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Cleansing, Sparkling Koos
Students explore the importance of water conservation and investigate how plants clean water.
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A Recipe for Soil
Fourth graders use local materials such as leaves and other plant matter; sand and pebbles to make soil. They plant seeds in the manufactured soil and in natural soil and then observe and record the results.
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Which Word Doesn't Belong?
In this grouping words activity, students explore word meanings. Students are given ten sets of four words and are to determine which word doesn't belong in the group.
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Back to the Farm
Read up on farming and ranching and connect this information to your learners' lives. After reading, send class members home to fill out a family tree and trace their family history, focusing on farming and ranching backgrounds. Once...
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Recycling Garden Waste
Students experience how to make compost. This lesson is ongoing with periodic checks and maintenance. They select a piece of ground around the school or around their homes to establish a compost pile. Organic materials are utilized...
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Working Worms
Students study earthworms and their role in creating healthy soil for healthy food. In this earthworms and soil lesson, students complete an jug experiment to learn about the role of earthworms and healthy soil. Students read and discuss...
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Building an African Compound
Students, in small groups create a model of a compound that might be found in a rural African village. As a class, students orally contribute to a summary paragraph on what they have learned about different forms of shelter found in Africa.
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Nature Notes
Students spend some time outdoors and record their observations of abiotic conditions, geologic surroundings and living organisms. They reflect and write about the experience of being observant in nature.
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Good Guys or Bad Guys
Sixth graders complete a variety of activities to explore both positive and negative effects of microorganisms. They, in groups, engage in a series of experiments which illustrate the effects of certain molds.
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Beautiful Butterflies
Third graders study the life cycle of the butterfly through this series of activities. They create projects, play games, and observe butterfly characteristic that contribute to their survival.
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Energy for Animals
First graders discover how animals depend on other animals for energy. They identify sources of energy in their daily life and describes the actions of nightime and daytime animals. They list sources of food and shelter for specific...
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Little Bloomers: Gardening With Trees
Learners identify the parts of tree flowers. They examine the role they have in pollination. They discuss trees that do not flower as well.
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Soak It Up
Students examine the various materials that make up their local soils. In groups, they record how each material is different and use cheesecloth to filter them into a bottle based on particle size. They use the soils to determine if...
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Wetlands Project
Students discover how wetlands filter out contaminants before they can reach other bodies of water. In groups, they design and build a model of a stormwater wetland. They test the water quality and inform their classmates about the...
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Paper Making
Students make handmade paper. They discuss the history of paper, examine the various methods of making paper, and create the handmade paper using different types of paper, a blender, and water.
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Organic Vessels
Students review the life and work of Andy Goldsworthy. Using this information, they gather organic objects to create their own sailing vessel. They reflect on their artwork and determine what problem their artwork solves.
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An Interdisciplinary Approach to Learning with Walt Whitman
Use poetry as a mode for creating interest and cross discipline learning.
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The Plant Bartering System
Fifth graders explore plant characteristics by viewing a flower and seed presentation. In this environmental adaptation lesson, 5th graders identify specific traits plants have in order to allow them to grow in different climates whether...
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A Botanists View
Students explore plant and seed structure. They dissect a seed and identify its parts. In addition, they explain the function and compare and contrast monocotyledon and dicotlyledons.
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Corn Harvest
Students read Corn Belt Harvest and write sentences about corn's uses. They visit a cornfield and a grain elevator or have guest speakers come to class. They design posters about harvesting or processing corn into grain.
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Prairie Senses
Second graders use their senses to explore a prairie or imaginary prairie. They draw pictures to represent the five senses and discover how an artist describes non-visual sensations in a visual way.
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Now You Have It, Now You Don't
Young scholars compare shipping peanuts made from corn and made from Styrofoam. In this corn based peanuts lesson, students understand why to use eco-friendly materials for packing. Young scholars participate in an experiment to compare...
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Fires and Fire Suppression
Students examine their assumptions about forest fires. They explore the conflicts involved with the forest service's new strategy. in addition, they will study one case where a prescribed natural burn had a significant impact on a later,...