Core Knowledge Foundation
Unit 9: The Science of Breakable Things by Tae Keller
A novel study examines The Science of Breakable Things by Tae Keller. Fifth graders participate in daily readings, discussions, and assignments following an "ask, explore, imagine, observe, and understand" routine. A final performance...
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Life Science Observations: Living vs. Non Living Things
Students investigate the difference between living and non-living things. In this life science lesson, students discover the different characteristics of living things and the natural or human created non-living things....
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Volcano Tracking
Students study how to track seismic activity of the Montserrat volcano. They create graphs of the data, study the observation logs that accompany the data, and interpret the graphs in relationship to the logs.
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Enhancing Our Outdoor Classroom Studies through Technology
Combine science, math, and more using this resource. Learners use technology to share video and other information about their community with people throughout the state. They learn about the environment, identifying native plants, record...
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Surface Meteorological Observation System (SMOS)
Young scholars investigate local surface weather conditions. They log weather conditions for thirty days, develop a graph, plot cloud cover, and compare/contrast the graphed lines of various weather factors.
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Charles Darwin
High schoolers research Charles Darwin and the process he used to develop his theory of evolution. They keep a journal about the skill of observation and make a newspaper of their learning.
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Life Science: Heavy Weight
High schoolers investigate adolescent obesity and its health impact. In this health and obesity instructional activity, students research the problem, develop a survey regarding eating habits, then analyze the nutritional information on...
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Bird Interdisciplinary Possibilities
Students explore birds, their territory, breeding, and seasonal movement. They research and collect information on birds through writing letters to ornithologists, reading in books, comparing web sites, and observing pictures. Students...
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Animal Migratory patterns
Young scholars use field research and traditional research to identify migrating species of birds as well as their migratory patterns. Students generate a list of questions regarding migration and a plan to research the questions. A...
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Weather Log
Students develop the skill of recording weather observations. Not only students be responsible for recording visual observations of the sky, but also collecting and recording weather instrument data.
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Comparing Spiders to Insects
Third graders research spiders and insects through a variety of Internet sites and compare them. In this spider and insect lesson, 3rd graders complete a Venn diagram comparing and contrasting insects and spiders. ...
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What is Magnetism?
Students investigate magnetism. In this physics instructional activity, students create a KWL chart about magnetism and research various suggested websites to find out more about magnetism. Students log on to the "BrainPOP" website and...
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Using Repeat Photography to Map Environmental Hazards
Students investigate the changes of their environment by experimenting with photography. In this environmental observation lesson, students compare historic photographs of areas with pictures they have just taken. Students...
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What Lives in the Forest?
Students investigate nearby forests and record their interactions with trees as well as wild life. In this ecology lesson, students read the book, In the Woods: Who's Been Here?, and attend class observational field trips through...
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Harriman and Plant Identification
Students observe and record botanical details from the plant specimens. They identify plants using sorting key and field guide and classify specimens for preservation and display purposes.
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Putting It All Together
Students organize their daily observation logs to write a nonfiction piece. They compare and contrast Saturn to other planets or write a summary. They use this piece of writing in future lessons.
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Smile...you're on Insect Camera!
Students study insects. They go on an outdoor insect outing and look for insects in a variety of places--in the air, under rocks, on leaves, in water, etc. They record information about the insects they find, including habitat, weather...
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In the Field with Salamanders
Students observe salamanders, take pictures of them, and classify them into an online format. In this animal classification lesson, students use collection materials and digital camera to photograph and observe salamanders. Students...
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Don't Just Do It - Talk About It!
Students investigate a scientific problem while documenting their research with a video camera. In this scientific method lesson, students hypothesize over a science question and conduct an investigation to find an answer....
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Hatching Chickens
Young scholars learn the importance of caring for eggs as they hatch chickens. In this egg hatching lesson plan, students observe what happens when eggs are hatched into chickens by completing a e-worksheet and watching a web based movie.
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2005 Submarine Ring of Fire Expedition: What's for Dinner?
Students compare and contrast photosynthesis and chemosynthesis as sources of primary production for biological communities, and describe sources of primary production observed in biological communities associated with volcanoes of the...
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How Does Your Garden Grow?
Students discover gardening by documenting plants grown on school grounds. In this botany instructional activity, students utilize digital cameras to capture images of plants on photo hikes which are turned into a slide show....
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Tree Cycles
Fourth graders investigate the life cycle of a tree by researching the Internet. In this plant life lesson, 4th graders observe The Life of a Tree website and discuss the life of a tree from sprout to death. Students create a...
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Petri-fied of Bacteria
Students examine the existence of bacteria all around them and consider the roles, both positive and negative, that bacteria play. Over a period of several days, students conduct an experiment in which they predict, determine, log, and...