Discover Earth
Weather Stations
Transform your classroom into a fully functioning weather station with this series of hands-on investigations. Covering the topics of temperature, precipitation, wind patterns, and cloud formation, these activities engage young...
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Oceans
Middle schoolers use their prior knowledge to being their examination of the water cycle. In groups, they complete an experiment in which they can see water evaporating and coming back to the ground. They discover the ocean's water...
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Testing Your Water
Students perform several water quality tests on groundwater from their area. They use test strips to determine the pH, hardness, alkalinity, nitrates, iron and chloride levels.
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Water as a Cycle
Pupils collaborate with a partner to create a large diagram containing one aspect of the water cycle. They are encouraged to include academic language and pictures for their presentation. Their is a peer evaluation sheet that is included...
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The Case of the Missing Water
Young scholars examine the major concepts related to the water cycle in this lesson. They recognize and define evaporation, condensation, precipitation and the natural cycles that occur as weather. They also participate in an activity...
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Transpiration
Students explain the function of the hydrologic cycle and demonstrate how transpiration rates can be experimentally changed.
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Water and Ice
Students study the water cycle and states of matter. In this water cycle lesson, students observe ice for a period of time and record their observations. Students create a Venn Diagram comparing water in solid form and liquid form....
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The Effects of Photosynthesis on Plant Growth
Students are able to draw a diagram of the light reactions and briefly describe what is occurring throughout the process. They are able to explain where each reactant/product in the photosynthesis equation comes from/goes during the...
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Water and Ice
Students explore the states of water. In this water states lesson, students observe ice over time and the changes that take place. Students read a related text and draw their observations in a journal entry. Students discuss the...
US Environmental Protection Agency
Building an Model Aquifer
With almost half of Americans relying on groundwater supplies, it is more important than ever to protect aquifers from possible contaminants. Working in small groups, young environmentalists explore this problem as they create an aquifer...
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Water and Ice
Students explore water as it changes states of matter. In this physical property lesson, students use observation, measurement, and communication skills to describe changes in water as it goes from a solid to a liquid and back again.
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Splish Splash
Students study drinking water. In this environment lesson, students draw the path of drinking water from the place of precipitation to the tap after researching a map and information from the United States Geological Survey water...
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The Watershed Quest
Students examine their connection to local watersheds. They describe the water cycle and list species living in their local watershed. They also draw a map of their community.
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Water Cycle in a Bag
Students participate in a hands-on activity that demonstrates how the water cycle functions. Students look specifically at condensation and evaporation during the recycling of water.
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Water Table
Students study the meaning of a water table and how it contributes to the existence of streams, swamps, and lakes in Nebraska. They conduct an experiment and complete a diagram of the hydrologic cycle.
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The Insect Files
Learners are provided with a physical description of the insect, in words and graphics, including body parts, special adaptations, color, and so on. They explore and report on all four elements of an insect's habitat: food, water,...
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Life Cycle of Brassica Plants: Planting Seeds
Students explore botany by participating in a calendar class activity. In this plant observation lesson, students examine a diagram of a Brassica plant and identify its anatomy before planting their own seeds and viewing the changes over...
NOAA
Seafood and Human Health
Whether your young biologists realize it or not, humans play a significant role in marine ecosystems. To help them understand this fact children first create graphical representations that show homo sapiens' place in marine food chains,...
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To Drink or Not to Drink?
Second graders compare water conservation issues as they impact the past, present, and future in Nevada. For this water conservation lesson, 2nd graders perform and ice experiment to comprehend water collection differences. Students...
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Carbon and Oxygen Cycles
Students construct their own diagrams outlining the pathway of carbon and oxygen in the atmosphere. Students explain their diagrams outlining the pathway and teacher checks for accuracy and completion.
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The Effects of Photosynthesis on Plant Growth
Young scholars examine the process of photosynthesis; its products and reactants, and the sequence of the process. They diagram the light reactions, record observations of plants, and discuss how difficult it is to measure plant growth...
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Ecosystems Beneath the Surface
Sixth graders create a KWL chart about microorganisms. In this biology instructional activity, 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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The Science of Ghana
Students explore the climate and food sources of Ghana. In this instructional activity on climate students view diagrams of global convection and complete a convection experiment.
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WET Science Lesson #3: Comparison of Aquatic and Terrestrial Plants
Elementary life science explorers compare and contrast aquatic and terrestrial plants (elodea and soybeans) in a Venn diagram. Some background information is provided to support direct instruction, and general instructions are provided...