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The Dinosaur Body
Students recognize that body design affects balance. They investigate the basic structure of a dinosaur body to see how it achieved balance, then build any dinosaur body system they want, using small marshmallows and extra straws as needed.
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Have Block Party!
Students discover that the possibilities are limitless in this block-building activity. In this early childhood, problem solving lesson, students develop social, problem-solving, math, and language skills using a specific number of...
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Buzzing Bee's Wardrobe
Young scholars investigate the anatomy of honeybees. In this anatomy lesson, students research the physical characteristics of bees and discover what they do. Young scholars create a model of a honeybee showing the correct anatomy.
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Insect Camouflage
Students investigate insect camouflage and mimicry. For this animal science lesson, students discuss how camouflage helps an insect survive. Additionally, students use the included template to color and cut illustrations of insects....
Michigan Sea Grant
Wetlands
Wetlands may not sound particularly ornate, but they are as important as any habitat! With a hands-on activity, young scientists build a wetland model and observe its many functions in action. They discover the importance of wetlands to...
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Coral Reefs
Students research an inhabitant of a Caribbean coral reef using a list of common organisms that live on or near it. Students then write a description of their organism and draw a picture or a 3-D model of it. Eventually they all work...
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Food Web Mobile
Students explain the main concepts of food webs and food chains. They
describe the role of animals, plants, and other organisms in cycling energy and matter through a food web by creating mobiles. Lesson contains adaptations for all levels.
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Bread Cells
Fifth graders examine plant and animal cells. In this plant and animal cell lesson, 5th graders define what cells are, label their parts, and describe how plant and animal cells are different. They observe cells at a number of web sites,...
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Take an Ant to Lunch
Second graders construct a model of an ant, exemplifying that ants are insects. Students gather data create a pictograph chart to show ant food preferences. Also, 2nd graders access the Internet to explore ant eating habits.
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Ecuadorian Highlands Lesson
Indigenous peoples resided in the highlands of Ecuador as far back as 5,000 B.C. To learn about the lives of these people, class pairs research the farming and the building methods, the arts and crafts, and the beliefs of the early...
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Wilderness
High schoolers examine the dynamic between animals and humans in the wilderness. They work together in groups share their journal entries when asked to reflect on natural areas.
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Introduction to Coral Reefs
Young scholars identify locations of coral reefs, both in the water and around the globe, identify relative depth of corals in the ocean by observing behavior of cold and warm saltwater, and create models of coral reefs.
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Desert Views - First Impressions: Travelers on the Gila Trail
Young scholars draw animals and plants that are described to them as they read passages of people who traveled across the Gila Trail in the Southwest. In this Gila Trail lesson plan, students also write a letter describing a plant or...
Chicago Botanic Garden
Nature Walk and Ecosystem Introduction
A food web has no organism higher than a tertiary consumer because there wouldn't be enough energy left to sustain them. The fourth installment in a seven-part series begins with a nature walk to get pupils thinking about their...
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Marine & Aquatic Habitats Activities - Habitats of Birds, Fish, and Mammals on the Island and the Pacific Region
Learners create habitats in jars to understand integral aspects of plants' and animals' habitats.
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User-friendly rivers
Students explore and explain their connection to rivers through watersheds. They break into three groups. Each group needs: Blue enamel paint, Miniature objects to simulate a model river system, modeling clay, Tempera paint, Toothpicks...
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Marvelous Marshes of the Chesapeake
Third graders identify sources of salt water and fresh water that enter the Chesapeake Bay. They build a model watershed and describe how runoff enters the Bay.
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Lesson #5: Symbiosis and Coral Anatomy
Fifth graders examine the basic structure of corals and the concept of symbiosis. They watch a Powerpoint Presentation, develop an original pair of organisms living symbiotically, and create an edible model of a coral polyp.
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Creating a Bas-Relief Sculpture
Students create a small bas-relief sculpture of an animal in clay. They roll out a background, and build up the clay on the back ground to represent themselves and an animal. Pieces are dried and fired, then combined with others to...
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The Living Environment
Sixth graders show what they know about plant and animal cells. For this cell project lesson, 6th graders get to choose a project based on their learning style. They can create a visual representation of cells, auditory forms, or build a...
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Mud in the Water
Sixth graders investigate erosion. In this erosion lesson, 6th graders explore how farming changes the environment. Students construct an erosion model and research ways to protect the soil from excess mud generated by farming.
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The Human Body
Students research information about the human body. They read books and explore the Internet to gather information about the human body. Students create graphic representations and models of the body systems. Working in groups, they...
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Immersion Presents Monterey Bay
Students study Monterey Bay. In this Monterey Bay lesson, students create a model of upwelling around Monterey Bay. Students simulate surface water movement relative to prevailing winds.
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Dragon Genetics-Independent Assortment and Genetic Linkage
Students build chromosome models using popsicle sticks. In this biology lesson plan, students simulate the Law of Independent Assortment. They use Punnett squares to predict the resulting genotype and phenotype.