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The Compost Bucket
Students recognize that plants and soils have a close relationship. They view a photo essay on the common practice and natural process of composting. Afterwards, they observe the process of plant decay over the course of several days.
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The Portable Niche
Third graders, in groups, research animals, plants, and conditions found in ecosystems.
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Do You See What I See?
Second graders view a teacher-created terrarium, and complete a KWL chart. They discuss what they can see, Students go on a nature walk and compare the schoolyard to the terrarium, discussing the roles of rocks, plants, soil, and water...
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Water Molds (Oomycetes)
Students explore a group of fungus-like organisms; the Oomycetes, by baiting them from natural sources (water and soil) and observing them.
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Little Bloomers: Gardening With Trees
Learners identify the parts of tree flowers. They examine the role they have in pollination. They discuss trees that do not flower as well.
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The Web Of Life - Overlapping Food Chains
Students perform an activity in which they discover what happens when food chains overlap in an ecosystem and discover the three components of a food web.
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Growing Jack and the Beanstalk Plants
First graders investigate how plants grow by growing their own "beanstalk", (after reading "Jack and the Beanstalk") and record their observations daily in a science journal.
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Good Guys or Bad Guys
Sixth graders complete a variety of activities to explore both positive and negative effects of microorganisms. They, in groups, engage in a series of experiments which illustrate the effects of certain molds.
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Organisms – Their Needs
Students compare and contrast different organisms characteristics. In this life science lesson, students design an experiment about plants and animals needs. They collect data and write their conclusion about the experiment.
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Catch as Catch Can
Students investigate insects. In this insect analysis lesson, students catch insects using nets they make. They identify the insects they catch and create a chart to show the numbers and varieties. This lesson includes a vocabulary list...
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Our Schoolsyard is Full of Biology
Students study the habitats found in their schoolyard. They apply firsthand, what they have learned in the classroom to something familiar to them. Students look at biotic, abiotic habitats. Small groups will present their findings to...
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Investigation 4 - Plot Studies
Third graders use a plot map to study the plants and animals living in a small area of their environment.
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Archaeobotany
Students study pictures of seeds and the conditions in which they grow during their study of archaeobotany. They infer ancient plant use by looking at archaeobotanical samples. They determine the change of plant use by interpreting a...
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Listening to the Prairie
Students, in groups, visit an exhibit and for a prairie scavenger hunt to locate sunflowers and name products made from them. After sketching a prairie dog, they find nature cues farmers use when growing plants and raising animals. The...
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Crossword
In this crossword learning exercise that focuses on natural disasters, students find the vertical word in the colored squares by filling in the right words in ten lines in the horizontal boxes. Answers appear at the bottom of the...
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Dino Detectives
As students examine maps of Utah, 4th graders search for clues about what prehistoric life was like in Utah.
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Autumn
Students examine the cycle of nutrients in a forest. They research the concepts of decomposing and recycling within a forest.
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Wetlands Project
Students analyze wetlands data and create a HyperStudio stack to present the information. In small groups they analyze the wetlands data already collected in a previous lesson, and construct a stack of cards using HyperStudio to explain...
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Leaking Underground/ Storage Tanks
Students engage in a lesson that is about the concept of storage tanks and how they are used. The advantages and disadvantages of them is discussed with the facts given by the teacher during lecture and concurrent discussion.
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Our Country's Environment
In these environment worksheets, students complete several multiple choice questions that teach them about the Earth's landforms and water.
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Archaeology What Gets Preserved?
Students view a video on a culture and list what would be preserved over time. In this investigative lesson students study preservation and what gets preserved in different cultures.
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A Short History of Natural Gas
In this energy source learning exercise, 3rd graders read a short passage about the history of natural gas. Students must then answer several multiple choice questions about the passage.
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Leave What You Find
Students explore environmental awareness by participating in a role play activity. In this cultural analysis lesson plan, students discuss the importance of symbolism when referring to a tribe and create their own tribe based on a small...
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Mud Fossils
Students create their own fossils in an activity using plaster of paris and a variety of objects which can be fossils, e.g. chicken bones, twigs, shells, etc. After making their fossils, they allow them to dry and discuss time and its...