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Designing Experiments - Overview
Students explore the concepts that enable them to design and conduct sound scientific experiments. They critique a faulty experiment and become familiar with some of the criteria of a good experiment. They conduct their own experiment.
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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 plan, students research the La Belle shipwreck using the Internet and written materials, later completing a Skeletal...
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Natural Inquirer Ecosystem Article Lesson
Students discover new ways to preserve the ecosystem by completing graphic organizers. In this environmental activity, students read an article from the Natural Inquirer in small groups and fill out a graphic organizer based on the...
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Radiation Reassessed
Students investigate the dangers of radiation by exploring recent nuclear tragedies. In this scientific debate lesson, students define the idea of radiation "half life" and determine if low doses of radiation are truly damaging to a...
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The Impact of Disease on Our Lives
Students write a report about infectious diseases where they demonstrate their understanding of new terminology. In this writing lesson, students analyze the effect of disease in their lives and and make scientific inquiry about the...
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Comparing Microscopic Organisms in Fresh and Polluted Water: An Invitation To Inquiry
Students have the opportunity to develop and formulate ideas and explanations through the scientific standard of inquiry. They identify organisms by using an identification key for specific aquatic geographical area.
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Dirty Decomposers
Students explore the ecosystem by conducting a ziploc bag experiment. In this recycling lesson, students identify decomposer organisms in our environment and how they speed up the recycling process. Students utilize a ziploc plastic bag,...
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Balloons: Math with the Montgolfier Balloon
Students discover the history of hot air balloons by watching one ascent. In this physics lesson plan, students utilize a Montgolfier Hot Air Balloon from an earlier lesson plan and record the temperature, rate of ascent and the volume....
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Mass vs. Weight
Students explore physical science by conducting a measurement experiment. In this mass lesson, students identify the differences between mass and weight and define a list of other vocabulary terms. Students utilize electronic scales and...
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Shine On, Moon
Students explore space science by conducting an experiment in class. In this Moon lesson, students define a list of space science vocabulary and read the book The Moon. Students utilize shoeboxes and string to conduct a sunlight...
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Motion in Fluids
Students explore physical science by participating in a science activity. In this liquids lesson plan, students discuss how fluids can be affected by motion unlike solids. Students define other scientific vocabulary terms and conduct a...
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Introduction to the Nature Journal
Students create nature journals. In this introduction to the nature journal lesson, students discover the uses of nature journals and begin their own. Students are challenged to use vivid, concise terms in their descriptive language....
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It's Challenging Being Green!
Students influence the plant life cycle as they take care of plants.In this caring for plants lesson, students understand the parts of the plant and their functions in keeping it alive. Students participate in experiments with plants and...
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What is the Function of Each Seed Part in the Growth of a Plant
Sixth graders investigate the parts of a seed by using a digital camera. In this botany lesson, 6th graders plant their own seeds in class and demonstrate the necessary attributes for growing a plant. Students utilize a camera to...
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Kites: Patang - The Indian Fighter Kite
Learners investigate the history of fighter kites and build their own. In this aeronautics lesson, students discover how other countries utilize fighter kites and where they originated. Learners create their own fighter kites in class...
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Understanding the Indoor Environment:Preventing and Fixing Indoor Air Pollution
Students explore air pollution. In this environmental studies instructional activity, students work with a partner to create a Venn diagram comparing and contrasting possible solutions to prevalent indoor air pollution problems. ...
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Planetary Orbits
Students explore space science by completing a solar system identification worksheet. In this planets instructional activity, students discuss the different planets in our star system and identify their traits. Students complete an...
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Chihauhan Desert Journaling Activity
Students explore U.S. geography by completing an observational activity with classmates. In this New Mexico instructional activity, students research the Chihuahuan Desert by visiting several Internet sites. Students write the data...
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Indoor Environment: A Magazine Publication Project
Students demonstrate knowledge of Indoor Air Quality by creating a class magazine. A link to order a free Action Kit from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is provided so teachers can build background knowledge. Performance...
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Carbon Dioxide Heats It Up
Students design an investigation to test whether vegetation in an area helps regulate the ambient air temperature. They make comparisons between the investigation and global changes in climate. In groups, they present their findings to...
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The News Knows!
Sixth graders examine three national parks and focus on what makes them special. Working in small groups, 6th graders create a small newspaper in which each of them writes an article that expresses the concerns of their park.
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Paleoindian Hunter
Sixth graders utilize their prior knowledge of the Woolly Mammoth to hypothesize what life was like for the Paleoindians. They write a story about a day in the life of a Paleoindian hunter.