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Time Machine: Evolution, Geology
Students are taken on a simulated "voyage" backward in time, to the beginning of our planet. They "witness" that beginning, the origin of life, and a number of key events from then to the present.
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The Chesapeake Bay in Captain John Smith's Time
When Captain John Smith visited the Chesapeake Bay in the summer of 1608, what types of animals and habitats did he encounter? Your young historians will analyze primary source documents to answer this question, as well as compare...
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Exploring the Uses of Beaks
Students explore the uses of bird beaks in the wild by participating in experiment stations. In this bird adaptation lesson plan, students work in groups and complete experiment stations that represent different types of bird beaks....
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The Breathtaking Nature of the Urban Explosion, Part 2
Students explore ozone levels. They measure the concentrations of ground-level ozone in the atmosphere. Students observe changes in the concentrations of ozone over time. Students complete a data sheet to record ozone readings over a...
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Natural Selection in Action
Students demonstrate natural selection through a lab activity. In this biology lesson, students explain how natural selection leads to speciation. They complete their lab report and discuss results in class.
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Developing a Theory About the Nature of the Contents of a Sealed Box
Learners observe the changes of a closed chemical system. They record and analyze the data as they manipulate the system. They answer questions to end the instructional activity.
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The Statistical Nature of Test Data
Young scholars investigate the properties of various metals. They conduct an experiment and gather the data by putting into the proper statistical graphs. The data is analyzed and conclusions are formed according to the properties of the...
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Nature And Nurture
Students develop an understanding of the role both nature and nurture play in determining an individual's traits. Using a website, students answer questions about nature and nurture in order to solve the riddle, What do you call a smart...
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How Does Evolution Work?
Students pretend they are a scientist like John Endler in this Web activity. They visit his pools, from hypotheses, and test them out. In the process, the explore about natural selection and sexual selection. They are able to explain the...
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Nature Art Exploration
Students draw a nature landscape using watercolors. In this life science instructional activity, students share their personal experience on the beauty of nature. They create clay models of different native animals.
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Oat Seed Lab: A Model Scientific Experiment
Students investigate seed germination. In this lesson on scientific prediction, students conduct a scientific experiment using oat seeds.
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Lesson Plan of a Thematic Project - Water
Sixth graders investigate the properties of water. In this life science lesson, 6th graders create a concept map of water. They share their work with the class.
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The Methods of Biology
For this biology methods worksheet, students will explore the scientific method, including creating a hypothesis and setting up an experiment. This worksheet has 3 short answer questions, 5 matching questions, and 8 fill in the blank...
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Science: Entomology in Action
Students discover how coroners use insect life cycles to estimate the time of death in cases. they describe how forensic entomologists combine environmental factors with insect life cycles to note the changes. Students examine an...
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Ecological Impact of Wood Extraction
Students explore their local environment by conducting a class experiment. In this deforestation lesson, students discuss the effects of wood harvesting on forests around the world and research environment related vocabulary terms....
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Yeasts and Molds: Food Science, Bacteria, Fungi
In this lesson plan students will consider the characteristics and nature of yeast and molds in order to help them understand how these microorganisms affect food production.
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The Power of Atmospheric Pressure Process
Middle schoolers are introduced to the basic principles of atmospheric pressure. After watching demonstrations, they discover the capability of air pressure and how it affects weather. In groups, they use an inquiry template to solve...
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Properties of Air
Students conduct investigations to demonstrate and learn that air takes up space, and puts pressure, or pushes, on everything around it. They conduct experiments to learn about feeling air pressure and measuring air pressure. Prior to...
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Survival in the Land of Batzilla
Students experience a guided inquiry into the workings of an ultrasonic motion detector. They are led to study something they cannot see, hear, feel or taste. Students design strategies to avoid becoming prey of the predatory "Batzilla."
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The Effects of Agricultural Fertilizer Runoff Upon Aquatic Ecosystems
Learners measure the toxic levels of runoff and discuss the effects it would have on the aquatic system. In this runoff lesson plan, students answer questions to how runoff would affect the animals in an aquatic system.
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Mystery of the Matching Marks
Students view a Power Point and complete activities related to genetic evidence of human evolution. In this molecular evolution lesson, students view and discuss a provide presentation. They search for the "tell-tale telomere" and...
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What was Newton's Idea of Science?
Students form logical foundations for analysis of observations. They improve analytic reading abilities through practice. Students investigate the foundations of scientific thought processes and how to apply them.
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What Plants Need in Order to Survive and Grow: Air
Students conduct an experiment to determine whether plants need air in order to survive and grow. They discuss natural resources, analyze slides, and observe and record data from the experiment.
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Eye on the Storm
Students discover the way geologists collect information about past hurricanes to determine patterns that may help with storm prediction. They then research the history of natural disasters in different regions of the United States and...