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Water Unit
Students make boats and race them. In this physics instructional activity, students investigate surface tension, molecules, and cohesion by competing in a class race with their boats. Students experiment with liquid soap to see how much...
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Severe Weather
Ninth graders investigate the cause and effect of severe weather. In this Earth Science lesson, 9th graders use a learning contract and a rubric to develop a presentation about severe weather.
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Bats and Hot Dogs
Students identify patterns and relationships from data that is collected and solve variables. In this investigative lesson students study ocean productivity, the nitrogen cycle and phytoplankton then answer questions.
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To Dam or Not to Dam
Young ecologists explore the Aswan Dam in Egypt via the internet. Each collaborative group is assigned a specific article about the ecological impact of the dam. Then they prepare a presentation to share with the rest of the class. Some...
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Polar Bears and Ice
Students explore the Arctic food chain. They examine the needs of the polar bear and the threat that global warming poses to them. Students write a letter to a local political representative explaining what they have studied and...
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Stream Quality Assessment
Students investigate many of the factors that affect water quality. They take measurements and water samples at a local stream and evaluate the health of their community's watershed. They write a report detailing their findings.
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Got Gas? How Much?
Learners perform an experiment that measures respiration. In this performing an experiment that measures respiration instructional activity, students discuss aerobic and anaerobic respiration. Learners measure the gas produced by...
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Observing Lava Flows
Students examine the difference between fast and slow spreading lava flows. They identify various types of lava flow and determine the factors that cause them to form. Viewing photographs of lava flows, students working in groups,...
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Hi, Deer!
Learners collect, organize by table, and examine census data in a simulation, estimate the size of the population in the simulation and make predictions based on the collection of census simulation data.
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Does One Tree a Forest Make?
Students take a walk around the schoolyard looking at and identifying the trees. One leaf for each tree is collected. A chart is developed that represents the population of trees on the school ground. They keep journals and write an essay.
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Beaver, or not?
Students study the role of the beaver in Illinois during the 1800's and how overtrapping cause the near extinction of the beaver colonies in Illinois by 1900. Students role play various people in 1945 who have an opinion about the...
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Wildlife Around the World
Students examine how plants are able to adapt to their ecosystem and the role that fire plays in changes through the years. For this ecosystem lesson students complete several exercises focussing on plants and their adaptations to.
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Wow Waves (Waves on the Fly)
Students formulate hypotheses on wave behavior and test them. In this physics instructional activity, students compare and contrast transverse and compression waves. They determine the wavelength of transverse waves.
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Earthworms
Fifth graders research the earthworm and write a one paragraph report on its anatomy and habitat. They learn about worms and how to dissect them through Video Streaming and virtual dissections, along with actually dissect a worm as...
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Sea Turtles
Students investigate eight different species of sea turtles while being involved in classroom lecture and video presentation. The characteristics used to identify sea turtles is taught to help students identify unknown species.
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Activity #5 Soils-Permeability and Impurity Removal
Students predict which types of soils would work best for keeping contaminants contained. They comprehend that in the past, landfills have been one major source of groundwater contamination. Pupils comprehend that placing and building...
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Growing a Winter Garden
Second graders listen to a planting story as read by their teacher. Using the text, they summarize the events and complete a KWL chart. They point to the vegetable after it was planted in the garden in the story. They practice using new...
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Using My Nasa Data To Determine Volcanic Activity
Students use NASA satellite data of optical depth as a tool to determine volcanic activity on Reunion Island during 2000-2001. They access the data and utilize Excel to create a graph that has optical depth as a function of time for the...
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Creating and Analyzing Graphs of Tropospheric Ozone
Young scholars create and analyze graphs using archived atmospheric data to compare the ozone levels of selected regions around the world.
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Natural Hazards
Students evaluate the hazards of naturally occurring events. After watching a video concerning safety hazards, students work in groups to discuss the safety issues involved in taking a trip to a mountainous region. Recommendations are...
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Snow Cover By Latitude
Young scholars examine computerized data maps in order to create graphs of the amount of snowfall found at certain latitudes by date. Then they compare the graphs and the data they represent. Students present an analysis of the graphs.
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Dinoflagallates of Bioluminescent Bay
Fifth graders research dinoflagallates of the Bioluminescent Bay. They research the Internet for pictures of the Bio Bay and discuss the difference between ecosystems and ecoregions. They research a marine ecoregion and create a poster.
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Coastal Biodiversity of South Africa
Students investigate the biodiversity found along the coast of South Africa. They conduct research using a variety of resources. They use the information in order to write lab reports with the data. The instructional activity can be...
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Glacial Change
Pupils research the ways in which scientists study glaciers and glacial change. They interpret real time data and calculate the estimated global sea level rise potential. A very good lesson to illustrate global warming.