusions. The lesson includes background...
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Dancing Raisins
In this science investigation worksheet, students follow the directions to mix raisins in clear carbonated soda to watch them sink and rise.
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How Does a Lever Work?
In this lever worksheet, students read and do the 8 detailed steps in an investigation about levers. Students answer 2 essay questions and record their data on a chart.
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Rice Up!
In this science investigation worksheet, students follow the directions to perform an experiment with inclined planes. Students record their data on a chart and answer 2 essay questions.
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Wonderful Waves
In this science worksheet, students perform an investigation about sound waves and vibration. Students use a pan of water and toothpicks to make and observe ripples. Students answer 4 essay questions about their observations.
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Save the Trees
In this recycling worksheet, students conduct a brief investigation regarding the recycling of paper in their classroom and respond to 5 questions that enable them to see the number of trees they are saving.
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Shrinking Air
In this science investigation worksheet, students follow the listed procedures to find out how temperature affects air pressure as they heat and cool balloons.