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Travel Diary
Darwin kept a travel diary as he voyaged to South America, noting the politics, geography, cultures, animals, and interesting facts he encountered. Your class will do the same. Each student chooses a country to research and keep a five...
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You Can Depend On me
Discover the natural beauty of California. With a conservation bent, this activity delves into some of the attributes that make this state unique. Learners discuss Yosemite and the forest habitat. They focus on the things plants and...
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Where Did Foods Originate? (Foods of the New World and Old World)
What do papayas, peanuts, pineapples, and potatoes have in common? Why, they are foods explorers brought back to the Old World. Young researchers use the Internet to investigate how New World explorers helped change the Old World's diet....
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Animals of the Arctic
Students discover the animals that make the Canadian Arctic their home. In this Arctic animals lesson, students research the animals that live in the region and create posters that feature their findings.
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Sheltering and Caring for Animals
Students learn about animal shelters and adoption agencies. In this animal care lesson plan, students watch a video about the ASPCA and discuss what an animal shelter is, how it operates and what services it provides animals and the...
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Rainforest (Elementary, Social Studies)
Explore the rainforest with your class. Learners study the meaning of the word endangered, choose an animal to study, gather data, and discuss why the animal is in danger of extinction. This is a motivating way to have your class discuss...
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Close to Home
Fourth graders examine habitats for animals by creating their own in class environment. For this environment lesson, 4th graders research the Internet for information on certain wild animals and the places in which they live....
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What Makes a Hero?
Middle schoolers identify the characteristics of a hero. In this character development and writing lesson, students listen to music with a hero theme and discuss the common traits of heroes. Middle schoolers explore individuals and...
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Changing Climate, Changing Animals
Students review teacher-provided background materials on impact of climate change. Students then work in small groups to make poster on possible impacts of climate change on one particular northern animal, and how it might affect people...
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Where Do Animals Come From?
Students use library search engines to research an animal and its origin. In this animal research activity, students research their assigned animal using ProQuest. Students then find the country of origin of the animal using a library...
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Inventions Over Time
Explore the inventions of the past with a project on ancient tools. After reading an article about hunting during the Archaic period, the Late Prehistoric period, and the Historic period, kids fill in a cause-and-effect chart about the...
Agriculture in the Classroom
Wad-a-Watershed
What kind of impact do humans have on watersheds? Find out in a lesson that defines, explores, and promotes ways to protect our watersheds. The ultimate goal of the lesson is for learners to discover how a watershed is impacted by...
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What is a Puppy Mill?
Students consider community and legislative efforts to stop puppy mills. In this animal welfare lesson, students discuss the needs of pets and determine how puppy mills do not meet the needs of animals. Students research animal...
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Boomtown Life
Students research California boomtowns. In this Western settlement lesson, students research the boomtown of California and create brochures that feature their research findings.
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Animal Farm - The Rest of the Story
Students participate in a reader's theater using farm animals in the novella Animal Farm. In this Animal Farm lesson plan, students evaluate interpretations using the text, personal experience, and historical events.
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Using the Tools in Your Community
Third graders research a profession in their community that uses tools to help the community. For this professions lesson plan, 3rd graders complete computer research to research the profession and present it to the class.
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You Can Depend on Me
Learners identify how they depend on others, and examine and discuss the images on the California Quarter Reverse. They view and discuss images of various habitats, complete a Habitat Research worksheet, and create a habitat diorama.
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Working Animals
Students discuss the role of animals and how they can work with people to better the community. In this working animals lesson plan, students discuss how animals and people work together to complete different tasks in the community.
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Fur Right or Wrong
Students explore the uses for animals in different societies. Then, through research and reflection, students prepare for a mock convention for animal rights. They write a letter to a governmental animal regulatory body.
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Rocky Shore Food Web Drama
Students explore food chains. In this ecosystem lesson, students discover how plants and animals rely on each other for survival. Students research the rocky shore ecosystem and create a skit representing the ecosystem.
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Pet-agogy
Learners explore interesting animal behaviors and adaptations. They create information sheets about an animal residing in a fictional sanctuary and assess the animal's likelihood of being a good pet.
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Ecuadorian Highlands Lesson
Indigenous peoples resided in the highlands of Ecuador as far back as 5,000 B.C. To learn about the lives of these people, class pairs research the farming and the building methods, the arts and crafts, and the beliefs of the early...
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Strawberry Girl: Outdoors in Florida
Students explore nature by researching the state of Florida. In this animal identification lesson, students read a children' story and research the Internet to discover the difference in animal life between the early 1900's and present...
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One Grain at a Time
Students investigate deserts. In this geography lesson, students create a KWL chart about deserts and research information on deserts by using reference books. Students record the characteristics of deserts and the wildlife which lives...