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Investigate Science Using Crayfish
Young scientists discover the importance of scientific investigation by observing live crayfish. They carefully observe the patterns of crayfish in different environments. Then they discuss their conclusions and define what all living...
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Investigating Brass Instruments and Pitch
Students observe the sounds of different brass instruments in order to understand how to create different pitches. In this musical lesson, students create a "brass" instrument from everyday household objects. The students discuss the...
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Death On Board La Belle: Finding Clues from Old Bones
Students practice analyzing skeletal remains for clues by using the Internet. In this scientific investigation lesson, students research the La Belle shipwreck using the Internet and written materials, later completing a Skeletal Report...
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Habitat Choice in Woodbugs
Learners investigate woodbugs. In this scientific investigation lesson, students explore the steps scientists take when conducting an investigation using live specimens. Learners explore habitat preferences for woodbugs in various...
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Reviewing the Scientific Process
Students investigate the scientific method by reading science journals. In this scientific research lesson, students read several articles of the National Inquirer and analyze the specific parts of an article. Students complete...
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Learning Scientific Coral Terminology
Learners explore properties of coral. For this scientific observation lesson, students investigate properties and characteristics of coral. Learners write statements describing the coral using observation words.
Berkshire Museum
Backyard Rocks
You don't have to travel far to learn about rocks, just step outside, pick up a stone, and begin investigating. After taking a class walk around the school grounds collecting rocks, young scientists practice their skills of observation...
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Does Soap Float?
Students form hypotheses and carry out an investigation in order to answer a central question: Does soap float? The focus of this lesson is on scientific inquiry, but it incorporates scientific topics such as sinking and floating.
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The Life Cycle of the Mealworm
Fourth graders provide a habitat for live mealworms and observe their life cycle. In this animal life cycle and scientific inquiry lesson, 4th graders create a habitat for a live mealworm and observe and record related data as it grows....
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Oil and its Everyday Uses
Explore the properties of oil through an experiment. They use the scientific process to investigate oil, participate in experiments, watch videos,and use information from the internet to determine how oil has changed our everyday lives.
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Gas Laws and Alka-Seltzer Rockets
Students investigate the Ideal Gas Law. In this three states of matter lesson, students create Alka-Seltzer rockets using film canisters. Students record observations and data according to the scientific method and explain the gas...
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Microscope Investigation
Students explore physical science by participating in a science examination. In this microscope tutorial instructional activity, students read the book The Naked Eye and discuss the purpose for using a microscope in the field of science....
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Urban Life: What Lives in Our Schoolyard?
Students research living organisms by exploring their school grounds. In this microscopic observation lesson, students gather materials, insects, and objects from their playground and schoolyard and bring them into class. Students...
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Tree Cycles
Fourth graders investigate the life cycle of a tree by researching the Internet. In this plant life lesson, 4th graders observe The Life of a Tree website and discuss the life of a tree from sprout to death. Students create a cross...
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Biology Project: Gone Fishing
Students write a scientific article using data and prediction skills. In this scientific writing lesson, students access data about fishing off the coast of New Jersey. They look at satellite data, fluorometry and CTD data over a 3 -4...
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Sustainable Livestock
Young scholars investigate healthy eating habits by researching livestock. In this food sustainability instructional activity, students research the negative impact factory farming has on our environment due to pollution. Young scholars...
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Shorts in January? Is Climate Change Good for Us?
Students investigate the differences between weather in the past and in today's world. In this climate change lesson, students review what they currently know about global warming, then discuss ways climate change might make life better...
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Human Body Corp.
Learners investigate body systems by participating in a role-play activity. Third, fourth, and fifth graders pretend that they are an organ or system of the human body, and they must write a letter to the body "corporation" discussing...
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The Art and Science of Impressionist Color
Discover Impressionist painting as learners investigate the 19th century combinations of colors characteristically used. Students experiment with their own paintings, utilizing primary and secondary colors.
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By Golly, By Gum
Students investigate the ingredients and creation of chewing gum. In this scientific method lesson, students make predictions about what will happen to the mass of a piece of gum as it is chewed by a human. Students graph the data from...
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Mineral Identification
Students investigate the environment by examining mineral characteristics. In this mineral instructional activity, students perform scientific observations in groups in which they identify minerals found in everyday objects by using a...
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Marshland Ecosystem
Students classify animals based on their physical characteristics and eating habits. In this animal identification lesson plan, students investigate the life forms shown on a Parisian ceramic basin, and discover ecosystem the artist was...
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Investigation 6 - Dinosaur Extinction
Fourth graders research and analyze theories on why dinosaurs became extinct. They need to find clues as to what the cause may have been. They record the evidence that they find to support their theory on the Dinosaur Extinction Theory...
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Designing the Experiment and Answering the Question
Students investigate scientific methods by analyzing an article from the Natural Inquirer. In this data analysis lesson, students read an article from the magazine and discuss at least 2 scientific methods that could be used to solve...