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The Way Levers Work
Fifth graders discover the rules by which the lever slants and balances. They determine that there are a great many tools that employ the lever principle even in their ordinary environments. They consider how to use objects easily...
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Designing Machines
Learners explore simple and compound machines. In groups of four students, they design a compound machine using K'NEX that has a stated purpose and consists of at least two simple machines.
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Celebrating Earth Day With Students
Student's attention is focused on the environment during Earth Day. This helps to stimulate their creativity and imagination, so that they can act persuasively to help solve environmental problems.
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Water Treatment Plant
Second graders create their own water treatment system. In this water treatment activity, 2nd graders create the water treatment system and record how it works. Students list materials they used and write about what they saw. Students...
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Mapping Plate Boundaries
Students discover plate boundaries based on the uneven geographic occurrence of geologic hazards. After discussing geologic hazards, students plot different sets of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions on maps.
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Aquifers and Groundwater
Young scholars understand the purpose of an aquifer. In this aquifer and groundwater lesson, students build a model aquifer find its relationship to water usage. Young scholars record observations as they build the layers of the aquifer.
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The Effects of Weather on People
Students discover the causes of different types of weather and it's effect on society. In this environmental lesson, students utilize the Internet to examine cloud types, normal weather conditions and the type of weather considered...
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Wolves At Our Door
Young scholars investigate the wolf. In this animal adaptation lesson, students examine the social characteristics of the wolf. They discuss the role of human intervention in reestablishing the wolf population.
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Bird Brained?
Students identify general abilities that indicate animal cognitive intelligence. In this biology lesson, students create an intelligence testing challenge for ravens. They compare its ability to that of a crow.
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Body Systems in Action
Fifth graders, in groups, create a short skit that shows how body systems work together.
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Chemical Reactions - Borax & Glue, Cream
Fifth graders, in groups, complete two activities in which various substances are combined, resulting in a very different substances. They discuss reactants and products and chemical reactions.
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Interactive Journeys
Learners investigate environments and animals through the use of technology while on class field trips. The lesson is highly adaptable and can work with any field trip in many subject areas.
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Salinity
Students take a provided ocean Trivia Quiz in order to start a discussion of the ocean. They then perform an experiment on how the amount of salt in the ocean affects it and varies from ocean to ocean.
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Deserts: How Do You Define One?
Second graders identify what constitutes as a desert by reading a habitat checklist. In this environment lesson, 2nd graders read a nature website to discover facts about the desert and where they are located. Students...
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Fish Farm: an open ended, student centered laboratory activity
Students are contacted by a fictitious company which raises tropical fish to do basic research for them so that they might keep their production costs down. They need to know the optimum salinity in which to hatch the brine shrimp that...
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Maine Black Bear Research and Field Study Activity
Students participate in a field study of Maine Black Bears. They first do academic research on the Maine Black Bear. Following extensive research and discussion, students go out into the field with Maine State Biologist to observe bears...
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Surveying and Assessing the Environmental Compatibility of a Building Construction Site
Learners examine an area of land and assess its suitability for construction purposes. This project requires a vast amount of hands-on experimentation, data analysis, community involvement, and job shadowing/career awareness.
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Genetics the Easy Way
Students use recyclable trash to construct a Recycle Critter family. They calculate the probability of the phenotype of the offspring that two heterozygous parents produced.
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The Behavior of Ants
Students use the steps of the Scientific Method to develop and test their own ideas through experimentation with ants.
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Pumpkin Investigation
Students examine pumpkins and make a book depicting and describing the inside and outside of a pumpkin.
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Decidedly Different
Fifth graders inquire as to why scientists use observable characteristics, how they sort the characteristics, and why they do so. They write journal entries to be used throughout this unit.
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Metals or Nonmetals? The Families of Elements
Fourth graders, in groups, compile information on groups of elements. They study Alkali Metals, Alkaline Earth Metals, Halogens, and Noble Gases.
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Outdoor Observations
Fifth graders attain data using their senses. They record information. They develop observation skills and explore how to investigate. They gain appreciation for nature through their observations.
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Eruption!
Students role-play as villagers, the governor, volcanologists, or the press in a simulation about the possible threat of a nearby volcanic eruption.