Lesson Plan
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Research Project

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Students learn the characteristics of arachnids by researching the arachnid of their choice and producing a 4 to 5 paragraph research paper.
Lesson Plan
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Fracture Fundamentals: A Cheesy Analog

For Teachers 6th - Higher Ed
Students make small cuts (fracture nuclei) in processed cheese food and then apply stresses perpendicular or parallel to the cuts to see how fractures grow. They make predictions before each experiment and explain their results to the...
Lesson Plan
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Evaporation

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Young scholars study the evaporation stage of the water cycle. In this water cycle lesson plan, students participate in an experiment to study the process of evaporation that uses jars and water. Young scholars complete an...
Lesson Plan
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Biosphere Socratic Questions

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine the origin of life on Earth and its evolution through geologic time by participating in a whole class discussion. They respond to prompts that lead them to conclusions about the interactions among the biosphere and the...
Lesson Plan
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Building-Stone Geology

For Teachers Higher Ed
Students examine building stones in downtown St. Petersburg in order t study igneous and metamorphic rocks in central Florida ( a huge area consisting solely of sedimentary rock). Each student picks a particular rock type used in a...
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Decision Making

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students study weather patterns and learn to make decisions based on the weather. In this weather instructional activity, students plan a potluck based on the weather. Students use a decision tree to brainstorm about the activity....
Lesson Plan
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Understanding Bernoulli's Principle

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders explain why we fly. In this space science lesson, 5th graders discuss Bernoulli's prinicple and its relation to flight.
Lesson Plan
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We are the World - Writing about our Earth

For Teachers 1st
First graders write facts about the Earth. In this Earth lesson, 1st graders discuss natural resources, recycling, and how to keep the Earth clean. They work in groups to create a small book with 3-5 facts about the Earth's environment.
Lesson Plan
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Show Me a Flowerpot

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students compare and contrast handmade and machine-made products in a study about the evolution of production processes in American history. For this production history lesson, students explore a flowerpot in depth. Students make their...
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Mock Environmental Summit

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students increase understanding of human impact on Earth's sytems and the climate. They develop persuasive and critical skills as writers and presenters. They become familiar with political decision making processes.
Lesson Plan
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Oceans Socratic Questioning

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students participate in a whole class discussion of ocean-floor structures and plate tectonics. They respond to prompts in a structured sequence that lead them to conclusions about the role of plate tectonics in the creation of sea-floor...
Lesson Plan
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Annotated, Detailed Example of Socratic Questioning

For Teachers 12th - Higher Ed
Students identify and define the main components of the hydrosphere and the ways in which they interact with one another. They explore how changes in Earth's surface materials affect components of the hydrosphere and evaluate the effect...
Lesson Plan
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Time and Earth History Socratic Questions

For Teachers 12th - Higher Ed
Students develop a sense of geologic ("deep") time and the ways in which Earth scientists construct the geologic time scale. They study he major events that shaped Earth, including the origin and evolution of its lithosphere, atmosphere,...
Lesson Plan
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Seafloor Block Model

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Young scholars construct a 3-D block model of the ocean floor to study fundamental earth processes. This is a preconstructed cut out that allows the students to put it together but then to add their own colors as well. There is an...
Lesson Plan
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Digging Into the Past

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders study fossils and how they are charted. In this fossil lesson plan, 5th graders research the excavation process of discovering fossils, and view fossils. They then do a hands on activity that involves plastic fossils that...
Lesson Plan
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Using the Very, Very Simple Climate Model in the Classroom

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Learners study the relationship between the average global temperature and carbon dioxide emissions.  In this weather activity students develop a test scenario using a model then read and interpret graphs of data. 
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Invention Project

For Teachers 5th - Higher Ed
Students study air pollution and design inventions to prevent indoor environment problems. In this air pollution inventions lesson, students read about and discuss famous inventors and inventions. Students then research indoor air...
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Interactive Meiosis

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students study meiosis and the stages of mitosis.  In this meiosis lesson students divide into groups and complete an activity. 
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Turning Historical Descriptions into Causal Claims

For Teachers 11th
Eleventh graders study different political processes. In this American Government lesson, 11th graders read narratives about different political processes. Students write a sentence in their own words describing the concepts. 
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Chromatography

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Young scholars study about chromatography, a process used to separate mixtures.
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Dissect with Respect

For Teachers 9th - 11th
Students, through exercises and discussions, examine ethics involved in the process of choosing and using laboratory animals, respect for the animal they dissect and how to behave in an ethical manner as they dissect various lab specimens.
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Do Plants Eat?

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students explain that photosynthesis is a process that plants use to convert light energy into glucose. They summarize photosynthesis as a chemical process in which the plant uses carbon dioxide and water to form glucose and oxygen.
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Journal Introductions

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students explore the idea of scientific observation and the use of a journal to record their observations. They examine the proper vocabulary used when describing scientific inquiry. Students observe a science experiment and they discuss...
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Wheel of...Geology!

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students participate in a group review activity in order to prepare for an exam. Students study together in their teams prior to the review activity. During the game, the teacher spins a wheel with subject categories written on it and...