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Testing Soils for Garden Planting

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders collect soil samples and record the location of the samples by using GPS.
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Mountains in the Sea Exploration No Escape

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students study data to hypothesis about the influence of a water circulation cell on the retention of benthic invertebrate larvae in the area of a seamount. They investigate the positives and negatives of larvae retention in this series...
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Carbon Adventures Game

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders examine the processes and transformations that occur in carbon pools. They play a game to identify paths taken by carbon through the environment.
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Date a Rock!

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students figure the number of half-lives since the sample solidified, and therefore the "age" of the sample rocks.
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Simple Machines

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders study how simple machines can help us alter forces and discuss the term mechanical advantage. They then identify dysfunctional simple machines and discuss in groups how the dysfunctions will decrease the effectiveness of each.
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Assessment & Evaluation

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders study elapsed time, radioactive decay and half-life.  In this time machine lesson students complete several activities and view a presentation. 
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A Trip Around the World

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students role play the role of a travel agent. In groups, they must plan a trip around the world making stops in a different biome. They use the internet to discover the characteristics of each biome and create a travel brochure for...
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Plants of the Past

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders explore ecosystems by examining plants of the past. They discuss ways in which we interact with plants in our daily lives. Students discuss the role plants play in providing food for animals and the significance they had...
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9th Grade

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders discuss the principal source of energy entering the marine ecosystem. They name some of the autotrophs at the Maui Ocean Center. Students name some of the heterotrophs at Maui Ocean Center. They are taught that plants are...
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Using A Winogradsky Column to Analyze Microbial Communities

For Teachers 4th - 11th
Students use easily obtained materials to study ecological succession in a microbiological community. They collect water samples from outdoor sources in plastic bottles to observe and record changes.
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Biodiversity Debate

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders debate the positive aspects of dam construction. They discuss how a dam changes the ecosystem. In groups, 9th graders research and gather information for a debate. They state their position and write a report supporting it....
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Writing about the world's fisheries (Calibrated Peer Review)

For Teachers Higher Ed
Students summarize the findings of the Pew Ocean Commission report "America's Living Oceans," contrast it to an opposing viewpoint, and recommend a fisheries policy based on their understanding. It includes a scoresheet that was created...
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Life is Weird!

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students describe major features of cold seep communities, and list at least five organisms typical of these communities. They infer probable trophic relationships among organisms typical of cold-seep communities and the surrounding...
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This Life Stinks!

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars 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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Smog Be Gone

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students begin the lesson by identifying greenhouse gases. In groups, they observe and record the effect of the gases on the atmosphere and the temperature of the Earth. They participate in activities that describe the role of...
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Welcome to Populations!

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students define what population is in their own words. In this biology lesson, students explain different ways to measure population density. They interpret population graphs.
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Peeled Trees Tell The Story

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students investigate the diversity of life that is found in Montana. They research some of the different interactions that organisms have with their environment. The lesson includes an extensive introduction for teacher information....
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The Siberian Arctic

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners, in groups, research the topics: habitats of northwestern Siberia, reindeer, oil and natural gas, and other threatened regions of the Arctic. They answer specific research questions based on their topic. They use online...
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Just Jelly

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students identify common gelatinous zooplankton in the Canada Basin and their ecological role. They compare and contrast feeding strategies of at least three different types of gelatinous zooplankton.
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Physical Habitat of a Stream

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students measure in metric units and use a stopwatch, calculator. They collect data with minimal instructions after the initial pre-activity briefing, then record data in the data sheets provided.
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Dishing the Dirt Part 1

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students create a soil center on their school grounds. They begin to write in their science journals. They participate in an experiment that helps the community begin their own gardens.
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Water Management

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners investigate the plan of a community water management plan. They are given the roles of community members who are involved in a meeting to discuss the development of a plan to conserve water and preserve resources of water.
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Owl Pellets: A Fowl-Up, Chuck!

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students discover the world of owls as predators. After watching a video of owls hunting and eating, are introduced to owl pellets. Students dissect their own pellet and match the prey's bones to a bone diagram.
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Biome EcoWatch Project

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Students work together to complete the Biome EcoWatch project. Using the Internet, they research the relationship between abiotic factors and living organisms within a biome. They create a multimedia presentation to share their...