Lesson Plan
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Insects Are Helpful!

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students see that insects do lots good and are very valuable to humans and nature. This is part of an ongoing effort to dispel fears of insects. They rotate through a series of centers that have examples of how insects contribute to our...
Lesson Plan
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Play the Market

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students participate in a hypothetical experiment. For four weeks, they track 10 stocks they have selected. They discuss their imaginary gains and losses and share their observations about the stock market, and their reactions to this...
Lesson Plan
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Chicago: The City in Art, 1995-2000

For Teachers K - 3rd
Students examine a mural of animals and talk about animal classification. They act as scientists and keep a record, called a Jungle Journal, of plants and animals they observe while studying the rainforest.
Lesson Plan
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Where has Polly Gone?

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Learners explore polygons and their uses in careers. They also discover polygons shapes in manmade objects and nature. They use their acquired knowledge to construct a strong structure using polygon shapes.
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Evolution Lab

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine the pattern of natural variation in a society. They examine Darwin's theory of evolution and analyze data. They use computer programs to graphically display the variation in organisms.
Lesson Plan
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The Earth and the Compass

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders construct a water compass to investigate the effects of Earth's magnetic field and other sources of magnetism. They predict, observe and draw conclusions from their investigation.
Lesson Plan
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When Close Enough is Good Enough

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students describe the difference between an estimate and a guess. They create reasonable estimates based on observation and hands-on activities. They synthesize estimated based on interaction with online activities.
Lesson Plan
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Extraction of Caffeine from Tea Leaves

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students conduct an experiment in which they extract the greatest number of grams of caffeine from four bags of tea. They conduct Internet research, conduct the experiment, and record their observations and data.
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environment: Fresh and Saltwater Habitats

For Teachers 1st - 4th
Students compare and contrast fresh and salt water coastal environments. After describing how sea animals adapt to their habitats, they design a variety of sea creatures and explain how the adaptations aid in the animals' survival. ...
Lesson Plan
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Environmental Health Hazards and Children

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students are introduced to the environmental hazards their community is facing. In groups, they develop a list of the ways humans have changed the Earth and how these changes have lead to environmental hazards. They record their...
Lesson Plan
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TE Activity: Survive That Tsunami!

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students examine the causes of tsunamis and observe a table top wave making machine. They make model houses while working in groups so that the can see how different construction types work. They discuss how engineers can design and...
Lesson Plan
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Horse Sculpture (or animal of choice)

For Teachers 6th - 9th
After a discussion on horse in art and a presentation on safety techniques using materials, learners construct a horse sculpture (or other animal of their choice) from sticks and natural fibers.
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Stereotypes and Cross-Cultural Understanding

For Teachers 5th - 9th
Students view headshots of people representing different ethnic groups, draw and color bodies and clothing they feel best represents each headshot, and observe drawings made by classmates. Students then identify and discuss stereotypes,...
Lesson Plan
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Research Ethics

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students develop an ability to distinguish between simple error, misconduct and fraud. Students are lead to consider a widening circle of the consequences of misconduct and fraud. They expand their knowledge on the self-regulating...
Lesson Plan
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Boston Harbor Cruise: A Shoreline Survey

For Teachers K - 6th
The students take a harbor cruise, photograph, and draw shore line features attending to evidence of human impact/consequences, and its cost on marine/land animal habitats vegetation, weather patterns, signs of erosion, and the water...
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The Geometry of Paul Goble's Artwork

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students examine the concepts of geometry used by Paul Goble in his book Adopted By The Eagles. After analyzing Mr. Goble's work they create an original piece featuring symmetry, pattern, repetition, and other principles of geometry....
Lesson Plan
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Who Eats Whom in the Salt Marsh?

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders complete a virtual online salt marsh tour. In groups, they observe and identify the various types of animals found in the marsh. After categorizing the animals, they create a food web based on the animals role in the...
Lesson Plan
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Bridges

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students are introduced to the different types, designs and nature of bridges. They observe a historical look at the bridges in and around the Pittsburgh area through a video presentation. Connections are made between science and...
Lesson Plan
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Denaturing Proteins

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers investigate how to denature proteins. In this denaturing protein lesson plan, students explore the different ways to denature proteins in the lab. They use heat, acids and bases, organic compounds and heavy metals to...
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Recycling

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders observe the importance of recycling. In this environmental lesson, 3rd graders will view experiments on water filtration, paper-making, and breathing pollutants, and will categorize recyclable materials.
Lesson Plan
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It's The States of Matter

For Teachers 3rd - 12th
Students investigate the properties of solids, liquids and gases. For this states of matter lesson plan, students observe dry ice and its characteristics. They calculate the density of dry ice and observe the sublimation of the dry ice...
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Chemical Composition of American Coins

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers investigate the chemical composition of pennies dated 1983 or later. In this chemical composition of American coins lesson plan, students scratch the surface of the penny to expose the zinc core. They put the penny in...
Worksheet
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Solution Shapes

For Students 7th - 9th
In this solutions activity, students soak a pipe cleaner in hot water and a supersaturated solution of 20 Mule Team Borax. Students leave their pipe cleaner in the solution for 30 minutes and then observe. They put it back in over night...
Lesson Plan
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Particulate Matter: The Lorax

For Teachers Pre-K - 2nd
Young scholars explore air pollution. In this ecology lesson, students participate in an experiment in which 5 numbered jar lids are placed outside. Young scholars bring one lid a day in until all jars are inside. Dirt specks are...