Lesson Plan
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Natural Gardening

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students study the effect of pesticides on plants and insects. In this gardening lesson, students discuss the importance of insects. They define pesticides, evaluate their effectiveness and the problems they might cause. Students...
Lesson Plan
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Baleen Whales vs. Toothed Whales

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders review mammal characteristics and study two types of whales. In this mammal study lesson, 2nd graders discuss mammals and define their five characteristics. Students complete a whale worksheet and define differences...
Lesson Plan
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Field Trip - Marine Science Institute

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students discover the ocean life of the San Francisco Bay. In this ocean lesson plan, students take a Discovery Voyage of the Bay ecosystem through the Marine Science Institute. Also available are inland voyages, ocean labs, and tidepool...
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Comparing and Contrasting

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Students practice compare and contrast skills. In this science and language development lesson, students complete a T chart generating traits of a snail and a clam. Students complete a related worksheet.
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National Worm Survey

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students participate in the National Worm Survey. In this National Worm Survey lesson, students generate data on earthworms. Students submit their data to the online database Worm Watch.
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Oceans and Weather

For Teachers 4th - 9th
Pupils analyze the impact the ocean and its currents have on weather. In this oceans and weather lesson, students analyze data comparing inland and coastal weather, and analyze satellite data for evidence of El Nino.
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Agriculture in Your Life

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Students explore the origins of food and other everyday products around the United States. In this agricultural instructional activity, students learn basic vocabulary and practice matching common items with their agricultural source....
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Make a Rain Stick for Earth Day

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Students construct rain sticks. In this ecology multicultural lesson, students use recyclable items to construct a rainstick. Detailed instructions for making and decorating the rainstick are given.
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Shred a Scarecrow

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Students investigate scarecrows. In this farming lesson, students learn why scarecrows are important and construct their own scarecrow from art materials.
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Ocean Pollution & its Effect on Aquatic Animals

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Students consider the concept of ocean pollution. In this ocean lesson, students participate in a hands-on demonstration in order to replicate an oil spill and its effects on marine life.
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Fur, Feathers and Fins

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Students examine the stages between growing the animal and buying it at the grocery store.  In food system lesson students study the role that animal products have on nutrition and study animal agriculture. 
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The Fastest Pig in the West in the Classroom: Rice in China

For Teachers 1st - 4th
Students explore agriculture by reading a children's book in class. In this Chinese culture lesson, students read a chapter from the book The Fastest Pig in the West and identify the importance of rice in China's economy and culture....
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Opae Obstacles

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students explore the life cycle of shrimp. In this life cycle lesson, students research the different stages of a shrimp's life cycle. Students examine threats to the species in each stage of life.
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Tracking El Nino Conditions

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Students identify major changes in ocean temperatures during an El Nino season.  In this climate activity students complete an Internet assignment using datasets to determine periods of El Nino.
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Remembering Reptiles

For Teachers 1st - 5th
Students will learn to use outlines as a comprehension strategy. Summarization is the most important comprehension strategy, and should be taught to maturing readers. During this lesson learners use the story of a reptile to practice...
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Zoo Welcomes Baby Animals

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Young scholars engage in activities to gain a better understanding of endangered animals. In these animal lessons, students use vocabulary and comprehension skills to gain a better understanding of endangered animals. They also watch...
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Surface Tension

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students view demonstrations that illustrate the surface tension of water. In this properties of water lesson, students observe demonstrations that show how water exhibits surface tension. They explain how the demonstration shows surface...
Lesson Plan
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Great Blobs of Jelly!

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars explain how zoo-plankton have an impact on the global process.  In this ocean zoo-plankton lesson students calculate carbon flux and plankton densities. 
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Outta Gas

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore practical problems that are related to scuba diving.  In this oxygen lesson students complete a lab activity. 
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Let's Get Specific

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore how different species thrive.  For this speciation lesson students research and complete a lab activity.
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Beneath the Sea

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Learners build a model of a submersible that will allow them to explore ballasts and how they operate.  In this hands on lesson students participate in an activity that shows them how to control buoyancy.
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Animal Features

For Teachers 1st - 2nd
Students identify animals to their correct features. In this animal features lesson, students examine the list of animal features and fill in the blank with the animal that matches the feature.
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Beach Litter

For Teachers K - 3rd
Students view a slide show on littering. In this beach litter activity, students view a slide show about littering. Students develop knowledge about how littering harms animals and how to keep the beach clean.
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These Lakes are Great

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students examine the Great Lakes Basin and water conservation. In this Great Lakes and water lesson, students study the location of the lakes before reading the book, The River Ran Wild. They discuss the associated vocabulary and in...