Virginia Department of Education
Ecosystem Dynamics
Searching for an eccentric way to enhance lessons on ecosystems while ensuring pupils remain creative and motivated? Upon viewing The Lorax by Dr. Seuss, designated groups design and construct a pop-up book that depicts the specific ways...
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The Roving Robotic Chemist
Junior oceanographers and underwater geologists describe the four major steps of mass spectrometry. They compete in small groups to simulate the tracking of a deepwater methane plume using imaginary autonomous underwater vehicles. Give...
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Exploring Parts and Wholes
Students explore the concept of parts making up a whole. In this parts and whole lesson, students come to understand that parts of a system must come together in order for the system to work properly. Students investigate items indoors...
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Look at Those Leaves!
Students observe leaves in hands-on ways. As they observe attributes, they will group the leaves according to these attributes and consider any patterns they see emerge. In addition, they will communicate what they have learned about...
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Cost Effective Buying
Students evaluate energy-related purchases. In this consumer awareness lesson plan, students visit an appliance store and rank the products' cost effectiveness by using a mathematical formula.
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Look At Those Leaves!
Students collect, measure and classify leaves. In this inquiry-based sorting and classifying lesson, students look at various types of leaves they have collected and measure them using a standard unit of measurement. Next, they relate...
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Look At Those Leaves!
Students observe, measure, and sort tree leaves. They examine leaves individually, in groups, and in relationship to the entire tree. They become familiar with the seasonal changing of leaves. They realize that these and other changes...
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Postcards From Noah's Ark
Learners complete a research project on a selected animal as the culminating activity on a unit about animals. They write a descriptive postcard sent by the animal as a passenger on Noah's Ark, and with a partner create a PowerPoint...
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Building a Water Clock
Students research water clocks online, investigate how water clocks work, and construct water clock that will keep time accurately for at least two hours without human intervention.
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Virtual Geologic Field Trip to Griffith Park
Students explore the geological processes and research methodology involved in the evolution and development of Griffith Park. They justify the selection of a geologic hypothesis based on observations.
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The Amazon Rain Forest
Fifth graders perform a play about the Amazon Rain Forest. They practice assigned parts and sing a song about the Rain Forest. They create costumes for the characters and discuss the role each character plays. They perform the play...
Sargent Art
Protect Our Marine Life
Encourage water conservation and boost art skills with a hands-on activity that challenges young painters to create a scene highlighting marine life. Using oil pastels, scholars draw an underwater scene and write a tip for viewers to...
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Changes in Matter
Eighth graders, in groups, explain the difference between physical and chemical changes.
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Clouds in a Jar
Fifth graders create a cloud jar so that they can observe that clouds are made of tiny droplets of water. After observing the cloud jar, they record their observations on a worksheet in written form explaining that clouds are made of...
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Extending Human Ability Through Technology
Students explore how technology has been used to enhance human abilities. Using the internet, they watch a short video about prosthetics. They compare and contrast how prosthetics have changed over the years as technology has become...
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Making the World A More Beautiful Place: Earth Day
Students study ways to take care of the environment as part of an Earth Day activity. In this environment lesson, student listen to a read aloud of Barbara Cooney's, Miss Rumphius, before discussing how she works alone but is part of an...
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Butterfly Life Cycle
Students read books about animals and describe their structures, how they grow and change, and their life cycles. In this animals lesson plan, students also make animals out of pasta.
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All About Titan and the Huygens Probe
Students examine the characterisitics of Saturn's largest moon, Titan. They discuss what they think is on Titan and what the Huygens probe can tell them about the moon. They write a summary about the information they gathered during...
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Tall, Dark, and Handsome
Seventh graders determine the characteristics of insect families after comparing human family characteristics. They categorize insects by looking for similar characteristics on image cards.
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Focus on Saturn's Fascinating Features
Students identify and discuss the characteristics of Saturn. They create a book using those characteristics. They also develop diagram to show Saturn and its moons.
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Exploring Molecules
Students explore the process of science by studying and analyzing fundamental biological molecules in this introductory lesson on molecules. The lesson includes a pre-lesson worksheet and a question sheet for final, individual assessment.
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Evolution: Adaptation
Tenth graders practice new skills and apply them. The skills of research should motivate them to want more knowledge. The concept of adaptation is used as a context for the lesson of practicing research skills.
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Watch Over Wild Wanders
Students collect and organize data relating to migratory species and habitats; undertake a habitat action plan, then maintain planting and building projects for continuing benefit to wildlife; understand the unique needs of migratory...
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Polar Biomes
Second graders research the animals, climate, and plant life in both of the Polar regions. They explore a variety of websites and complete a WebQuest. Students complete a chart, view a PowerPoint presentation, and answer true/false...