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Lesson Plan
University of California

University of California at Berkeley: Understanding Science: Mystery Tubes

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students collaborate to create a drawing or model of what the inside of a mystery tube looks like. The tube has two ropes attached to a ring inside it. Students must use their powers of observation and deduction to try to understand how...
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Unit Plan
CK-12 Foundation

Ck 12: Scientific Method (Basic)

For Students 5th - 8th
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] This is a basic introduction to the scientifice method that includes links to instructional videos, grade-level texts, interactive activities, and review materials.
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Activity
National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis, University of California Santa Barbara

Kids Do Ecology: Data and Science

For Students 3rd - 8th
Learn about conducting your own investigation with these tips on following the scientific method. Find out how to state hypothesis, make observations, collect and analyze data, and display data to share results and conclusions of your...
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Lesson Plan
PBS

Pbs Teachers: Scientific American: Animal Einsteins: Who Needs Words, Anyway?

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Explore the theory that animals can learn to comprehend abstract concepts by observing to see if specific animal calls are associated with specific actions. Use scientific observation and record-keeping to collect and analyze data.
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Lesson Plan
PBS

Pbs Teachers: Scientific American: Games Machines Play: Streamlined Design

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Explore the streamlined shapes of submarines and design an effective hull shape. Observe how streamlining affects a vehicle as it is pulled through a water-filled trough.
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Unit Plan
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Students as Scientists

For Teachers 6th - 9th
This curricular unit contains two lessons that let students actually do the work of scientists as they design their own experiments to answer questions they generate. In the first lesson and its associated activity, students conduct a...
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Activity
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Corn for Fuel?!

For Teachers 6th - 8th
In this activity, students examine how to grow plants the most efficiently. They imagine that they are designing a biofuels production facility and need to know how to efficiently grow plants to use in this facility. As a means of...
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Unit Plan
Globe

The Globe Program: The Mystery of the Missing Hummingbirds [Pdf]

For Students Pre-K - 1st
This story is an interesting way to help students understand the process of migration. It provides teachers with information on how to approach a particular lesson and its easy-to-read content is easily adaptable for grades K-12.
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Professional Doc
Other

Loughborough Univ.: Young Children's Problem Solving in Design and Technology

For Teachers Pre-K - 1st
This 1997 article from the Journal of Design & Technology Education at Loughborough University in the UK looked at the problem-solving strategies young children use in design and technology tasks, both independently and when working...
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Lesson Plan
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: Mn Step: You Are a Scientist

For Teachers Pre-K - 1st
Students will practice the scientific method as they observe nature and ask questions about it.
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Lesson Plan
University of California

University of California at Berkeley: Understanding Science: Poking Around

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students work in groups to develop an understanding of the size and shape of an object hidden beneath a plywood board, asking questions, testing their reasoning, and drawing conclusions, as scientists do. Students are never permitted to...
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Lesson Plan
University of California

University of California at Berkeley: Understanding Science: Mystery Boxes

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
An interesting lesson where students collaborate to create a visual image of what the inside of a sealed box looks like. The box has a marble or other type of sphere inside it, as well as partitions and/or ramps. Students come to...
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Activity
Bryn Mawr College

Serendip: Moldy Jell O

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Brief text summary of what students learn in the Moldy Jell-O Lab along with links to download Student Handouts and Teacher Preparation Notes in PDF or Word formats. Students design the experiment and observe the growth of mold. Focus is...
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Lesson Plan
Other

American Coal Foundation: Lesson Plan: Coal Formation

For Teachers Pre-K - 1st
In this four-part lesson, students will conduct a simulation of the coal formation process and will show the ability to do scientific inquiry. For the final project, they will use their findings they have recorded on their "Coal Fossil...
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eBook
University of California

Understanding Science: The Core of Science: Relating Evidence and Ideas

For Students 9th - 10th
Learn that the real process of science proceeds at multiple levels and sorts through many ideas, retaining and building upon those that work, and relating the evidence discovered with scientific ideas.
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Activity
Scholastic

Scholastic: Keep Your Own Field Journal

For Students 3rd - 8th Standards
This site, which offers templates for field journals, is part of a larger, interdisciplinary site about New Zealand. Walks you through the process and purpose of a field journal for scientific observation.