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Leaf Magic
Third graders adopt a deciduous tree in September, and begin regular observations of their tree. They create a timeline to show how leaves change color and conduct a science experiment to illustrate color change.
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The Water Cycle
Students are introduced to the components and importance of the water cycle. They are shown how groundwater moves using a model. Students list 9 places on earth where water is found. They define the terms cycle and water cycle.
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Evolution
Students research the theory of evolution and the controversy. In this evolution lesson students view a film on Charles Darwin then they write an essay about whether or not intelligent design should be taught in science class.
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Condensation and the Water Cycle
Students explore the natural distallation process that occurs in the water cycle. They use plastic cups and cotton swabs to observe the condensation process that is evident in the water cycle.
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Earth Turns? Prove It!
Students construct a pendulum using a washer and thin fishing line. In this earth science lesson, students simulate Earth's rotation using the pendulum bob and swivel chair. They explain how this activity proves that the Earth is indeed...
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Earth Day - Bursting Beans
Students fill jars with dried beans and water, cover the jars, and wait to see what happens in this excellent Science experiment ideal for Earth Day (April 22nd). Emphasis is placed on discovering the reactions of seeds to water.
National Park Service
Petrified Forest National Park
Poetry Soup, a reading and writing unit constructed by the Petrified Forest National Park, will have scholars hungry to learn about nature. The cross-content unit contains topics related to history, science, and language arts. Content...
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Forest Sustainability
High schoolers study major forests and their history. They see what sustainable forestry and silviculture is and discuss the topics on the attached worksheet.
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Science: The Age of the Redwoods
Students discover how to estimate the age of redwood trees. They measure the trees' diameters by using string to calculate the circumferences. Students conclude by discussing the science of dendrochronolgy.
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Water Quality and Pollution Web Quest
Learners explore how water is a limited resource, where it comes from, how it can become polluted and how it is used. In this water quality instructional activity young scholars search the web to answer given questions and prepare...
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Floods: Rising Waters and You
Students examine the relationship between human-made structures, flood waters and the increasing population through video clips, websites and a lab experiment.
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Images of Katrina
Students use maps and online data to find specific geographic areas. In hurricane Katrina lesson students use aerial photographic imagery to see some impacts of hurricane Katrina.
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World History: Why Civilizations Fall
Students examine factors leading to the demise of ancient civilizations. They list causes that led to the downfall of these societies. Students conduct Internet research and participate in online archaeological investigations.
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The Best Place in the United States to Live
Students, working in small groups, analyze information provided in U.S. maps to make a logical determination of the best place to live in the United States in regards to natural and human-made hazards. Then, working individually, they...
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Natural Selection in Protected And Unprotected Populations
Studnets compare how two elephant seal populations fare during successive generations. They participate in a simulation using a card game to look at the differences in two populations, one that is protected from mortality by human...
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Wood A Natural Renewable Resource
Students discuss the harvest of trees as a renewable resource. In this renewable resource lesson, students evaluate the importance of how man harvest trees and uses wood as a renewable resource.
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Flightless Birds and Scientific Research
Learners study the work done by various scientists on Antarctica. In this biology lesson, students play the role of researchers who must justify the importance of their study. They create a multimedia presentation about a specific issue...
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The Birds and the Beaks
Learners explore the adaptations that birds have. In this adaptations lesson students view a video and create a concept map of birds and their adaptive traits.
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Cheetah Challenges
High schoolers research the problems that cheetahs are facing in the wild. In this biology lesson, students discuss how animal rehabilitation works. They write blogs about it and comment on everyone's post.
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Performing Well Under Pressure
Students study the physical properties of minerals and illustrate their functions. In this mineral lesson students construct models of some minerals.
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Feeling Hot, Hot, Hot!
Young scholars study the different types of volcanoes and how they erupt. In this volcano lesson plan students identify where volcanoes are most prevalent and options for predicting eruptions.
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You Can Die Here
Students examine Death Valley including the amount of precipitation and winds that it gets. In this climate based lesson plan students explain the reasons for the amount of precipitation and windward patterns in Death Valley.
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Bird Brained?
Students identify general abilities that indicate animal cognitive intelligence. In this biology lesson, students create an intelligence testing challenge for ravens. They compare its ability to that of a crow.
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Wolves: Friend or Foe?
Students study wolves and their habitat in Yellowstone. For this environment and behavior lesson students create an interactive map of wolves in Yellowstone.