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Fishing for Solutions
Students investigate the many ecological and economic issues related to over fishing the world's marine resources. Working in committees, students research the related topics of equipment and fishing techniques.
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Getting Thirsty?
Young scholars explore the concept of drought and its significance as a natural hazard. For this drought lesson plan, students complete 13 questions on an "Introduction to Drought as an Ecosystem Stressor" worksheet and discuss the...
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Primary Energy Sources Pros and Cons
Students explore the different types of renewable and nonrenewable energy sources. In this earth science lesson, students discuss the pros and cons of each type. They conduct a variety of experiments on renewable energy.
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Making Marsh Connections
Third graders explore the interdependence among the plants and animals in natural communities.
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Campaign Hot Buttons
Students participate in a simulation that asks them to work as staffers for a candidate running for office. They are assigned to design, administer, and analyze a simple poll on an important community issue. Students develop a position...
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Wetland Safari!
Students identify how humans, fish, plants, birds, insects and other wildlife benefit from wetland environments. They observe a wetland and its inhabitants, draw a migration map that represents how birds use wetlands in traveling long...
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Important Rivers of the World
Third graders become familiar with names of the different parts of a river, define and locate drainage basins, locate six of the continents and explore the major rivers on each one, conduct research on a river of their choice.
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Groundwater Concepts
Students use a digital atlas and other electronic resources to explore freshwater reservoirs in Idaho. They discover the importance of groundwater and discuss the agricultural, industrial and domestic uses of underground reservoirs....
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Exploring Life in the Coral Reef
Students study life forms in coral reefs. In this ocean life lesson, students study life in coral reefs as they create a coral reef sculpture.
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Save Me: Mother Earth
Students read stories and articles about protecting the Earth. They collect data for a computer generated graph, and provide a key to show what the symbols represent.
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Weather Emergency Safety
Students identify different types of weather emergencies that may happen during the seasons. They list the steps involved when taking cover and fleeing dangerous weather patters. A comprehensive list of service agencies that can...
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Oil Slick Emergency
Pupils examine how to recover and remove oil from an oil spill. In this oil spill clean-up lesson students use role play and act like a committee to determine how to clean up an oil spill.
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Natural Gardening
Students study the effect of pesticides on plants and insects. In this gardening lesson, students discuss the importance of insects. They define pesticides, evaluate their effectiveness and the problems they might cause. Students...
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Hypoxia and the Dead Zone in the Gulf of Mexico
Young scholars investigate the causes of hypoxia, the characteristics of a watershed, and how the actions and management practices of people can both negatively and positively affect aquatic ecosystems.
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Environmental Jobs
Pupils evaluate whether particular jobs have a positive or negative impact on the environment. In this career exploration lesson, students complete a worksheet in pairs to determine if and why various jobs impact the environment.
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Erosion
Students discover the meaning of the word erosion and discuss effects of rocks and sticks upon the soil. They then work in small groups to construct a model of erosion to make observations and then write them in their science journals.
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Estuaries, Estuarine Habitats, and Adaptations
Middle schoolers conduct research on estuaries. They design and construct an estuary, describe the physical characteristics of an estuary, and create a diagram illustrating an estuarine food web.
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Trash City
Students work together to build a trash city. They collect items that would go into a landfill to help them build their city. They discuss ways to cut down on garbage.
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Antarctica
Students explore why Antarctica is so important to the planet. They investigate the physical characteristics. Students create their own unique treaty of governance for Antarctica and discuss how laws are enforced in Antarctica.
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Create a Commercial
Pupils apply their knowledge of the persuasive appeals by creating a commercial which uses one or more of the three appeals (logos, pathos, and ethos) in order to persuade. They also differentiate among the three appeals as used in their...
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Scales, Scutes, and Skins
Students identify the various adaptations of reptiles and amphibians. After distinguishing between reptiles and amphibians, students discuss the ways in which their adaptations aid in their survival. They participate in a hands on...
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Plastic Polymers
Students learn about plastic. In this plastic polymers lesson, students examine the properties of plastic, its variety of uses and how it is recycled.
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Corals and Coral Reefs
Students label the continents, oceans, and seas on a provided world map and use it to determine where they would expect most of the world's coral reefs to be found based on provided information the teacher has read to them.