Lesson Plan
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Model Professionals

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students learn about one scientist's quest to make her field of canopy ecology accessible to a wider audience and to synthesize their knowledge by developing toy figures that could potentially educate children about different scientific...
Lesson Plan
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Careers in Mining

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students study about natural resources and the decreasing amount. They observe the need for trained scientists and engineers. Finally, they take a small test to determine the areas of science they find most interesting.
Lesson Plan
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Milk and Dairy Test

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students explore how to select and prepare milk and milk products, identify standard serving size for milk and milk products, review terms associated with milk and milk products, and demonstrate knowledge of how to use and care for these...
Lesson Plan
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Choose Your Own Soil Adventure

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders will use a soil survey to make management decisions and by interpreting geologic maps. The importance of different soil types is discussed and the implications of how soil can be useful for our communities.
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What is Coal?

For Teachers 1st - 4th
Students receive instruction to answer the question "What is coal?". They then participate in several puzzles and problems to explore the subject of coal. They solve addition and subtraction problems and match letters with the letter...
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Water Quality

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Learners play the role of scientists testing for water quality in the area. In this ecology lesson, students determine the water sample's pH, temperature, dissolved oxygen and turbidity. They write a journal reflection after the activity.
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Decomposing Artifacts

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders participate in an experiment in which they calculate the time of decomposition of different materials. In groups, they fill bags with different materials and cover them in soil. After six months, they create a line graph...
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Cemetery Geology

For Teachers 9th - Higher Ed
Learners examine the chemical and physical weathering process of different rocks in a cemetery based on dates on the stones. Students discover the susceptibility of different rock types to weathering.
Lesson Plan
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Earth's Surfaces

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students identify and define geology and earth surface vocaulary and their meanings to classify rocks and explore caves and their properties. Students find rocks and test them according to Moh's scale. They create a color coded earth...
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Watch It Slide!

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students work together to examine inclined planes. They create a plan to raise rocks to build pyramids. They discover the changes that occur when the angle is increased or decreased.
Lesson Plan
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Precipitates and Black Smokers

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students discuss how hydrothermal fluid is different from seawater and what happens to it as it passes through the oceanic crust. They observe and manipulate calcuim chloride and baking soda to comprehend how precipates form.
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Build A "Bug"

For Teachers K - 6th
Students brainstorm different adaptations that bug would need to live in aquatic environment, and watch presentation where classmate is dressed up in costume to represent adaptations necessary for macroinvertebrate to survive in water.
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Changes Inside Planets

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students investigate the concept of planetary differentiation. They complete an experiment to simulate it using gelatin and food. The lesson includes vocabulary to increase reading comprehension skills as part of the inquiry. The lesson...
Lesson Plan
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OCEAN TSUNAMI

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students research the concept of a tsunami in detail and the implications of its effect upon a seashore is considered. The causes of a tsunami are investigated and compared with each other.
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Social Studies: The Fremont People

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students examine the culture of the Fremont people prior to creating their own copies of their pottery. With teacher-supplied clay, students follow instruction sheets to make their own replicas based on the Fremont pottery designs.
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Fossil Fuel and the Ticking Clock

For Teachers 6th - 7th
Students study energy sources to learn about fossil fuels and environmental concerns. In this energy sources instructional activity, students watch demonstrations for various energy examples. Students find hidden pennies, make a bar...
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Map-Making Basics

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Young scholars study maps. In this geography and art lesson plan, students create their own map of the classroom.
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Life in a Cup

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders make and maintain a mini terrarium. They keep a daily journal of what happens in their terrarium and record daily observations and measurements.
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Water Quality

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Students are presented with a hypothetical situation to investigate the water quality of the James River. They are given data to analyze and put into the graphic organizer that is included to help solve the problem. The lesson includes...
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Breaking it Down

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers will identify the factors that contribute to erosion and weathering. They will start by differentiating between chemical and mechanical weathering. They then apply what they learned by playing the online jeopardy game. Key...
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Studying Aquifers in Outcrop

For Teachers Higher Ed
Students describe two or more different rock types found in outcrop. Students look specifically at the hydro-geologic properties of the rocks and complete the lab with a paper explaining a scientific phenomenon in layperson terms.
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Mining With Blocks

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders gain a basic knowledge of mining and reclamation and see that mining is an important industry. They discover that mining ores and coal provides resources we need in everyday life.
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Geology and it’s Influence

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Pupils compare current geological map and the one from 1800's. In this earth science instructional activity, students discuss differences between the two and explain the factors that caused the change. They write an essay about how...
Worksheet
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Human Impact on the Environment

For Students 7th - 9th
In this environmental science worksheet, students complete a crossword puzzle with 26 questions about human impact on the environment.