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Diseases
Sixth graders create a type of notebook or journal using colored copy paper on which to take notes. They complete research on a certain disease and report on it and then design their own disease causing bacteria or virus. Finally, 6th...
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Rotten Truth
Students complete activities to study decomposition. In this decomposition lesson, students work in pairs to observe a decay buffet experiment. Students keep compost bag journals. Students define and discuss the process of decomposition.
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Primary Biological Content Area Covered
Students use the scientific method to make predictions about mold growth. In this fungus lesson plan, students use worksheets to help them illustrate predictions and graph mold growth from white to wheat bread. Students first...
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Moldy Jell-O
Students design an experiment to determine the best conditions for molds growth. In this biology lesson, students collect data for a week and analyze their findings. They create a presentation and share them with the class.
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Mushroom Prints
Students create a mushroom spore design on paper while studying the facts on fungi.
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Fossil Impressions of Ancient Life
Students make a mold using Plaster of Paris and then make a cast using that same mold. They pick a fossil and describe how it looks. They write a fictionalized story about its life, or burial. (
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Food Pesticides and Their Risks to Children
Students examine an industrial disaster in India which affected the food for generations to come. In groups, they research the history of pesticides and place them into groups based on the type of pests they control. They partcipate in...
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Water Molds (Oomycetes)
Students explore a group of fungus-like organisms; the Oomycetes, by baiting them from natural sources (water and soil) and observing them.
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Forest Decomposition
Young scholars explore decomposition. Students define and describe components of the decomposition process. Young scholars make a composter in a terrarium. Students record observations and changes weekly, drawing conclusions about...
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What Is the Nature of Science?
Young scholars distinguish between scientific and everyday meanings of key words-theory, hypothesis, law, fact-and use in context. They recognize the variables that affect observation, data collection, and interpretation. They discover...
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Living or Non-Living
Students examine living and non-living things. In this life science lesson, students are given a group of objects and discuss if they are living or non-living. Students identify and list characteristics of living things.
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Moisture Lesson Plan
Students investigate the effects of moisture and dampness on homes, clothing, and mold growth. In this moisture lesson, students discuss which certain cities are damper than others based on location and geography. They talk about the...
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What's That Brown Fuzzy Stuff On My Plum?
High schoolers examine Koch's Postulates by actually using them. They perform each of the required four steps to show that the brown fuzzy fungus they see growing on stone fruit (plums, peaches, nectarines, cherries) is what causes them...
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Fungal History
Young scholars identify different types of fungi. They discuss how mushrooms are used in American culture and research an issue about a type of fungi. They share their information with the class.
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What is Life?
Students investigate the characteristics of living things. For this life science lesson, students examine several living and non-living specimens. Students determine which things are living and non-living.
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Food-Borne Illnesses
Use this lesson to have your charges consider the differences between food spoilage and food-borne illnesses including the differentiation of food infections and food intoxication, including characteristics of each. Some excellent...
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Backyard Bugs
Explore the concept of scientific classification and the similarities and differences between plant and animal species. Your class will participate in hands-on activities by investigating dichotomous keys and classifying their shoes. To...
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Microorganisms: Good Guys or Bad Guys?
Students discover the role microorganisms play in our lives. In this decomposition lesson plan, students examine decaying foods and plants in order to analyze the different bacteria that grows. Students discuss the good and bad of...
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Science Processes
Fifth graders observe a dry piece of bread and a damp piece of bread in two separate sealed bags that have been sitting for several days that have been labeled. The observe the mold with a hand lens and record findings in their science...
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EPA Pesticides Reduction
Learners examine the effects of pesticides on the environment and bugs. They answer questions as an assessment.
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Honey Bee Biology
Students review the basic parts of an insect and explore the anatomical characteristics of a honey bee. The second part of the lesson focuses on ways to identify a honey bee from other stinging insects.
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Ride the Wild Leaf Cycle
Fourth graders complete a worksheet. In this life cycle lesson plan, 4th graders learn about the leaf cycle and complete a worksheet where they put the leaf cycle steps in the correct order.
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Vocabulary: Kansas Prairies
Students explore the ecosystem by reviewing scientific vocabulary terms. In this environmental awareness lesson, students identify the differences between abiotic and biotic factors and their relationship to the Earth. Students define...
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Cavern Life: The Food Web
Students explain the importance of elements on a food web. They realize that without light there can be no life. They perform various activities based on grade level.