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Stay Well Cards
Students draw pictures of things that help them stay healthy such as brushing teeth and washing hands. They write healthy ideas on their pictures. They post the pictures at home and in the classroom as reminders to stay healthy.
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The Numbers Game
Students examine how to calculate the part-per-million and part-per-billion units used to measure contaminant concentrations in the environment. They calculate ratios, take a quiz, analyze a sample chemical spill, and determine if...
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Observation and Discovery
Students explore the basic skills guiding sound scientific invvestigation and methodology. They are introduced to a powerful scientific tool-the microscope. Students review the parts of the microscope. They discuss the inventor of the...
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Snowball Soap
Students create their own soap sculptures and take them home to use. They gradually add water to soap flakes until they are a consistency that can be molded. They mix the concoction with their hands and then sculpt the "snow" into...
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Got Biodiversity?
Students examine the concept of biodiversity. Using the internet, they complete small activities in which they work together. Using the information they collected, they create a class book, make murals and write in their journals.
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Don’t be a Stoic about Stoichiometry
Young scholars review balancing chemical equations. In this chemistry lesson, students calculate moles of an unknown substance based on stoichiometric relationships in the balanced equation. They cite applications of stoichiometry...
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Composting -- Nature's Disappearing Act
Studenst work together to discover the concept of biodegradability. They build a model of a landfill and how different items decompose. They examine how engineers use this information for better waste management.
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What's Hiding in the Air?
Fifth graders conduct experiments to study the effects of invisible air pollutants including one with a bean plant. They examine methods of invisible air pollutants.
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Who Needs What?
Learners identify the physical needs of animals and if plants need the same things as animals. They conduct an experiment to see if plants need light and water to grow. They compare the growth of the plants exposed to the different...
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The Great Spider Debate
Students study about the survival and hunting strategies of several different kinds of spiders. They also be introduced to scientific classification of spiders and write a brief report about one of the spider families they observe.
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Bioremediation
Pupils design and conduct investigations that illustrate the effect bioremediation has on organic matter and determine environmental applications. They, in groups, present their findings to the class.
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Solid Waste
Students examine how to use their vocabulary, writing skills, and creative thinking to address environmental concerns in this unit. They write messages to using creative writing to address the issues of solid waste and recycling.
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Sodium Bentonite Swelling Index
Students research the effects of sodium bentonite being combined with water. They discuss the reasons why this chemical is used in landfills. They measure the swelling index of sodium bentonite clay.
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Birds of Different Feathers: Species Specialization
Students identify differences in bird species and explain the concept of species specialization. They attain the knowledge that different birds occupy different habitats.
Students identify characteristics and features of birds that make...
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Erupting Volcano
Fourth graders watch teacher conduct the following experiment. Wearing safety goggles and old clothing is advised. The experiment could ruin clothing and hurt unprotected eyes. Follow the steps below having students write down what they...
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Fishing gear
Students investigate he fishing gear and techniques utilized by commercial fishers in Magdalena Bay. They determine the ecological impacts of different fishing techniques.
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Geology/Earth Structure
Third graders examine the rock-soil cycle. They identify the steps and describe what happens. They also discover the three layers of soil.
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Fuel Cells
Students examine how fuel cells and combustion engines work. Using the internet, they research the positives and negatives of the various energy sources. In groups, they complete an experiment with a working fuel cell model and take a...
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Looking at the Community Tree
Third graders review the characteristics of living and nonliving organisms. As a class, they observe a tree and describe the interactions between the living and nonliving organisms surrounding it. To end the lesson, they ask a question...
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The Wildland/Urban Interface Dilemma
Students examine all sides of the issues surrounding wildland fire. Groups assume the roles of different people who must decide what to do about a fictitious wildfire. They have a discussion to analyze the issue. A good, real life lesson!
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Machines: Useful But Dangerous
First graders study, observe, and use a simple machine. They study necessary safety and review posted safety rules related to using a machine and identify strategies for reporting any accidents or injuries.
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All I Want for Christmas is a Nice, Clean Earth
Pupils observe properties of items, determine time it takes for organic/inorganic items to decompose, identify differences/similarities between decomposition, identify practical uses in litter/garbage control, & establish reasons for...
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The Opposable Thumb
Learners explore the physical importance of the opposable thumb among primates. They discover which of their simplest daily activities are possible only because of their opposable thumbs.
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Shrink to Fit
Third graders review the characteristics of living and non-living organisms. After viewing a transparency of a forest scene, they complete a worksheet to identify what would be needed to make a small model of the forest having the same...