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The Facts of Life
Students explore the different ways scientists gather information about extinct animals. They utilize these methods to create illustrated story books about a particular extinct animal.
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Under the Spell of Spiders!
Students read about spider body parts, abilities, tendencies, and life cycles. In this Under the Spell of Spiders! lesson, students create mystery creatures that turn out to be spiders. Students catch and observe spiders and insects....
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Saving the Past for the Future
Students discuss an archaeological dilemma. They write a paragraph about possible solutions to the problem.
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Teaching With the Power of Objects
Students define value of an object. In this value lesson plan, students identify reasons for collecting objects, compile a personal inventory of items they find valuable, and then define why those items are valuable to them. In step two...
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Evolutions of Pottery
Students study the history and importance of clay and pottery. They observe a video dealing the kiln. Students explore ideas for improving construction of pottery. They demonstrate a variety of construction methods and identify the...
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Learning from Letters and Other Mail
Students explore the history of our mail system. In this postal lesson plan, students evaluate mail as a means of communication, create a mail system in their classroom where they can send and receive mail. Once the students receive...
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Robert Boyle and Experimental Methods
Students discuss the difference between the Baconian inductive method and the Aristotelian deductive approaches. They complete a given set of questions then discuss them with the class.
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Traveler's Trunk
Students analyze and interpret artifacts from the 1920s and explore the Great Migration. In this 1920s history lesson, students review background information about the Great Migration and use artifacts to study history of Chicago....
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Will the Real Ben Franklin Please Stand Up?
Pupils explore the life of Benjamin Franklin. For this American history lesson, students research primary and secondary documents regarding Franklin's life. Pupils should examine the point of view each of the accounts is written from as...
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Paper: Scientific Inquiry Through Chinese Art
Students create replicas of Chinese hanging scrolls in an attempt to understand the technology behind the creation and use of paper in Ancient China. This three-day lesson includes enrichment ideas.
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A House Divided: Slavery in the United States
Students explore the history of the United States and slavery. In this slavery lesson plan, students view primary sources, complete journal writing, view videos, and answer short answer questions.
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The "Write Sport"
Fifth graders discuss the history of sports in Iowa. In this sports lesson plan, 5th graders write a friendly sports letter and a how to directional writing. They write five entries in their journal from the point of view of a piece of...
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Mammoth Extinction
High schoolers explore various hypotheses concerning the extinction of the woolly mammoth.
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The Yesterday's Tomorrow Teacher's Guide
Students explore the future and the importance of the past. In this futuristic instructional activity, students create a future city and identify traditions of their heritage that they feel should be passed on to future generations. They...
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Sink or Float?
Students analyze the relationship between density, buoyancy, and salinity. In this chemical properties instructional activity, students read a background activity for the instructional activity and experiments to the topics. Students...
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Identifying Dinosaurs
Students investigate basic information about dinosaurs. They listen to the book, "My Visit To the Dinosaurs," explore various websites, take an online quiz, and play an online dinosaur game.
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Strong Chemistry
Students research and create a poster about a gemstone. In this mineral properties lesson plan, students view a video about diamonds. They discuss the properties of minerals and choose a gemstone to research and create a poster.
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Happy Birthday, Earth!
Young scholars visualize the Earth's ecosystem at a specific time period and how Earth has changed over time. They create a detailed journal entry for a specific time period and create a birthday card to Earth.
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Personal Reflections
Students culminate and extend the Museum visit back into the classroom. They consider the choice Telemachus made to continue searching for his father. They relate the moral dilemma to their own personal experiences.
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Exploring Fish Anatomy and Commercial Fishing Gear
Students investigate commercial fishing by exploring the technical methods. In this environmental lesson, students identify the fish that are most commonly consumed by humans and trace their path from ocean to plate. Students examine...
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Mary Ann Patten: Clipper Ship Heroine
In two groups, students research the history and current building of clipper ships. For this inquiry lesson, students present information and compare and contrast the technological revolution with the development of clipper ships....
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Curious Curators
Students write a theme statement for a collection of diverse objects. Using the internet, they research and write descriptions of various artifact. They role play the role of a museum curator and produce a museum style exhibition. ...
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The White House or Bust: How Americans Elect Their President
Students explain the presidential duties and who is eligible to run for president. In this The White House or Bust article, students complete a map of the electoral college. In addition students analyze historical campaign posters....
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From the Rise of the Absolute Monarchy to Democracy on the American Frontier
Students use a teacher-made museum guide with questions that allow them to analyze and compare the patron art of seventeenth-century France with portraits of later periods at the Joslyn Art Museum. Students also read The Little Prince...