Lesson Plan
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Plants and the Water Cycle

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students study the role of plants in recycling water by collecting water vapor that is emitted, or transpired, by green plant leaves. They collect and measure the water that transpires through the tiny pores of plant leaves. Afterwards,...
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A Phylogenetic Perspective for the Cladistically Challenged

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students observe the structures of skulls as presented in drawings, and determine which are most closely related to the skull of the mosasaur.
Lesson Plan
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A Model Aquifer

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students build a model that depicts how water is stored in an aquifer. They examine ways in which groundwater can become contaminated.
Lesson Plan
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Flight

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students are introduced to the four forces of flight--drag, lift, thrust, and weight--through a variety of fun-filled flight experiments. They "fly" for short periods and evaluate factors that might either increase or decrease their...
Lesson Plan
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How Plants Help Us Breathe

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders discuss how humans breathe and how plants help us to stay alive. In groups, they identify and label the different parts of plants and describe their functions. They compare and contrast the ways plants and animals breathe...
Lesson Plan
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Get- To Know Mammals

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students take a field trip and record information about mammals. In this mammals lesson, students hunt for tracks, waste, or other evidence that a mammal exists in this habitat. Students complete a worksheet on the evidence they have found.
Lesson Plan
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Demonstrating Moon Phases

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders participate in a demonstration of the moon's phases. In this moon phase lesson, 3rd graders watch as the teacher demonstrates moon phases with a bright light and a Styrofoam ball. They answer questions associated with the...
Lesson Plan
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Plankton / Phytoplankton

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers discuss the importance of plankton in the ocean ecosystem. In this biology lesson, students identify the different types plankton by observing them under the microscope. They explain how plankton population affect global...
Lesson Plan
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Follow the Sun

For Teachers 4th - 7th
Students use a simple model of the Earth and Sun as seen from space to explore the sun's apparent movement across the sky over the course of a day and year. They consider the apparent direction of movement and changes in the sun's angle.
Lesson Plan
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CONVECTION

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers experiment to produce a visual convection current in the classroom and compare it to the images taken of convection cells in the Sun. They analyze the source of the Sun's energy and this type of energy transport.
Lesson Plan
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Paleontology: A Field Experience

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Young scholars go to a dig where they prospect for bones which simulate fossils. They encase the bones in plaster and transport them back to school for further investigation.
Lesson Plan
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The Motion of Molecules in Water

For Teachers 4th - 7th
Students observe the motion of water molecules using food coloring. In this molecule movement lesson plan, students observe motion in hot, cold and room temperature colored water and record observation data on record sheets. Then write a...
Lesson Plan
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Rocket Angles

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders create rockets that be launched at varying angles to determine which angle is best to launch at for the longest distance.
Lesson Plan
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Earth's Journey Around the Sun

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders examine how the angle of the sun's rays is a factor in determining the seasons. They watch a teacher demonstration of the concepts and write a paragraph demonstrating their understanding.
Lesson Plan
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Student Meteorologists

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Young scholars complete a unit about weather and meteorology. They read the book "The Big Storm," use weather equipment, view local weather reports, and create a weather forecast that is videotaped and presented to a younger class.
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Ladybugs

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders keep and report records of investigations and observations of ladybugs utilizing tools like journals, charts, graphs and computers. They discover and study the life cycle of ladybugs and complete a KWL chart about ladybugs.
Lesson Plan
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Animals In Winter

For Teachers K - 2nd
Young scholars read story Animals in Winter, and explore similarities and differences in how humans and other animals prepare for survival in winter. Students create class book that compares and illustrates different ways humans and...
Lesson Plan
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Watersheds and Wetlands

For Teachers 4th - 9th
Students discuss the idea of a watershed. They build models of watersheds using paper and observe what happens to their models when it "rains". In addition, they build a second watershed to compare watersheds with wetlands to those without.
Lesson Plan
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Properties of Matter (Biomaterial Through Nanotechnology)

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Learners investigate friction between different surfaces. In this physics lesson, students research biomaterials that can reduce friction. They calculate efficiency using a mathematical formula.
Handout
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First Land Plants Found on Earth

For Students 8th - 10th
In this first land plants worksheet, students read about the major events that allowed plants to evolve on Earth. Students read about the primary and secondary atmospheres, the formation of the ozone layer to protect from UV light and...
Lesson Plan
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Get to Know Trees

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Students recognize the characteristics of trees by using their five senses. In this trees lesson, students observe and record the characteristics of trees on a field trip. Students then are blindfolded and use their senses to identify...
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Seeds, Miraculous Seed

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Students investigate relationships between plants and animals and how living things change during their lives. In this life cycle lesson, students split different types of seeds apart to see the beginning life stages of future plants.
Lesson Plan
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Planting Pumpkins

For Teachers Pre-K - 4th
Learners plant pumpkins. In this agriculture lesson, students use pumpkin seeds, mulch, and shovels to plant seeds from a pumpkin. Learners observe the changes during each season.
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Middle Ages Timeline

For Teachers 6th - 10th
Students research a historical figure from the Middle Ages.  In this Middle Ages instructional activity, students present important events of their characters life and of the time.  Students write a time card for each...