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Wild and Wetlands
Upper graders identify the major characteristics of a wetland. They explore the human factors that change a wetland and write a descriptive paragraph about wetlands. This comprehensive lesson also has an interactive "Watershed Game"...
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Water Speedway
Fourth graders observe changes in matter caused by the addition of heat. They participate in a physical education activity where they deal with science concepts. They have a knowledge of how particles act in water when heated.
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Investigating Chemical and Physical Changes
Students explore physical and chemical changes by looking at how different powders react to a variety of substances. They observe and identify the difference between physical and chemical change using a mystery powder.
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Lesson 11 - Potable Water
Students investigate the meaning of potable water and water reuse. They define water quality and quantity problems. They complete worksheets, a quiz and design a poster.
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Breaking it Down
Pupils discover how water expands when frozen during a glacier. In this matter lesson, students fill a glass jar with water, leaving no room for air in the jar and place it in the freezer. Pupils retrieve the jar and notice the...
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States of Matter
Fourth graders define the term matter. They compare properties of solids, liquids, and gases. They describe how matter changes from one state to another. They classify objects as either solid, liquid, or gas.
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Earth's Ecology
Students investigate the three states of water. In this physical science instructional activity, students watch the video "Earth's Ecology" and observe water in its' three states. Students record observations.
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Evaporation of Alcohol and Water
Students investigate the process that occurs when liquids evaporaate. They test water and alcohol to determine which substance evaporates more quickly and relate the rate to energy changes.
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What Changes Occur When Ice Melts?
Students explore the physical process of melting. They observe melting ice and answer questions related to energy transfer during phase changes.
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What's in Soil?
Students examine soil samples and make observations. In this soil lesson, students participate in experiments to determine the components (mineral matter, organic matter, water air) in the soil. Students analyze a pie graph on the...
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What's the Matter with My Orange?
Students use oranges to informally explore decomposition, dehydration, fermentation, the water cycle, bacteria, yeast, food webs, the needs of living things, and physical vs. chemical change over a period of three or more months.
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What's the Matter with My Jell-o?
Young scholars work in teams of four as they conduct four controlled Jell-O experiments over a two-day period. The Family Page extends this learning to the community by providing families with challenges to explore at home.
Science Matters
That’s An Otter Story
Young scientists discover how sea otters' habitats have changed due to human impact. Through conversation, video observation, and story reading, scholars identify how human interactions change a specific ecosystem in both positive and...
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Matter and Energy
Students investigate the effects of air pressure on humans by utilizing the Internet. In this physical science instructional activity, students research the Internet to discover altitude sickness and air pressure. Students prepare...
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Solutions and Suspensions
Students explore matter by conducting an in class demonstration. In this liquid mixture lesson, students identify the difference between a solution in which a solid dissolves into liquid, and a suspension where the solid doesn't dissolve...
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Characteristics of Energy
Students explore Earth science by completing energy worksheets in class. In this energy forms lesson, students identify and define a list of energy vocabulary terms and a K-W-L chart. Students view a matter video clip in class and...
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Density: Floating, Sinking, and Suspending
Students observe teacher demonstrations that illustrate density. In this density lesson, the teacher demonstrates how air bubbles in a carbonated drink can cause a raisin to float and how an egg sinks in fresh water, but floats in salt...
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Ozone Hole Expert Groups
Research topics associated with the hole in the ozone layer over Antarctica. Researchers write five facts about their topic and one question for each of those facts. They present what they learned to the rest of the class. Six topics are...
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Make it Rain!
Students describe how water exists on earth in three states. They trace the path that rain water follows after it falls. Students describe various forms that water takes on the earth's surface and conditions under which they exist....
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Solids, Liquids, and Gases
Students explore solids, liquids, and gasses and categorize and describe the three states of matter. In this chemistry lesson, students categorize items as solid, liquid, or gas based on the definitions given by the teacher. Students...
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Solids and Liquids
Students complete activities to study the properties of solids and liquids. For this states of matter lesson, students investigate the melting and freezing of a range of materials in a virtual experiment. Students melt the substances and...
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Gases Around Us
Students investigate gases and liquids. In this states of matter online lesson, students examine how evaporation plays a part in the transition of liquids into gases as they watch a kettle of water boil and then work in small groups on...
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I Don't Think We're in Kansas Anymore (Grades 2-5)
Students give examples of erosion and weathering processes. They determine causes of America's Dust Bowl phenomena.Students define erosion as the condition in which the earth's surface is worn away by the action of water and wind.
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Outrageous Ooze
Students examine states of matter. In this solids and liquids lesson, students conduct a scientific investigation that requires them to make ooze and record their observations pertaining to it.