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Engineering Application: What Can I Build On?
Students explore how earthquakes cause structures to move and how the substrate beneath them may actually cause them to fail. They create mock buildings and place them in level tubs of various substrates. They then put each through a...
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Experimenting with Physical Changes
Fourth graders explore physical changes. They discuss that physical change is a change in size, shape, or state of matter of a substance. Students explore what change takes place when two substances can dissolve each other. They observe...
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How Shocking
Young scholars describe the characteristics of polymers and rubbers and how they improve human lives. In this shock lesson students build a shock absorbing structure using different polymer materials.
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Cleaning Up
Young scholars demonstrate how to be a philanthropist. In this philanthropy lesson plan, students read the story The Wartville Wizard and discuss ways to become a philanthropist. Young scholars participate in a good deed by volunteering...
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Evaporation in the Water Cycle
Students study the stages of the water cycle and evaporation. In this water cycle instructional activity, students read Water Cycles and color a diagram of the water cycle. Students review related terms and sing a song about the Water...
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Because of Winn Dixie: Water Management Practices
Fourth graders read the book Because of Winn Dixie and define the characters, setting, and plot. In this Winn Dixie lesson plan, 4th graders also identify quality water management techniques addressed in the story.
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Introduction of the Lunar Relief Map Project
Students investigate the geographic features of the surface of the moon. In this lunar relief map lesson, students watch and discuss the Apollo II Moon landing and make preliminary plans for their lunar maps.
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Create a Hawaiian Tako Lure
Students create a tako lure. In this Hawaiian culture lesson, students research how Hawaiians use natural resources to survive. Students are introduced to new vocabulary and create an octopus lure.
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Build and Test Your Car Continued
Students create and build cars to race in class. For this physics lesson, students calculate the speed using distance and time information. They evaluate their design and make adjustments when needed.
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Simple Machines, Odd Machine
Students construct a device to 'launch' a marshmallow at the teacher and then discuss various forms of levers. They work in teams to design catapults and identify different kinds of levers.
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Garden Tag
Students create mini "gardens" in recycled clothing boxes. They recycle old seed and flower catalogs and "plant" cut-out flowers in their gardens.
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Think Before You Toss
Students sort a variety of trash items and determine thier sorting decisions.
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Butterfly Surprise
Students make a butterfly from art materials. In this butterfly project lesson, students use tissue paper, pom poms, wiggly eyes, and tongue depressors to make a butterfly. There are games, songs, and a recipe on the same page.
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Teeter Totter
Students explore the two types of spotted sandpipers. They create a puppet show using the spotted sandpiper from Puerto Rico and the spotted sandpiper from Alaska. Students research the habitats of the two sandpipers.
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The Great Cedar Tree
First graders explore concept of interdependence through production of the play, The Great Cedar Tree.
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New Ship For the Old World
Students explore the age of sailing in the colonies through role-playing. In groups, they play the role of a business owner, shipbuilder and geographer to complete specific tasks. They participate in an old World trade show to...
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Funny Putty
Students study that colloids are mixtures which display the properties of more than one of these states.
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Little Bloomers: Gardening With Trees
Young scholars identify the parts of tree flowers. They examine the role they have in pollination. They discuss trees that do not flower as well.
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Toy Tally One
Fifth graders explore simple machines. They examine toys and discover toys that are actually simple machines. Students share information, with the class, about their selected toy and how it works.
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The Penny Factory
Fourth graders identify the characteristics of a simple physical and chemical change. They describe objects by the properties of the materials from which they are made and separate or sort items using these properties. Students explain...
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Lend Me Your Ear
Students engage in a lesson to investigate some of the properties of sound. They create sounds and listen to the vibrations that are made while listing all the sounds that are heard. This is done while the eyes are closed to strengthen...
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Compost Tag
Students identify biodegradable items. For this environmental lesson, students participate in a game of tag. A student's name is called out along with a biodegradable item and the student is tossed a ball.
Agriculture in the Classroom
Pumpkins... Not Just For Halloween
Celebrate fall with four pumpkin themed hands-on activities! After learning about pumpkins, scholars complete two activity sheets that reinforce estimation and word problems. They then plant pumpkin seeds and bake a pie in a bag.
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Pop Art Pins & Magnets
Students examine cereal and snack boxes and then create magnets and/or pins using the Pop Art demonstrated in these pieces. This multi-level lesson emphasizes the differences between commercial art examples and fine art examples.