Curated OER
Astronomy
Students complete a unit of lessons on our solar system, its stars, and astronomers. They record information in a space journal, design constellations, define key vocabulary, observe the phases of the moon, and create a group planet...
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Working for Water
Students examine the ways that government works to help improve aquatic habitats. In this water habitats lesson students view a video and plan a school restoration project.
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Global Warming
Pupils examine how human produced emissions of carbon dioxide contribute to global warming. Using the internet, they research the future effects of global warming on the Earth. In groups, they discover ways to reduce daily energy usage...
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Painting the Hallway with Pixels
Learners create science design to be painted on the wall in the hallway of the science area of the school building. They measure space available, make a scale model of the design, and paint different pixels.
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Watersheds, Watersheds Everywhere
Students identify the watershed in which their school is located. They use maps to locate their homes and school. They define and use the correct vocabulary.
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Walden the Ballad of Thoreau
Students role play to become familiar with the life of Thoreau. In this Thoreau lesson plan, students view a video of the Walden play about Thoreau. Students perform and promote the play as a school event.
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Modeling Martian Motion
Students explore the difference between stars and planets and take on the role of these objects to simulate the relative motions of Mars and the Earth around the Sun.
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Heating the Atmosphere
Students construct a thermograph for maximum and minimum temperatures for the 2-week period. They illustrate how the earth's atmosphere is heated by convection and conduction currents and evaporation of water.
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Weathering Landforms
Fifth graders brainstorm a list of ways the Earth's surface can change. As a class, they are introduced to the concepts of erosion and weathering and discover how wind and water cause changes to the surface of the Earth. To end the...
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The Time of Man
Students demonstrate visually Mankind's relative place on the earth's timeline. They familiarize themselves with the use of the metric system in measuring and producting a timeline.
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How Does Your Garden Grow?
Students discover gardening by documenting plants grown on school grounds. In this botany lesson, students utilize digital cameras to capture images of plants on photo hikes which are turned into a slide show. Students plant a garden...
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Soiled Again
Students propose and perform an experiment using the scientific method. The purpose of the experiment is to discern some earth materials or combinations of earth materials that best increases the pH of "acid rain". From the results of...
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Understanding Greek Mythology
Students explore the role of Greek mythology in ancient Greek life. They discuss the origins of the Greek gods and goddesses, conduct Internet research, and present a project in the form of a dialogue between a Greek god and a human...
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The Moving Continents from Pangaea to the Future
Eighth graders examine how the movements of the Earth contribute to fossil distribution. In this fossils lesson students make maps of the placement of the continents.
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Nature Tribute
Students explore parts of nature. In this environmental lesson, students discuss how their actions can affect the environment and design a plan to clean up a specified area. Students practice good hygiene during the cleanup project.
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Understanding the Indoor Environment
Students create and deliver speeches about why their school should have an Indoor Air Quality team. In this speeches lesson plan, students make presentations to school board members about having an IAQ team.
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Mapmakers' Perspective
Students examine several maps and consider mapmakers' perspective in early depictions of North America.They determine how the spherical shape of the earth makes any north-south and east-west orientation a matter of perspective. For...
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Chemical Engineering: Volcanoes
Students study volcanoes using a chemical engineering project. In this volcanoes lesson, students create a model town and discuss the properties of a volcano. Students then make a volcano using a chemical engineering format for their...
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The French Expedition to Egypt
Young scholars analyze the effect of the French Expedition to Egypt. In this world history lesson, students research the military, scientific, cultural, and industrial impacts of the expedition. Young scholars create multimedia projects...
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Cosmic Rays
Students study cosmic rays and the energy behind them. In this atmospheric lesson students complete a cosmic ray telescope project.
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The Search for Secret Agents
Students embark on a scavenger hunt around the school looking for indoor air pollution and mapping source locations. They predict and observe sources of indoor air pollution, understand and give examples of technologies we use related to...
Orange County Department of Education
Dancing Rainbows: A Pueblo Boy's Story
Third graders identify the main ideas illustrated in the story "Dancing Rainbows." They identify details from the story that show respect toward self and others. Students write a paragraph to illustrate how the Tewa Indians show respect....
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Ecology: Factors Influencing Animal Populations
Students assess the factors affecting animal populations. Working in groups they define specific vocabulary terms and complete several activities from "Project Wild."
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Where Do We Get Clean Water?
Students investigate the concept of a filter. They use simple supplies in order to construct one after watching a demonstration performed by the teacher. An important warning that the project water is not clean for drinking is included....