Pennsylvania Department of Education
Write My Name With Shaving Cream
Students write their names using shaving cream. In this write my name lesson, students practice forming letters using shaving cream. Students follow appropriate conventions of print to convey a message and use spacing and letters...
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What is Coal?
Students receive instruction to answer the question "What is coal?". They then participate in several puzzles and problems to explore the subject of coal. They solve addition and subtraction problems and match letters with the letter...
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Porosity
Students investigate the concept of an aquifer and use a 2 liter bottle and other materials to conduct a simple lab experiment or demonstration. They calculate the volume of water that can be stored in the aquifer. The lab is used to...
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HOLD ON TO THAT
Students will analyze how water enters different soils, how readily it passes through and how much water is held.1. Materials needed for the activity are; pint of clay, pint of sand, pint of loam, newspaper,
three frozen fruit juice...
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Introducing Particles
Students predict what is going to happen using prior knowledge being prepared to alter a view when faced with new evidence. They then accurately measure and record liquid volumes realizing that liquids and granular solids have...
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Coal Formation
Students create a condition in an aquarium which allows the formation of coal. Students observe changes in decomposition and color of materials present in aquarium before a coal layer appears. Plant "fossil" imprints will be left behind.
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Mountain Building
Fourth graders identify variables that influence rates of change. They, through group consensus and using the assigned materials, design and build what they believe to be the strongest mountain possible.
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CSI Clamshell Investigation
Students explore predator/prey relationships. They research information on moon snails and claims. Students draw conclusions from the data collected. They use math and graphing to determine if there is a relationship to the clam's size...
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Mapping the Ocean Floor
Students study the bottom structure of underwater habitats and how they can be mapped.
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Let it Grow, Let it Grow, Let it Grow
Students investigate, through a hands-on activity, in which type of soil a bean seed grows best. They create a bar graph representing each plant's growth in different soils.
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Using A Winogradsky Column to Analyze Microbial Communities
Students use easily obtained materials to study ecological succession in a microbiological community. They collect water samples from outdoor sources in plastic bottles to observe and record changes.
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Planting
Students form groups to conduct an experiment. They plant seedlings to test the effects of sunlight, water and soil, on the growth of seedlings.
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Erosion
Fifth graders study the effects of running water on erosion. They examine how the soil on the playground is affected by erosion and determine how the placement of trees and shrubs changes the path of erosion. In their science journals,...
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The Magic School Bus Goes to Mussel Beach
Pupils participate in a hands-on activity where they explore tidal zones. They explore tides and marine life. This is an experiment that can be accomplished in class.
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Classroom Letter Bottle
Students study the alphabet. In this alphabet instructional activity, students use letters and natural objects to create an alphabet jar. Students can use this learning center to reinforce letter recognition.
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Shake Jars
Students investigate different sounds. In this lesson on sound, students put different substances into jars so that when students shake the jars they make different sounds.
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Missouri Time Scale
Young scholars plot events that happened years ago beginning with volcano activity. In this investigative instructional activity students are introduced to the different eras and plot them on a map.
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Speleothem Formations
Students examine how speleothem formations can be simulated. Students follow directions carefully in this laboratory experiment, and keep a written account of everything they observe. After five days, the students share their experiment...
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Sounds Like Science - Bottle Organ
Students see that by manipulating sound we can arrange a series of notes referred to as a musical scale. They explain the relationship between pitches and notes. They compare the sounds of different-sized bottles.
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Let's Think About... Change
Students observe various examples of "change." They mix paint to cereate new colors, eat bread and then toasted bread, and match baby pictures with pictures of how the same people look in the present. Finally, they watch a bouquet of...
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How Do You Know There is Air in a Bag?
Fourth graders explore air as a material substance. Through experimentation and discussion, they explore how air can be classified as a material substance. Students write three examples proving that air is a material substance in their...
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The Formation of Soil
Students identify the different components that make up soil. In this earth science lesson, students create a pamphlet for next year's class. They analyze how erosion and weathering shape the Earth.
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Testing for Conductivity
Learners test the conductivity of selected liquids and solids. They test the circuit by touching the two free ends of the wires together and add salt little by little recording the data after each addition. Finally, students predict...
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Interpreting Satellite Images
Students identify differences between photography and satellite imagery space.