Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Fossil Inferences

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders use their knowledge about fossils to arrange fossil pictures in sequence from oldest to youngest. They explain how fossils can be used to make inferences about past life, climate, geology, and environments and discover...
Lesson Plan
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How Do You Know A Panther Was Here?

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Students research the signs that panthers leave. In this panther track lesson, students conduct Internet research into the signs that panthers leave such as tracks, scat, scrapes, and scratches. They make a three-dimensional poster using...
Lesson Plan
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Reaching Across Borders In Southern Africa

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Young scholars gain a greater understanding of how political borders impact human and environmental development. Then, either individually or as a class, establish a correspondence with a Peace Corps volunteer working in Africa.
Lesson Plan
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The Earth Moves Under My Feet

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students study earthquakes, monitor seismic activity using the Web, and plot real-time activity. They examine movement of the Earth's tectonic plates. They create an earthquake preparedness project.
Lesson Plan
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How To Make a Mummy

For Teachers 3rd - 7th
Students explore the process of mummification through a British website. They read about why the process began and how it is done. They can follow along in the process in how to make a mummy as well.
Lesson Plan
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Get Ready to Rumble

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students use the Internet to examine earthquakes. They discover the theory of tectonic plates and analyze faults throughout the world. They also examine the science of seismology to explain how earthquakes are measured.
Lesson Plan
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Tornadoes

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers examine the characteristics of a tornado. They practice using new vocabulary and participate in a question and answer session. They use the internet to gather more specific information.
Lesson Plan
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Oil Spill

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students explore an important role of environmental engineers by studying the Exxon Valdez oil spill. They experiment with different strategies in order to clean up their own manufactured oil spill.
Lesson Plan
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Flambe Elements

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders discuss atoms and electrons as well as atoic structure. They view atomic structure via the computer. Students watch a demonstration in which the teacher demonstrates glass tubing turning yellow in a Bunsen Burner flame....
Lesson Plan
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Three D Constellations

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers address a major misconception in astronomy, the understanding of scale. The lesson is designed to introduce students to both celestial coordinates and to the first rung on the distance determination ladder, parallax.
Lesson Plan
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Cloud in the Classroom

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students watch a video about wild stallions and conduct research about wild horses and wildlife photography. Students explore the relationships between animals and humans and conduct Internet research about the treatment of wild horses...
Lesson Plan
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When Clay speaks

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Learners listen as the teacher reads "When Clay Sings," by Byrd Taylor. They discuss clay, and view a variety of clay items. Students watch a video clip "Interests in One of a Kind Pots." They watch a demonstration on working with clay....
Lesson Plan
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Digging Detectives

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students experience exploring an archaeological site utilizing various archaeological methods and techniques to help them synthesize multiple aspects of past life and culture to today. They explore what an archaeologist can learn from an...
Interactive
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Max Planck Study Questions

For Students 7th - 12th
In this online interactive history worksheet, students respond to 10 short answer and essay questions about the accomplishments of Max Plank. Students may check some of their answers on the interactive worksheet.
Lesson Plan
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'O'opu Life Cycle

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Students investigate the life cycle of the 'o'opu also known as Hawaiian gobies.  In this amphidromous living lesson, students discuss the reproductive cycle, create props and an obstacle course to demonstrate the importance of the...
Lesson Plan
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Endangered Species !: Why Are Species Endangered?

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students explore the various issues and problems faced by endangered species globally. They research the plight of endangered species, create a poster of a selected animal, and present their poster and research to the class.
Lesson Plan
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Environment: The River Classroom

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders engage in hands-on experiments and activities dealing with rivers and greenways. They also observe lectures and demonstrations by experts in water and river restoration. Students and teachers participate in canoe trips...
Lesson Plan
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The Greatest Show on Earth: The World's Smallest Animals

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Young scholars create instruments to capture different types of insects. In this The Greatest Show on Earth: The World's Smallest Animals instructional activity, students compare the attributes of certain insects and record the data on a...
Lesson Plan
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Crinoids: Flowers f the Iowa Seas

For Teachers 3rd - 12th
Students study the rocks and fossils associated with the geologic landscape of Iowa. In this rocks and fossils lesson, students examine fossils that would be found in the Iowa landscape that show evidence of marine invertebrates such as...
Lesson Plan
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Candy Bar Subsurface Geology

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students are introduced to drawing and interpreting topographical maps. They each cut through there Jell-o mountain at regular height intervals, and trace around the shape of the Jell-o cut off at the height, overlaying the different...
Lesson Plan
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Mud Fossils

For Teachers K - 4th
Students observe real fossils. In this science lesson, students make their own mud fossils by pressing material into the mud and letting it dry in the sun for 3-4 days. Students then get the fossils out displaying their mud...
Lesson Plan
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Fire Escape

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students explore the effects of the volcanic eruption of Nyiragongo in Congo as a springboard to exploring past examples of volcanic eruptions and their respective relief efforts.
Lesson Plan
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Weather Map

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders utilize several different types of maps to forecast weather conditions specific areas of the country. Air masses, wind, cloud types, fronts, and the pH of the rain is explored in this lesson.
Worksheet
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Ecology

For Students 4th - 6th
In this ecology activity, students read information about ecology and the nine ecology subdivisions and answer comprehension questions. Students answer ten questions in this matching and fill in the blank activity.