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Folding Paper
Young scholars use the scientific process and their knowledge to obeserve, predict, and test their predictions under controlled conditions to verify their predictions and then make sense of these predictions. They also graph, write...
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Shapes, Shapes Everywhere!
Sixth graders investigate the geometric concept of shapes. They locate shapes in their immediate environment and label them according to basic shape. The shapes that are found are recorded by the teacher on chart paper and any...
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Snails
First graders investigate the organism known as a snail. They use snails to make observations of the body structure and the basic needs. The class is shown a chart and the teacher uses questions to induce student thinking. Then they...
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Farm Animal Friends
Students apply basic communication and math skills to situations. They apply prior knowledge to list characteristics of different animals. They listen to music to engage multiple senses. Then images of animals are shared with them to...
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Time-Lapsed Observations
Students explore timed observations for science investigations. They record ideas on a chart related to a classroom closed terrarium. They repeat their observations for several days and time observations for changing shadows during the...
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3-Dimensional People
Students collect objects that represent themselves. In a class discussion, they consider how they are seen and understood by others. Students create two sculptures, one of how others see them and another of how they see themselves.
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Rock Art
Young scholars create replica symbols of rock are found in Wisconsin and work cooperatively to create a rock art panel. They observe rock art to find their meanings and reasons why they were created.
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Investigating Animals in Water
Students observe small animal activity. They identify local water animals and describe the habitats where water animals can be found. Students collect samples to observe in the classroom.
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The Sum of the Parts
Second graders observe some everyday common objects in order to attempt to learn about simple systems and how they fit together. They observe small details in order to identify the parts of a whole design.
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The Gummy Worm Lab
Middle schoolers participate in a lab experiment with gummy worms. In groups, they record the qualitative and quantitative observations during the lab. They use their senses to make inferences about the experiment and share them with...
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Making Sense of Unusual Findings
Students work on the development of observation skills and seeing how they can be used in different contexts. The lesson is good for helping the beginner and novice, along with encouraging and reminding the expert observer of right...
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Wig-wag Physics
Young scholars make observations on the effects of a small, medium and large weight on the movement of a wig-wag apparatus. They use their observations to develop a generalized inference of the effect weight on movement patterns.
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Rain Drops
Students examine drops of water on several materials used on the outside of buildings. They make selective observations on and compare plastic, wood, brick, metal, roof tiles and glass.
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Spring Awakenings
Students observe changes in a selected tree bud/leaf during spring. They record changes in the bud/leaf using words, pictures and numbers. They understand that trees adapt to changes in temperature, light, and moisture by sprouting leaves.
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Check Out Your Change!
Students examine a coin and write down details about the coin. They use appropriate tools and techniques to gather information. They employ logic to determine differences between the coins.
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It's Still Polaris
Students observe the changing night sky over the course of an evening and chart the circumpolar stars as they traverse the sky in a progression around Polaris. They infer and discuss the cause of the changing star positions.
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Mystery Boxes
Students make observations about Mystery Boxes that their teacher has made up and describes the motion of the object inside the box and hypothesizes it's shape based on their observations.
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Hey, Look Me Over!
Students make observations about mealworms using hand lenses, rulers, and cotton swabs. Students complete their own mealworm observation chart, then they share their observations with the class. This is one station out of five in an...
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Testing Foods
Learners perform an experiment using brown paper bags to determine which foods have oil in them. This task assesses student's abilities to make simple observations and inferences from them.
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Worms Attack
Fourth graders observe earthworms and record their observations. They test to find how earthworms react to touch and moisture. After their study of earthworms, they do a creative writing activity in which they tell about life from the...
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Observation
Students practice observation skills by discussing physical attributes of family artifacts. They determine what characteristics of an object are considered important details.
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I Wonder What An Important Observation Is...
Middle schoolers discover the importance of descriptions and detail in their writing. They write in their scientific journals and are evaluated by the teacher. They write a descriptive piece and evaluate their own writing as well.
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Becoming a "Seer" -- The Observation of Place
High schoolers discover that effective observations can help their writing. They realize their sense of place and how they view the world around them. They write about their place and share with the class.
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Animal Growth Journal
Students observe and describe animals in the local environment. They recall information about different animals they have seen. They read and discuss their favorite animal books.