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Sealed With a Chop
Students research the tradition of using personal seals from ancient to contemporary times in China. They become familiar with several Chinese characters and reproduce a facsimile of a Chinese personal seal or chop and use it to mark...
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Mariposas
Students examine how animals use camouflage for survival. In this investigative lesson students define vocabulary words and see how it is the environment that controls which adaptations will help in survival.
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Encoded Meanings
Students explore symbols in art and complete related activities. In this art symbols lesson, students compare symbols they recognize to those of an African culture. Students create a collaborative work of art with symbols that have an...
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Types of Legs
Students identify the characteristics of the legs of arthropods as well as how they are used. They compare and contrast the legs of various types of bugs in the arthropod family. A comparison worksheet is included in with this lesson.
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Learning Bird Traits
Students draw and label a bird. In this bird traits instructional activity, students learn what traits make a bird different from other animals. Students are taught how to draw a bird and are expected to label the various body parts they...
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Survival Features
Third graders identify features of producers, herbivores and carnivores. They discuss the features that aid in survival for those animals. They organize animals into categories to complete the lesson.
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Hide & Seek Butterflies
Students examine a variety of butterflies and discuss how they believe they get their color variations. In groups, they brainstorm the advantages and disadvantages of their color schemes. To end the lesson, they watch butterflies in...
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Illinois Wild
Sixth graders identify different animals native to Illinois. They research a specific animal to study more about its characteristics, examine what makes a habitat, and recognize the difference between a food web and food chain.
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Periodical Cicada Survival
Pupils explore defense mechanisms involved in predatory/prey relationships.They engage in a discussion about predatory/prey interactions. They reflect on the life cycle and behavior of the cicada.
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Pika Chew
Students work in collaborative teams with specific roles, use the Internet to research the behavior and ecology of pikas, make predictions about survival rates of pikas in different habitats and organize their data in graphs.
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So You Think the World Evolves Around You?
Students examine the topic of evolution as it relates to biodiversity in various remote areas of the world. They watch videos, conduct Internet research, and in small groups create a digital video report to illustrate common evolution in...
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Who Eats Whom in the Salt Marsh?
Seventh graders complete a virtual online salt marsh tour. In groups, they observe and identify the various types of animals found in the marsh. After categorizing the animals, they create a food web based on the animals role in the...
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A Lovely Captive
Fourth graders construct a habitat which allows them to observe the metamorphosis of a caterpillar into a butterfly. They place a plate on the bottom of the cylinder to serve as a landing platform. They use the cage for keeping adult...
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Survival Under a Rock
Students investigate ways that animals adapt to their environments through hands-on activities using isopods and an interactive video.
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Find the Frog
Students, the advanced beginner to intermediate ESL level, use English in a science activity.
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Habitats and All That
First graders read books, complete online explorations and discuss the ways in which animals adapt to their habitats in order to survive. They create accordion books, play matching games and dramatize animal adaptations.
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PERIODICAL CICADA SURVIVAL
Students explore defense mechanisms involved in predatory/prey relationships.
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Shh...It's a Secret!
Students explore codes, decode secret messages, and create codes of their own to use with their friends. They examine the use of gestures, letters, symbols and numbers in codes.
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Constitutional Issues: The Separation of Powers
Students research and stage a debate on the question: RESOLVED that the Constitution should be amended to provide for a parliamentary system of government. They debate if a parliamentary system of government might be better.
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"Ladybugs and Grasshoppers"
Learners paricipate in number of activities related to ladybugs and grasshoppers.
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Storybook Art
Young scholars read the book Swimmy, by Leo Lionni. They study his method of illustrating and then create an underwater scene of their own using the same method.
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Shh... It's a Secret!
Fifth graders examine a series of rules for deciphering a code. They create their own secret message using a code after watching video. They access a web site to practice their decoding skills.
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Disguise for the Eyes
Young scientists discover how many, many animals use color as a way of helping them to survive in the wild. They understand how animals use color in their everyday lives. Pupils engage in hands-on activities, watch videos, access...
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Pond Ecology
A lab activity is a great way to incite thoughtful questioning and scientific processes. Pupils will collect organisms with a Petri dish, make observations, sketch the organism, ask questions, then attempt to identify the specimen...