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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Reopen: A Study of Five Closed Mines

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students analyze data to determine which of the fived closed mines would be beneficial to have reopen. They acquire knowledge of rocks and minerals in the area to give reasons why that mine should open again. Students gain knowledge in...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ecological Impact of Cyanide Heap Leaching

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students explore the environment by researching mining. In this ecological dangers lesson, students define cyanide and discuss why it has potential to be a great threat to our environment during mining expeditions. Students examine many...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Making & Breaking : The Rock Cycle

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students examine the rock cycle and how rocks can change over time.  In this geotechnical engineering instructional activity students draw a diagram of the rock cycle.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Entering The Twilight Zone

For Teachers 5th - 6th
In this lesson sixth grade students get into groups and research a given ocean habitat. The major features of cold-seep communities are the objective but plenty information is given about other habitats which could be assigned to...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Photosynthesis

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students are introduced to the process of photosynthesis. In groups, they test the effects of the lack of sunlight on plant leaves and compare the results with their hypothesis. They note the characteristics that plants and animals share...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Understanding Salinity

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students discuss why the ocean is salty. They discuss what salinity is. Students are told that is they want to know how much salt is in a body or water, they would use a special scientific tool. They complete an Estuarine Layers science...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Froth Flotation

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders experiment with the froth flotation process to extract metallic ore by using basic chemicals and equipment in the science classroom.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Dinosaur I Finding And Dating

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students investigate how long dinosaurs lived on Earth and how that compare to how long man has been on Earth. They discover how scientists excavate fossils.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Just a Bag of Rocks

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Young scholars examine and investigate a bag of rocks. They sort and classify the rocks, analyze the textures, and answer conclusion questions.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Changes Inside Planets

For Teachers 6th - 11th
Young scholars relate meteorites to the mantle and crust of asteroids.  In this planetary lesson students complete experiments to model the separation of light.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Building Up, Breaking Down

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students investigate how rocks are modified into construction materials. In this building up and breaking down lesson plan, students explore what happens to building materials over time and how people modify natural materials. Students...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rocks and Soil

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students explore the physical properties of rocks. They explore the three different types of rocks and are able to compare and contrast their different properties. Students simulate the creation of sedimentary rock, they also...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How Old Is Mike?

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Young scholars examine the absolute dating of fossils, they use a list of names and ages to determine the difference between relative age and absolute age. They explore the relative age and absolute age of people and of fossils.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Volcanic Activity in the U.S.

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students locate and map ten volcanoes in United States, create chart comparing volcanoes by last eruption, type of volcano, location, and interesting fact, and create Powerpoint slide show describing basic information about volcanoes and...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Disappearing Rocks

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Learners explore the causes of erosion and observe how different surfaces erode differently. They recognize erosion and predict what type of erosion caused it. In addition, they predict the outcomes of erosion on different materials.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Weight A Minute

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students watch a video and engage in hands-on activities which introduce scientific information made real through re-cognition and understanding the phenomena of gravitational force and how it impacts life on our planet.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Alternative Energy Sources

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students recognize that people have various opinions on the use of renewable energy.In this renewable energy lesson, students research to find the best uses of renewable energy. Students create an original design for a group...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ecosystems Beneath the Surface

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders create a KWL chart about microorganisms. In this biology lesson, 6th graders create and label a diagram on a microbial mat. They investigate the processes involved in the carbon, oxygen and sulfur cycles.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Entering the Twilight Zone

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students describe major features of cold-seep communities and the process of chemosynthesis as it relates to organisms in each habitat.  In this deep-sea habitats lesson, students study the categorization of ocean habitats according to...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Waste Not Want Not

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students are introduced to the need to save natural resources. Through inquiry, hands-on activities, and problem solving, students increase their understanding of solid waste materials and the need to reduce, recycle, and reuse.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Paleozoic Era

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers access prior knowledge to create a chart of eras. In this Paleozoic era lesson, students research the Paleozoic era to find information to create dioramas. Middle schoolers participate in fossil activities.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Aging of Trees

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Learners examine tree rings to determine its age.  In this tree ring lesson, students examine core tree samples, identify the tree rings, and then determine its age. Learners complete a worksheet, deciding which of the two core sample is...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Weathering and Erosion: Some Ways the Hydrosphere Affects the Geosphere

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Pupils explain the causes of erosion, describe the effects of erosion, and devise a method of preventing erosion. They model the before-and-after-effects of erosion.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Classification

For Teachers K - 12th
Young scholars gather and classify samples of a given item (rocks, fossils, seeds, etc.) They discuss various ways of classifying and that there are many different ways that are acceptable.