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Lesson Plan
NASA

Gravitational Waves

For Teachers 11th - 12th Standards
Young scientists participate in a hands-on experiment to explore Einstein's theory of relativity in a creative manner. They investigate various waves and compare their characteristics as they discuss how each wave is created. Next,...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Prairie Plants Lab

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students recognize and identify 3 grasses and 9 common forbs of the fermilab prairie and which were common in IL, identify using resources and write 3 critical attributes of each plant.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Science: Avalanche!

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders examine avalanches after reading excerpts from John Muir's book, "The Yosemite." In small groups, they conduct experiments with flour, sugar, and potato flakes representing different snow consistencies. Then, 8th graders...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Corn An A-Maizing Plant

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders consider the uses of corn.  For this agricultural lesson, 5th graders examine corn as a natural resource and discuss the many ways to reuse the grain.  A variety of activities, books, and web resources are included with the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Can You SEA Walls?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners explore how wave energy that is generated and transferred in the ocean. They explore the aspects of a wave and how its energy affects the ecology of the seashore. Students engage in an activity that uses the nature of science...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Great Jellybean Hunt

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students explore natural selection and its influence on the populations to fine tune traits and characteristics. The acquisition of traits developed out of need is examined through a game played in class.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Breaking it Down

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers will identify the factors that contribute to erosion and weathering. They will start by differentiating between chemical and mechanical weathering. They then apply what they learned by playing the online jeopardy game. Key...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Survival in Antarctica

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Explore the harsh climate of Antarctica and its wildlife. Participate in experiments to determine how humans survive in the continent's climate, and address the difficulties faced by scientists.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Salt Marsh in a Pan

For Teachers 4th - 12th
Students create a model of a salt marsh to discover the impact of pollution and human activities on water-based habitats including bays and the ocean. They recognize the relationship between natural and developed areas. Students impact...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Hatching Chickens

For Teachers Pre-K - 3rd
Students observe chicks hatching from eggs. In this science lesson, students view a video to develop an understanding of the proper care and needs of eggs and live animals. This is a great precursor activity for hatching eggs in class.
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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

Caring for the Land

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders examine how to care for the land. In this soil management lesson, 5th graders participate in a service learning project and assist in the preservation of natural resources. 
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Unit Plan
Curated OER

The Sun: Earth's Friend and Foe

For Teachers 5th
Students study the structure and features of the sun. In this earth science lesson, students explain how the sun's energy drive the processes on Earth. They perform temperature conversions using appropriate equations.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Getting Thirsty?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers explore the concept of drought and its significance as a natural hazard. In this drought lesson plan, students complete 13 questions on an "Introduction to Drought as an Ecosystem Stressor" worksheet and discuss the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Changing Earth

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students observe and analyze weathering. In this earth science lesson, students demonstrate physical and chemical weathering in two experiments, then write questions for a class Jeopardy game.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Improbability of Evolution

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers disprove evolution. In this science lesson, students disprove evolution by attempting to prove that creation is the way it all began. They use the improbability that evolution could exist and expose its fallacies, frauds...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

"ART ZOO 'Blacks in the Westward Movement', 'What Can You Do with a Portrait', and 'Of Beetles, Worms, and Leaves of Grass'"

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students study black history, examine portraits and portrait making and create their own portraits, and  investigate their natural environment. This humanities lesson provides a text that can be used to teach lessons in black history,...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Wild, Wild Wetland Wildlife

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students investigate biology by participating in a science experiment. In this dissection lesson, students conduct a nature field trip around their school grounds and identify animals, plants, tracks and waste. Students dissect an owl...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Paleoclimates and Pollen

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students analyze soil for types of pollen to determine the probably climate conditions. In this earth science activity, students make conclusions on what a climate is like based on soils samples. Students use a model soil...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Earth Science

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore how water and waves erode the earth. In this erosion instructional activity students determine the processes of wave erosion and building.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Life Science- Useful Waste

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders explore the topic of waste and recycling. In this useful waste lesson, 4th graders classify objects and sort them into most usable and least usable categories. Students complete an activity sheet and have a discussion on...
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Lesson Plan
NASA

Einstein's Gravity

For Teachers 11th - 12th Standards
Assist your high school class with researching and applying the principles of gravity so they may further understand why Einstein is so widely recognized, even today. Individuals compare and contrast two different models that demonstrate...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Water, Water Everywhere!

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Learners brainstorm on ways they use water, and where water comes from. They view video, Down the Drain, to gain specific facts about water use, properties of water, problems of water and the water cycle. They perform a lab activity...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Creating Biodiesel and Mitigating Waste

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Biotechnology pros produce their own biofuel using waste oil and fresh vegetable oil. They test the quality of their product using titration techniques and pH analysis. They write their observations and report their findings. Be aware...