Curated OER
Lemon Batteries Revised
Fifth graders investigate how chemical energy in food and batteries is potential or stored energy. They discuss how batteries function, and create a class list of different forms of energy. Students then create a lemon battery that...
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Chemical Reaction Rates
Students observe demonstrations to show factors that affect rates of chemical reactions. In this rates of chemical reactions lesson, students investigate how catalysts, reactant concentrations, temperature and surface area affect the...
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Hermit Crabs in the Classroom
Learners interact with hermit crabs in the their classroom. In this hermit crab lesson, students handle and observe hermit crabs while learning about their habitats and how to treat animals. They watch how the animals move and answer...
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Investigating a Fresh Fish
Fourth graders investigate the anatomy of a fish. In this adaptations lesson plan, 4th graders look at fresh fish and identify their adaptations and decide where they think the fish may live. Students draw and label the fish and its...
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Stewardship of Yosemite National Park
Students devise a plan that would be true to John Muir's spirit of stewardship toward Yosemite. They analyze a core map to determine the original plan and usage of the park and compare the original plan to a current park map.
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Microbes and Our Food
Young scholars investigate foodborne illnesses and involved microbes. They identify major pathogens and then research and explain how they contaminate foods and how people are affected.
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Mystery Powders
Fifth graders evaluate the physical properties of 5 powders. Each powder is subject to different conditions. They describe each observation as with a chemical change or a physical change.
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The Role of Density in Sinking or Floating: Relational Causality
Students watch the teacher do a demonstration of density with diet and regular soda. Note: try this first, as different types of artificial sweetener have different densities. Students discuss density and volume. They discuss "Relational...
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Web of Life Game: Trout
Students explore the concept of food webs. In this food web lesson plan, students demonstarte the connection between species. Students use a ball of string show how the food web works, then have a class discussion.
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Introduction to Restoration Lesson
Middle schoolers explore how pollution and invasive plants disrupt the ecosystem. In this restoration lesson plan students list materials that pollute wetlands, how people can keep them clean and ways in which invasive plants...
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Endangered Relationships
Young scholars study the interrelationship between the horseshoe crab and red knot. In this ecology lesson, students explain why several species became extinct. They research about endangered species found in their region.
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Insect Conservation
Students make a diorama. In this insect lesson, students review what they know and what they need to know about insects. Students define conservation, discuss why it is important to conserve insects, and make an insect diorama.
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Fish Fashion 101
Students explore fish anatomy. In this fish anatomy and adaptation lesson, students define and identify the location of fish body parts. Students add these parts of a fish's anatomy to a life-sized fish costume worn by a student. ...
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pH Basics
At some point, all science learners experiment with pH. In this brief lesson, they simply use pH strips or a meter to find the pH of six different solutions. A useful worksheet that displays a data chart is included for your students.
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Hog Farming in North Carolina
Students assume the role of a scientist hired by the North Carolina Pork Council to mediate legislative reform and farming needs. Students work with the research group to design a more efficient yet cost effective hog lagoon. Designs...
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Conflict Resolution
Students consider how conflict resolution principles can be used by countries. In this diplomacy lesson, students participate in a simulation that requires them to use conflict resolution skills to settle a fictional country and deal...
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This Life Stinks!
Pupils explore the process of chemosynthesis and contrast this process with photosynthesis. They consider the relevance of chemosynthesis to biological communities in the vicinity of cold seeps.
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DAY AND NIGHT
Young scholars use a lamp as the sun and his/her body as the earth. They rotate in different directions to explain how the earth moves around the sun. Using specific questions in their discussion, students discover the reasons for day...
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Where Next?
Young scholars read an article explaining NASA's possible Mars landing sites. They use the Internet to research Mars and the Module. They are able to submit their own proposals for a landing site after researching the planet.
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Territorial Behavior in Dragonflies and Damselflies
Students explore dragonfiles/damselfiles and their behaviors. They examine their differences and their life cycles. Students observe the dragonflies in a field and determine the number of different species.
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The Miracle Fish: Learning to Design an Experiment
Students develop procedures to explore the behavior of fish. In this scientific experiment lesson students from a hypothesis, write a question, identify different variables and controls in their experiment.
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Hypoxia and the Dead Zone in the Gulf of Mexico
Students investigate the causes of hypoxia, the characteristics of a watershed, and how the actions and management practices of people can both negatively and positively affect aquatic ecosystems.
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Kamchatka: Just Gushing with Geysers!
Young scholars explore geysers. They identify the parts of the geyser and how it works. Students create a working model of a geyser. They write a brief summary about their geyser.