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Machines: Designing Form and Function
Students design a boat model with simplified steam engine. In this ecology lesson, students compare renewable and nonrenewable energy sources. They determine the efficiency of their boat model.
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Asexual versus Sexual Reproduction
Students explore reproduction. They research organisms and groups of organisms to determine whether they reproduce sexually or asexually. In addition, they determine the organism's habitat.
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Oil Spills
Third graders examine the San Francisco oil spill and the effects it has had. In this investigative lesson students view a demonstration on oil clean up and how it works. They see how wildlife is rehabilitated, how the oil is...
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Is Your Water Clean?
Students compare water quality of different sources. They test water samples for odor, phosphates, pH, bacteria, and dissolved solids. they fill out a data table and answer questions about their findings.
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Biosphere
Learners examine the basic biosphere and its components. In this ecology lesson students complete several experiments including designing a system that is balanced to sustain life.
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Corrosion & Rust
Students examine how and when rust and corrosion occur. In this corrosion lesson students complete an experiment to see why metals rust.
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National Park Project
Students develop a descriptive and informative brochure for a National Park. They focus on the history and geology of the park, environmental concerns, and visitor actions that could eliminate the environmental concerns.
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Com-Post With Us? Learn About Recycling While Having Fun
Students examine the importance of recycling to help the environment. In groups, they make a compost bin on the school grounds recording how the material changes from week to week. They collect other materials for recycling like cell...
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Permeability and Porosity of Somerset County Sediments
Students predict and test the permeability and porosity of sediments in Somerset County, New Jersey. They discuss what how porous they think the sediment of HMS grounds is and why. Students walk around the HMS campus and collect six...
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Porosity
Students predict and test the porosity of sediments with particles of different sizes. They name two objects that they think has pores. Students define the term porosity and pores. They comprehend that an aquifer is the porous rock...
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Plasmolysis in Elodea Plant Cells
Young scholars microscopically observe various subcellular components. They determine the effects of different salt solutions on Elodea plant cells. Students explain the major function of a cell membrane and describe its structure.
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Cave Formation Age Estimation
Students investigate growth rates of flowstone formations. They view a virtual field trip and discuss how flowstones form. They observe the cave fieldtrip and predict the growth rate for a cave formation. They graph growth rates and...
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Soil Analysis Lesson Plan
Students practice calculating density and examine examples of the physical characteristics of soil. They solve a "crime" based on the evidence and laboratory investigations.
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Which Household Cleaners or Soaps Work Best Against Bacteria?
Students experiment to determine the efficacy of various household cleaning products and soaps as antibacterial agents. They work in groups to complete this four part lesson series which includes identifying household bacteria,...
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Analysis of Lobster Claw Function. An Exercise in Biomechanics
Students observe two chelae. They write three differences they observe in their notebooks. Students suggest a hypothesis which would explain these differences. They dissect the chela. Students analyze the lobster claw as a mechanical lever.
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Wacky Water Critters
Learners visit a local creek or stream. They collect water samples from the creek and observe and sort the "water critters" they find in the sample, observing smaller organisms under a microscope if necessary. They identify each organism...
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Diversity of Life
Students study fungi and its characteristics. In this fungi lesson students collect and observe fungi then answer questions on what they saw.
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Glucose Factory
Fourth graders determine, through laboratory activity, the presence or absence of glucose in a variety of plant leaves and stems. They work in groups and perform a three part laboratory which shows them how plants convert sunlighht to food.
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Biotechnology Projects and Writing Assignments
High schoolers research a subject about biotechnology and do a project or a writing assignment on it. They can pick from a possible eighteen different projects and five different writing projects.
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Species Diversity and Phylogeny
Students explore the classification system of organisms: taxonomy. They examine prepared slides of Protozoans and record information on a Taxonomy Recording Sheet. Two additional classifying activities are also included in this...
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Plant Classification
Young scholars share with the class how they think plants are classified and are assessed on their prior knowledge. They use a packet to complete throughout the week at their own pace, which includes various activities to familiarize...
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Pond Life Identification Kit
Young scholars explore ecology and biodiversty. They use the wet-mount procedure to make several slides to view using the microscope and draw what they see.
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Digital Wildflower Collection
Students examine biodiversity and classify organisms. In this wildflower lesson students go out and take pictures of plants then create a presentation to show the class.
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Carbon Dioxide Heats It Up
Learners design an investigation to test whether vegetation in an area helps regulate the ambient air temperature. They make comparisons between the investigation and global changes in climate. In groups, they present their findings to...