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Biodegradability
Students study the effects of water, salt water and heat on common household materials. They separate an emulsion and show that the materials are completely recoverable and observe the effect of acetone and water on polystyrene.
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Water Density and Salinity
Learners observe how different water densities control the depth at which different water masses occur. They explain one fact that they comprehend about salt water. Students comprehend that temperature and salinity affect the density...
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Salt Water vs. Fresh Water
Students explore why the oceans do not freeze. They explain why they think the Atlantic Ocean does not freeze. Students are given background information about what they are doing. They create a hypothesis about what they believe...
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How Trashy Are You?
Students determine the amount of trash a teenager produces. In this environmental lesson, students use a garbage bag to collect trash during a twenty-four hour period. Students weigh their bags at the end of the twenty-four hours.
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Photographical Ecology
Young scholars study organisms and the roles they play in nature. In this ecology instructional activity, students photograph several examples of organisms during a nature walk. Young scholars print out their photos and classify the...
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Candy Chemosynthesis
Young scholars explain chemosynthesis and photosynthesis using candy. In this chemosynthesis lesson, students work cooperatively to create a visual explanation of the chemical equations of photosynthesis and chemosynthesis.
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Teaching about the Effect of Photosynthesis and
High schoolers demonstrate the effects of photosynthesis and respiration. They decide which variables to analyze in a microcosm study. They produce a written paper, oral presentation, poster, or multi-media presentation
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Dripping Wet or Dry as a Bone?
Students use a sponge and water model to explore the concept of relative humidity and create a percent scale. They define humidity and saturation, build a simple humidity/saturation model, collect, predict and interpret data, and create...
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Acids and Bases: Together again!
Students identify principles behind acid-base reactions. They predict factors that may affect an acid-base reaction. Students identify questions and concepts that guide scientific investigations.
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Return Of The Living Dead
Students research endangered animal species that have 'beaten the odds' as they continue to survive longer than scientists had expected. They write individual pages for a class book about endangered species.
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Insects Are Helpful!
Students see that insects do lots good and are very valuable to humans and nature. This is part of an ongoing effort to dispel fears of insects. They rotate through a series of centers that have examples of how insects contribute to our...
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Biodiversity Study -- A Unit Study
Students sample a site with low human impact, one with moderate human impact, and a third with high human impact. Students chart the data for each site and then compare the sites and discuss.
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An Introduction to Sensors
Students research the International System (SI) of units of measurements. They make measurements using the metric system. They study key concepts used in building and use of sensors, how sensors work and their role in measuring...
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Introduction to Friction
Students study the properties of the frictional force between two surfaces in contact. They inspect various phenomena in nature where friction plays an important role and demonstrate
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Hypothermia: Temperature Changes Under Varying Conditions
Students conduct an experiment to determine what type of clothing would be most suitable for outdoor activities. They determine the temperature changes of the skin under various wet clothing materials and graph the temperature changes. ...
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Caldecott Tunnel
Students visit the Caldecott Tunnel. They examine dark brown basalt and the gray-green sedimentary rocks and draw picture of the rock layers in the cliff face. In addition, they write a short paragraph describing what you observe about...
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Yuckiest Site on the Internet
Students investigate the worm and the cockroach. For this organisms lesson, students visit suggested websites to identify the characteristics of worms and cockroaches. Students dissect a worm and observe a live cockroach. Students...
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Dust in the Wind
Students investigate causes and effects of droughts by participating in a simulation 'town hall meeting.' Acting as community members, students make informed decisions to help a town and its surrounding areas suffering effects of a...
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Native Species Restoration and its Impact on Local Populations
Students explore how predators help control the growth of prey species for a more balanced ecosystem.
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Can Acid and Bases Remedy the Body?
Students experiment with acids and bases using technology-based "probe-ware", computers, and household products in this exciting biology/chemistry lesson. The lesson was written for an advanced 6th grade class.
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Plants: Scattering Seeds
Students collect and microscopically examine seeds from the school yard and neighborhood. In small groups, they draw and discuss the shapes of the seeds to determine each plant's method of dispersal. they also test two types of seeds...
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Graphing Toad/ Frog Respiration
Students measure respiratory rates on live toads, and the effect water temperature has on their findings. In this scientific method lesson plan, students record their findings and present them in a graph, comparing the results.
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Seed Dispersion of Strawberries and Dandelions
Students investigate how seeds are dispersed on land. In this plant biology lesson, students use a dissecting microscope to study strawberry seeds and dandelion seeds, they draw what they see, then create a hypothesis on the seeds...
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Machines: Designing Form and Function
Students design a boat model with simplified steam engine. In this ecology instructional activity, students compare renewable and nonrenewable energy sources. They determine the efficiency of their boat model.