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Indiana Department of Education

Indiana K-12 Educators’ Resource Toolkit

For Teachers K - 12th Standards
Imagine a tool that magically engages readers in the classroom. A handbook for Indiana educators doesn't guarantee success, but it does offer a variety of strategies for teachers to try. The handbook opens with research-based theory...
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Lesson Plan
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Impacting Indiana

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders explore Indiana. In this Indiana history lesson, 4th graders discuss how Indiana has developed through the years. Students discuss Indiana agriculture and follow a recipe using ingredients from Indiana crops. Students view...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

OF SUNSETS, SOULS AND SENSES: Science, Scientific Methods, Natural and Supernatural

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students explore the realm and limits of science. Engages students to give examples of topics that can be studied by science, and those that cannot. This also takes a examine descriptive terms, which reflect the true nature of modern...
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Science Giants

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders research about the work and accomplishments of their chosen scientist. In this life science instructional activity, 5th graders explore how to become one. They prepare a presentation and share it with the class.
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Science to Build On

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students examine how professionals use science to solve practical problems.  In this scientific process students divide into groups and complete a class activity on building strategies.
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Exploring Indiana's Natural Resources

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders complete a variety of activities as they study the European exploration of the Midwest, focusing on Indiana. They map the path explorers took, comparing the British with the French. They research why the explorers stopped...
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Lesson Plan
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Factors That Shaped Indiana

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders construct a model of Indiana which displays the effects of the glacial period on the state's physical structure. Students work in groups to plan and execute their model based on an established rubric.
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Science in the News

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students explore science in the news through articles, magazines, and internet news sites. They select articles, read them and summarize them to identify the audience that would care about their topics. As they present their articles...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Evidence of Photosynthesis

For Teachers 7th
Hands on science is the way to go! Learners conduct a lab experiment to help them explain how plants make food through photosynthesis. They test for the presence of starch in leaves using iodine solution and identify the basic things...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Penguins Around the World

For Teachers K - 5th
Young scholars investigate penguins. In this Science lesson, students compare and contrast penguins to flying birds. Young scholars use a Venn diagram to illustrate the differences and similarities of penguins and flying birds.
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Lesson Plan
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Agriculture, Weather, Economy and Indiana

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders, in groups, investigate the role of weather in Indiana's farming economy. They make a prediction as to weather and its effect on the economy of Indiana. They present their data using a media presentation of data...
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Trash Inventions

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders develop a plan to recycle trash. In this environmental science lesson, 2nd graders sketch their invention and construct it. They present the final product in class.
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Lesson Plan
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Particulate Matter

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders examine the different types of pollutants. In this environmental science lesson, 7th graders observe particulate matter under a microscope. They explain how these can affect once health when breathed in large quantities...
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Lesson Plan
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Greek Prefixes In Science

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders look into their science textbooks to find words that utilize the Greek prefixes, "anti," "epi," "endo," and "micro." Student pairs complete a worksheet embedded in the plan where they list as many of these words as they can.
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Lesson Plan
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Indianapolis 500 Unit-Science

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders access prior knowledge of simple machines to build a car. In this car design activity, 4th graders create and race their cars.  Students evaluate what was good and bad about their designs. Each car will incorporate a...
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Lesson Plan
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Getting Here from There

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students role-play early 20th century immigrants on their way to Indiana. They consider the methods of travel available to them and write a letter to a friend outlining their travel plans and adventures during the trip.
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Indiana Ice Investigations

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders create a model of the formation of Indiana by glaciers. Working in groups with appropriate materials, they create a model documenting how glaciers moved through the land and formed the geological structure and land masses...
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Geological Development of Indiana and the Movement of Peoples Across the State

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders examine the geological development of the state of Indiana. Using the internet, they interact with the United States Geological Survey. They identify earthquake zones and energy resources in the state. They work...
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Lesson Plan
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Geological Development of Indiana and the Movement of Peoples Across the State

For Teachers 1st - 5th
Students are introduced to the geological development of the state of Indiana. Using the internet, they visit the U.S. Geological Survey and locate the earthquake zones in the state. In groups, they locate and identify the energy...
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Lesson Plan
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Mystery Boxes: Uncertainty and Collaboration

For Teachers 8th - 11th
Students manipulate boxes with unknown internal structure and contents to become familiar with the concept of uncertainty in science.
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Lesson Plan
National Institute of Food and Agriculture

Water Supply

For Teachers 3rd - 5th Standards
Participate in three activities that look at the earth's limited water supply and the changes water goes through as it enters each phase of the water cycle. The resource is complete with three activities that demonstrate the changing...
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Lesson Plan
Agriculture in the Classroom

Wad-a-Watershed

For Teachers 3rd - 5th Standards
What kind of impact do humans have on watersheds? Find out in a lesson that defines, explores, and promotes ways to protect our watersheds. The ultimate goal of the lesson is for learners to discover how a watershed is impacted by...
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Lesson Plan
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What About Cantaloupes?

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders investigate the physical properties of cantaloupe using their senses. In this life science instructional activity, 2nd graders estimate the weight of their sample. They get it's actual weight and compare it with their...
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Lesson Plan
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What on Earth?

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders investigate the different living and nonliving things they can find on Earth. In this life science activity, 2nd graders record their observations as they dig into the soil. They examine them under the magnifying glass and...