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Sunlight and Warm Air
Students examine the different ways heat can be felt. In this radiation and conduction lesson, students recognize that the sun radiates heat. Students conduct three experiments to find how the sun warms the Earth and how that heat...
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Allelopathy Experiments
Students explore how allelopathy works in plants. In this botany instructional activity, students explain how this phenomenon affect other organisms. They read and analyze an article about allelopathy and discuss its flaws.
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Color Change in Leaves
Learners identify the different leaf pigments and colors. In this biology activity, students perform chromatography to separate them. They explain how light affects green leaf colors and causes falling leaves in autumn.
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Photosynthesis
Students conduct a variety of experiments on photosynthesis. In this biology lesson, students identify the factors required for the process to occur. They perform computerized experiments to test the amount of oxygen produced when plants...
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Seed Germination on Gelatin
Learners examine how seeds germinate in a culture. In this germination lesson students germinate seeds in gelatin and observe the growth of the plant.
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Tropism
Learners conduct various experiments on tropism. For this biology lesson, students explain how gravity affects the growth of plant roots. They identify the different types of tropisms.
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Build a Paper Plane
Students study the history of the paper plane. In this design lesson students create several types of paper planes and determine if there is a difference in mean flight distances.
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Shoot for the Moon
Second graders distinguish the different phases of the moon. For this astronomy lesson, 2nd graders study the history of its discovery and myths about its origin. They simulate how the moon's surface is illuminated by the sun.
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Bioluminescence
Students differentiate chemiluminescence from bioluminescence. In this biology lesson, students explain how fireflies and other animals emit light. They discuss the applications of engineered bioluminescence.
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Making Soap
Learners explore what chemical indicators are and use pH paper to determine if something is alkaline or basic. In this pH lesson plan students manufacture their own soap.
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Generating Power
Young scholars construct a working model of a turbine and explain how water generates power. By the end of the lesson, they list the effects of Kingsley Dam on people, plans, and animals -- both positive and negative.
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How Plants Help Us Breathe
Third graders discuss how humans breathe and how plants help us to stay alive. In groups, they identify and label the different parts of plants and describe their functions. They compare and contrast the ways plants and animals breathe...
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Me And My Shadow
Students investigate the concept of a shadow. They design a tool to create shadows for an experiment. They make observations and record the size and shape of shadows. The lesson contains background information for the teacher to deliver...
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Basic Needs of Plants
Second graders conduct a plant experiment. In this basic needs of plants lesson, 2nd graders observe plants for two weeks. Students record data from their plants in journals.
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Barrier Islands
Third graders explore how barrier islands work. In this erosion lesson, 3rd graders create barrier islands in stream tables and simulate wave action to see how it affects their island.
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Movement
Students explore experimentation as a method for solving problems. In this movement lesson plan, students observe marbles rolling down a ramp, identify variables that could cause the marble to roll faster or farther, test changing one...
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Discovering Gravity: What Goes Up Must Come Down
Students observe falling objects. In this instructional activity about gravity, students work in groups to determine how objects fall. Students determine speed of objects falling and whether weight is a factor. Students understand the...
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Why is it so hot when I sit next to the window?
Students investigate how energy travels through glass. For this energy usage lesson, students conduct an experiment in which they decide if window film affects how much energy travels through the glass. Students use a journal to make...
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Land Use and Lawmaking in California
Students investigate the laws of using land. In this California Government lesson, students examine the many uses of land in California and find an environmental issue they care about. Students write a letter to a politician...
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The Human Brain
Students identify parts of the human brain. In this biology lesson, students watch a video about the human brain. Students use different colors of clay to construct and label the three parts of the brain.
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Water Cycle Stories
Students create water cycle stories. In this water cycle lesson, students review the parts of the water cycle. They create a story that describes the journey of a water molecule as it makes its way through the cycle and into different...
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The Sun Does What?
Students examine why the sun rises in the east and sets in the west. In this sun lesson, students explore the sunset and shadows. Students prove that the sun's position changes during the day. Students investigate what causes a shadow....
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Water Wonders
Students explore hydrology concepts. In this environment and biology lesson, students identify and describe macroinvertebrates using a variety of pictures and resources. Students observe and write about a classroom aquarium in which...
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Bringing the Solar System to Life
Students walk marked paths as they simulate the orbit of the planets. In this solar system lesson, students recognize the relationship between the sun and the planets. Students visualize how the phases of the moon are seen.