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Bird Bodies
Students read about and explore the different types of birds. They discuss how all birds are alike and what makes some different from the others. They experiment picking up "food items" using different tools that represent different...
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Exploring Forest Objects
Students explore the forest. In this ecosystems lesson, students rotate through sensory activity centers, brainstorm, and read about temperate forests.
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What is Life Without Water?
Students differentiate between how they use water in response to a need and how they use water for pleasure. They read books about water, participate in class discussion and illustrate their observations.
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Spark Activity: Snakes and Lizards
Students are divided into 2 groups: "snakes" and "lizards." Lizards move about the room in a way designated by the teacher, while snakes remain on their "rock" holding a given object and perform a balancing movement. Lizards guess what...
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Seashell Homes
Pupils listen to a story about seashells. They discuss shelled animals. Learners describe the function of seashell. Pupils relate the function of a seashell to their own dwelling. They differentiate between shelled animals that make...
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Characteristics of Snakes and Turtles
Students examine the characteristics of snakes and turtles and compare/contrast reptiles with mammals. They watch a video, answer discussion questions, complete information charts, conduct Internet research, and create a habitat diorama.
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Vermicomposting
Second graders create an eco-bin and study the habitat of the worm in soil. In this vermicomposting lesson, 2nd graders observe the effects of water ( too much or too little) and other factors on the eco-bin.
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The Physics of Sound: How We Produce Sounds
Students are introduced to how they produce sounds. In groups, they participate in experiments in which they measure sound and identify their five senses. Individually, they make their own musical instruments using different objects and...
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Learning About Plants- Flowers for a Special Occasion
Young scholars explore the parts of plants and discover that plants need to grow. In this plant lesson, students discuss the parts of the plant and plant petunias. Young scholars can share their plants with friends or families.
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Busy Otters
Students prepare for a trip to an aquarium by identifying otters, their body parts and behaviors as they read "Pup's Supper", do an otter pantomime and make a puppet. After their field trip, they complete a Venn Diagram of Otter behaviors.
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Whales
Learners compare the differences between whales and fish. They examine the differences of toothed and baleen whales. They identify behavioral and physical characteristics of animals that help them survive in their habitat.
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Adaptable Mandibles
Students define adaptation and highlight example of adaptation in birds and other animals. They study feeding techniques of seabirds and investigate the effect that trash has on wildlife.
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Bat's a Fact
Second graders investigate the truths and misconceptions associated with bats. By illustrating the characteristics and uniqueness of these often feared and misunderstood creatures, 2nd graders increase their awareness of these nocturnal...
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A Penguin is a Bird
Pupils compare and contrast the ways that penguins are different to flying birds.
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Water Conservation
Students investigate water conservation. In this water conservation lesson, students list the uses for water and record their water usage for one day. Students graph the data and create a water conservation poster.
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Desert Tortoise Tale
Students listen to a reading of the "Desert Tortoise Tale" and complete a maze that highlights the different threats the baby tortoise faces along the way. They discuss the reasons the Desert Tortoise is becoming endangered.
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Gardens Under the Sea: Coral Reefs
Students, with dive partners, explore coral reefs through scuba diving. They also explore radial symmetry and bilateral symmetry.
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Aquatic Ecosystems
Students study ponds and wetland ecosystems and examine the food chains and webs in them. In this aquatic ecosystems instructional activity students answer questions about the diversity of the flora and fauna in a pond.
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Oxygen
Young scholars explore oxygen and its physical and chemical propeties. In this investigative lesson students complete several experiments using oxygen.
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How a Seed Grows: And Who Grows It
Second graders explore botany by viewing video clips in class. In this seed growth lesson, 2nd graders identify the types of seeds that grow specific plants and what the optimal conditions are for growing seeds. Students view a video...
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Bats, Bats, Everywhere!
Students research information on bats while working in cooperative groups. They design posters with the information from their research.
PBS
Righteous Reptiles
Young scientists write and draw about their knowledge of reptiles. They also view a nature video focusing on lizards and snakes, complete a chart comparing and contrasting them. Next, they focus on the defense mechanisms that they...
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Creating Animal Prints
Learners investigate the habits of animals by studying their prints. In this animal life lesson, students investigate the different types of tracks left from animals by researching the Internet. Learners utilize clay or Play-Doh to...
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What is electrical energy?
Students distinguish between items with and without energy. In this energy lesson, students understand that natural resources power electrical apparatus and that energy needs to be saved.