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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Investigating Native Plants

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Young scholars explore Earth science by participating in a gardening activity. In this botany lesson plan, students discuss a group of non-native plants that would grow well in a school garden. Young scholars complete a plant science...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sun and Shadows

For Teachers 4th - 5th Standards
Why do shadows look different in the summer than in the winter? What causes day and night? How can a sundial be used to tell time? Answer these questions and more through two engaging lessons about light and shadows. Fourth and fifth...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Plate Tectonics: An "Eggs"periment

For Teachers 3rd - 7th
Students investigate plate tectonics by observing a cracked egg shell.  In this Earth science activity, students draw borders of continents on an egg shell, only to watch it crack in a glass.  Students record the breakup of the "Earth"...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Investigating the Soil

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students explore the Earth's crust by researching pH levels and acidity. In this environmental safety lesson, students identify the pros and cons of acidity within soil and how it affects plants. Students collaborate in a pH level...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Floods

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students explore Earth science by answering study questions on-line. In this natural disasters lesson, students research Australia flood statistics over the past 40 years and identify patterns. Students utilize the web to view...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Cyclones

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Young scholars explore Earth science by researching natural disasters in class. In this cyclone lesson plan, students discuss the creation of cyclones and what their potential destruction can be in the wrong environment. Young scholars...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Building A Solar Still

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students investigate the water cycle by viewing an online video.  In this drinking water instructional activity, students create solar stills at their campus in order to purify water that is tainted.  Students view a video on their...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Microscope Investigation

For Teachers 4th - 6th
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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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Make a Windmill

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students explore Earth science by conducting an energy experiment in class. In this windmill lesson plan, students identify how wind has been used to pump water throughout history and the latest developments wind energy has produced....
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ecological Impact of River Dams

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students investigate their environment by completing an in-class experiment.  In this ecological lesson, students define the roles of dams and how electricity is created by them.  Students utilize plastic jugs, sand and tap water to...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What is Air?

For Teachers 4th - 7th
Learners investigate air by participating in a class experiment. In this matter measurement lesson, students identify air as a gas which consists of mass. Learners utilize a windsock or balloon to measure oxygen and explore it's true...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Characteristics of Energy

For Teachers 4th - 6th
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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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Moon Phases - Finally Making Sense of Them

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students investigate the different phases of the moon.  In this lunar cycle lesson, students create models of the sun, earth and moon and investigate why we observe the moon the way we do.  Students observe a PowerPoint presentation...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introducing Biodiversity

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students investigate biodiversity by creating reports with their classmates.  In this ecosystem lesson, students utilize the Internet to research the different types of life in our environment and different locations around the world....
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Pond Ecosystem Field Trip

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students investigate the environment by participating in a class trip. In this pond ecosystem instructional activity, students define a list of vocabulary terms associated with ponds such as invertebrate and metamorphosis. Students...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Living in Space

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Students explore space science by viewing a video in class. In this astronaut lesson, students identify the living habits of astronauts by researching the NASA website and observing a space science video in class. Students participate in...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Notes: Characteristics of Stars

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students investigate stars and the solar system by completing a worksheet.  For this space science lesson, students complete a fill in the blank worksheet based on the stars and components of the cosmos. 
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Gas Laws and Alka-Seltzer Rockets

For Teachers 4th - 5th
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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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What Makes a Cat a Cat?

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students investigate the lives of pets by videotaping them.  In this animal life activity, students videotape a cat and other pets using school cameras in a computer lab.  Students review the footage from the cat and other animals and...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Land Use and Lawmaking in California

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Learners investigate the laws of using land.  In this California Government instructional activity, students examine the many uses of land in California and find an environmental issue they care about.  Learners write a letter to a...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

African Wildlife

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Students investigate the wildlife of Africa. In this animal science lesson, students view the video "National Geographic's African Wildlife" and visit websites to research additional information on the wildlife of Africa. Students...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What is a Karst

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students investigate landforms by holding a class experiment. In this topography lesson, students define the word "karst" and discover why sinkholes are created on the surface of the Earth by completing worksheets. Students create a...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

"Heat Transfer and Ice Cream!"

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students analyze earth science by creating a frozen treat in class. In this heat transfer lesson, students discuss how matter is transformed from solid to liquid and liquid to gas when energy is removed from the equation. Students...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sampling the Ocean Floor

For Teachers 3rd - 12th
Learners sample goodies from an unseen ocean floor and try to accurately describe their composition. This simulation helps students explain the limitations of sampling and the problem of obtaining representative samples of sea floor...