Lesson Plan
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Making a Terrarium

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Students construct and maintain model of natural habitat, suggest improvements to the model of the natural habitat to make it more realistic and habitable, and demonstrate careful observation and recording of how animals survive in their...
Lesson Plan
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Charles Darwin

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers research Charles Darwin and the process he used to develop his theory of evolution. They keep a journal about the skill of observation and make a newspaper of their learning.
Lesson Plan
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You're the Scientist

For Teachers 6th - 10th
Students explore ways to assess the accuracy and reliability of data reported by Journey North observers.
Lesson Plan
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What Makes Shadows? Observing and Drawing Shadows

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Students make accurate drawings of a classmate's shadow. They note position of the sun in the sky. They identify a connection between the direction of the shadow and the location of the sun. They observe changes in shadows over time.
Lesson Plan
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Alcohol: Separating Fact from Fiction

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students obtain a clearer understanding of their knowledge about alcohol, recognize that their attitudes, beliefs, & knowledge about alcohol may be different from their peers, and gain experience with scientific methods.
Lesson Plan
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More Than Meets the Eye

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students use the Archimedes method to demonstrate scientific principles behind observations.
Lesson Plan
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Learning in Cockroaches

For Teachers 6th - 10th
Students make scientific observations. In this stimulus response lesson, students make observations and collect data to determine if cockroaches can learn. A secondary purpose of this lesson is to provide students with the opportunity to...
PPT
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The Scientific Method

For Teachers 4th - 6th
If the steps that you follow for the scientific method are as follows, this presentation can be useful: observation, question, hypothesis, method, result. Unfortunately, not every scientist or teacher uses the same terminology, The...
Lesson Plan
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Common Themes

For Teachers 10th
Tenth graders test usefulness of a model Earth by comparing its predictions to observations in the real world.  In this landforms lesson students construct an island from a contour map using model clay then analyze the landscape...
Lesson Plan
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Coal Flowers

For Teachers 1st - 8th
Let's make coal flowers! With this fun activity, young learners watch and learn as they grow crystals! With simple household materials and the instructions included in this lesson plan, your class can grow their own crystals. Learners...
Lesson Plan
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The Five Senses

For Teachers K
Study various objects and help kindergarteners use their five senses to classify the objects. They are presented with various objects and then use their five senses to sort and classify the objects. Then they use a Visual Ranking Tool to...
Lesson Plan
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Learn about snails and then race them!

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students examine snails and make observations about where their eyes are located, how they eat, and how they move. In this snails lesson plan, students discover information about snails by observing them. Students use magnifying glass, a...
Lesson Plan
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Cut Ice Cubes in Half Like Magic

For Teachers K - 1st
Young scholars explore the process of melting or cutting ice. In this scientific observation lesson, students discover that the pressure from two weights will pull a string through an ice cube by melting the ice directly under the line...
Lesson Plan
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Observation Skills

For Teachers 1st
First graders observe a spider and write sentences about what they see the spider doing. In this writing lesson plan, 1st graders draw what they see, then make an edible spider out of marshmallows and twizzlers. A fun, delicious lesson...
Lesson Plan
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Cody's Science Education Zone

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Students observe a scientific experiment and pose a hypothesis. In this scientific inquiry lesson, students make predictions about the combination of alcohol in water and how it will affect a floating ice cube.
Lesson Plan
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Mystery Box

For Teachers K
Students use their sense of touch to describe an object in the mystery box. In this mystery box activity, students use linguistic abilities to describe the object. Students give as much detail as they can as to what they feel that object...
Lesson Plan
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Unit Lesson Plan Template

For Teachers 1st
First graders listen to the book The Story of Sand and make predictions about an investigation based on soil, sand, and silt. For this sand lesson, 1st graders work in groups to discuss their observations about sand and answer higher...
Worksheet
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Food Fit For An Ant

For Students K - 2nd
In this science activity, students observe an ant hill located by the school. Students place a plate with different types of foods near the anthill. Students observe and record what they see. Students graph the foods according to how...
Lesson Plan
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Halloween Literature Unit: Arthur’s Halloween

For Teachers K
Students read the story "Arthur's Halloween" and discuss how they have helped someone. In this "Arthur's Halloween lesson plan, students play a game that strengthens their listening skills. Students participate in identifying...
Lesson Plan
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Special Place

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Learners observe and describe a "special place" chosen along a nature trail. In this habitat observational skills and writing lesson, students take a walk on a nature trail and choose a spot to sit and meditate. Learners complete a...
Lesson Plan
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Tree Hunt

For Teachers 1st - 6th
Students identify the common trees of Iowa and make observations while creating a key. In this tree hunt lesson, students write a letter to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources to receive a pamphlet of Common Trees of Iowa. Students...
Lesson Plan
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The Importance of Observation

For Teachers 1st
First graders practice observing items in small areas. In this scientific observation lesson, 1st graders complete a worksheet that shows a child looking at a small patch of grass. They make a list of items that the child sees. They...
Lesson Plan
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Measuring Natural Objects

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students predict the measurement of objects. In this measurement activity, students estimate the measurements of objects in a lab. Students measure irregular objects and generate scientific observations.
Lesson Plan
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Poetry and Observations

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students compare poetry and the night sky. In this poetry lesson, students read poetry and compare the imagery from the poem with the night sky. Students explore how science and poetry relate to one another.