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Problems and Solutions in Aircraft Design
Students watch demonstrations of paper folded designs that do and do not fly and discuss their observations. They identify problems that they, the Wright Brothers, or NASA scientists face when designing an aircraft, and identify...
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Plant Needs
Students explore the needs of plants. In this plants biology lesson, students work in groups to perform an experiment with tomato plants. Each group records observations in a journal, takes pictures, and interprets the...
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Observing a Stream Ecosystem
Students use their five senses to explore a river ecosystem. They experience how their senses provide them with additional information about the environment through the use of teacher made stream boxes.
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Charting the Changes in Our School Forest
Fourth graders investigate the ecosystem and how forests are disappearing. In this environmental protection instructional activity, 4th graders analyze the changes in their school for 2 weeks. Students practice identifying...
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Importance of Marine Protected Areas: an Overfishing Simulation
Learners simulate overfishing by conducting a guided experiment in the classroom. For this ecology lesson, students discuss the environmental consequences of overfishing. They research additional information about the issue and share...
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Peanut Calorimeter Paper
Seventh graders respond to key questions about a science inquiry in groups. In this Peanut Calorimeter paper lesson plan, 7th graders recall information from a science inquiry and answer questions that will be part of a larger...
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Now you see it....Now you Don't
Learners investigate the biodegrading process of packing peanuts. In this biological process lesson, students conduct an experiment to see how quickly packing peanuts biodegrade. Learners check the process each day and record their results.
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Yeast and Respiration
Students explore oxygen properties by conducting a cell experiment in class. In this respiration lesson plan, students discuss the process of breathing and how oxygen is inhaled before carbon dioxide is exhaled. Students utilize yeast,...
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Rover Races
Students identify the challenges encountered by astronauts in operating a planetary rover. In this space science activity, students create a rover using their team members. They follow a command sequence from the driver and navigate...
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Magnetic Testing
Students explore magnetism. They make observations of everyday items regarding their magnetic attraction and use their experiences to make a prediction.
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How Are Clouds and Fog Formed?
Fifth graders investigate how clouds and fog are made of tiny droplets of water. They discuss how clouds and fog are formed, then conduct an experiment in which they observe what happens when an ice cube is placed on top of a bottle...
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Light and Optics
Third graders utilize the scientific method to explain light and optics in this five lessons unit. Through experimentation and discussion, 3rd graders canvass the concepts of light traveling, reflection and refraction.
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Three Clouds Activity
Students understand how clouds are formed. In this cloud lesson, students participate in three experiments to make clouds. Students complete activity sheets for each experiment.
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Create a Cloud In a Jar
Students investigate cloud formation. In this weather lesson, students examine how clouds are formed. Students participate in experiments that model how water vapor in the air works.
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Function of a Stem
Fourth graders perform an experiment to test the function of a stem. In this science lesson, 4th graders write a description of their investigations. Students also explain how the stem interacts with the rest of the plant. Students use...
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Diamonds Are Forever - Most of the Time!
Students examine the compositions and structure of diamonds. They conduct an experiment growing crystals, watch a video, and conduct Internet research.
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The Copper Basin Problem
Young scholars view a video about how human actions impact the environment. They design a set of experiments to address some of the problems and issues raised by the video.
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Weather
Learners explore the earth's atmosphere, weather, and climate. They begin class with a discussion about weather patterns, atmosphere, and the layers of the earth. After the class discussion, students rotate through four stations to...
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You've Got to Be Cool to Make Igneous Rocks
Students describe how igneous rocks are formed, design a classification system to group igneous rocks and develop a controlled experiment to prove that the rate of cooling affects the size of the crystals.
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The Physics of Sound: How We Produce Sounds
Students are introduced to how they produce sounds. In groups, they participate in experiments in which they measure sound and identify their five senses. Individually, they make their own musical instruments using different objects and...
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Rust Never Sleeps
Students investigate oxidation-reduction reactions involving iron by conducting an experiment in which they expose iron filings to different atmospheric and ocean conditions. They relate the results to the oxidation banding patterns seen...
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Transition Metals (II)
Students discuss transition metals, their properties, and where they are located on the periodic table as well as why transition metals are ideal for coins. After discussion, they conduct an experiment using copper in the form of old...
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Electronic Components
Students review new terminology and computer circuits and the value of a resistor. They complete three experiments, "Resistance Activities," Transistor Activities,"Diode Activities" and enter data, results and their findings on Student...
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Investigating Bean Pods and How They Grow
Third graders observe and create a record of seed growth over time. After planting a seed, 3rd graders record their observations of the seed's growth over a three week period. Upon conclusion of the experiment, they write a paragraph...