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Ecosystems Online
Students work together to gather information on ecosystems from websites. They identify plants and animals and create their own website. They are graded on their willingness to work together and the content on the website.
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Identification of Wildfire/Structure Interfaces, Risk Assessment of Structures, and Risk Management
Students participate in a class discussion about wildfire and urban interfaces as well as risk of wildfire in the area in which they live. After reviewing a wildfire/urban interface fire safety checklist, a walking field trip is...
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Biological and Cultural Diversity of a Latin American Country
Students conduct an 8 hour Annual Summit Meeting on the Cultural and Biological Diversity of a Latin American Country. They construct a Rainforest, coffee and banana plantations, and a street scene of a typical large city.
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Amazing Bird Adaptions--Why Am I A Bird?
Fourth graders identify and classify birds found in Illinois. Using the internet, they discover how birds have adapted over time and how the adaptations have increased their life span. They compare and contrast the various adaptations...
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Turtle Hurdles
Students participate in a simulation in which they discover the threats to sea turtles throughout the world. In groups, they act out the life cycle of a sea turtle and describe the stresses that threaten their survival. As a class,...
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Estimating Loggerhead Hatchling Gender Ratios
Young scholars study sea turtles and the concept of temperature-dependent sex determination (TSD). Using a specific set of temperature data, they determine the probable sex of a nest of sea turtle hatchlings and then determine the...
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Landfill Lounge
Students accurately construct a model of a sanitary landfill and identify the parts of the landfill and explain their function. They work in grous using a clear plastic box, modeling clay, soil and a variety of garbage to create their...
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It's All in the Air
Students examine air quality. They test the air for visible pollutants by observing jars for one week and compare and contrast the data they collect. After comparing and contrasting the data, they graph the results of pollution...
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Posters and People
Middle schoolers create and design posters reflecting the types of litter harmful to aquatic wildlife. They explain the dangers of fishing line to aquatic wildlife, plastic bags to dolphins, and fish nets to fish. They design a poster...
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Hatching Brine Shrimp
Third graders investigate the environment that is considered favorable for brine shrimp hatching. The salinity level is of particular interest in the observations because the optimum level is needed for survival. They make daily...
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"pH and the Environment"
Eighth graders experiment and study about acids and bases by becoming involved in direct hands-on learning experiences and then relate those experiences to their own lives. They experience the Ohio River and what can be done to help...
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Mellowing With Age, A Closer Look
Students realize that aging is a "natural, continuous process" and develop sensitivity to the needs, desires, and capabilities of the elderly by interviewing elderly community members and photographing age related things.
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What Kind Of Research Should Our Government Support?
Learners are assigned to research review groups, which have to decide which of the proposals to fund. The teacher then leads a discussion focusing on the ethical issues raised in the reasons given for each group's decisions.
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What's Gotten Into You?
Students use models to investigate the process and consequences of water contamination on the land, groundwater, and plants.
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Biome Exchange: Send the Stuff Not The Kids
Young scholars exchange information with students from various geographic biomes. They explore the unique ecologically significant features of the biomes and share with other young scholars.
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Investigating Endangered Species
Students pick an endangered animal to research and report their findings to the class.
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Florida Springs
Students discover the many uses of water and the sources of the water we see. They complete a worksheet about the water usage at school and at home.
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Nebraska Rocks & The Rock Cycle
Students study the rock cycle and relate it to rocks that are indigenous to Nebraska. Students collect rocks and draw a diagram of the rock cycle using their collection.
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Out of the City and Into the Soup
High schoolers examine the issue of air pollution. They read and analyze an article, evaluate the responses of state and federal officials to the problem, conduct Internet research, and write a letter to their senator and congressman.
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Get Your Butt off the Beach!
Students participate in a Beach Field Study in which the analyze the affect pollution is having on beaches and the animals that live there. Students focus specifically on the damage cigarette butts are causing on the environment.
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Language Arts: Investigating Issues That Matter
Students are able to become more informed about the dangers of water contamination by sharing their prior knowledge with each other. They discover the importance of communicating these dangers to the public.
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The Everglades
Young scholars research the Everglades. In this Everglades instructional activity, students select an animal or plant to research and work collaboratively in small groups to prepare a presentation.
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Trash Or Treasure
Learners investigate the concept of garbage and define how it may be useful for people. The consumption of products is estimated to predict the annual volume of garbage for a household. Then students attempt to create a treasure made...
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Upcycled Garment or Art Work
Students explain the importance of recycling waste products. In this art lesson plan, students research different upcycled fashion designs and accessories. They design their own product and present it in class.