Lesson Plan
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The Flat Earth

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Pupils are first presented with the idea that the Earth is really flat. They prove that it is not--using a variety of techniques.
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Physical Science: Dying for a Tan?

For Teachers 1st - 5th
Students assess how much harm UV radiation can have on your skin and how much protection is provided by sunblock, sunglasses and clothing. They experiment with UV index numbers and the amount of exposure risk of skin damage for any given...
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Getting to the Core of Climate Change

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students investigate climate changes by graphing and analyzing ice core data from Greenland and Antarctica. They create, explain and report the pattern of data on a graph of ice core data. In addition they find relationships between the...
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It's Rainin', It's Pouring

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Students take a quick examine part of the water cycle, and the combined gas laws. The lesson lead them through the conditions necessary for cloud formation and allow them to create clouds in three different hands-on activities.
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Forest Canopies: View from the Top

For Teachers 9th - Higher Ed
Learners examine the economic and ecological benefits of forest canopies. They read and discuss an article, answer questions, conduct research, draw field sketches of a canopy ecosystem, conduct a feasibility study, or prepare tourist...
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Space Program Spin-Offs

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers brainstorm types of accommodations needed for space travel. They create a table of categories for these accommodations and work in groups to research the categories. Each group puts together a five minute presentation to...
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Color Enhanced Maps

For Teachers 7th - 10th
Students download or create maps with numerical weather data. They add isolines and color to create regions on their maps. They explore the visual properties of color palettes and create a visualization applying their knowledge.
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Making Good Decisions

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students examine the consequences of behaviors and what the concept of trade offs are.  In this good decision lesson plan students read an article and answer questions on making good decisions. 
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The Greenhouse Effect

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers investigate the greenhouse effect and why it happens.
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Space, the Final Frontier...

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students study a common theory on how the solar system was formed and examine the relative scale of the size and distances among the bodies of the Solar System.
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A Journey Through Our Solar System

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students investigate the concept of the solar system in our universe by constructing a model that is made to a measurable scale. Once the model is constructed it should be placed in a wide open space for observation and demonstration...
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Try This On For Size!

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students view a video to gather information about our solar system. They create models of the planets to scale and place them in scale relative to their distances from the sun. They also visit a planetarium or use the internet to gather...
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Detecting Meteors by Radio in the Classroom

For Teachers 12th
Twelfth graders describe and interpret the science of optical and radio telescopes, space probes and remote sensing technologies (Unit E) They explain the role of radio and optical telescopes in determining characteristics of stars and...
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Demonstrating Erosion in Action

For Teachers 3rd - 12th
Young scholars easure and record volume of water, then measure and record mass of soil. They explain the effects of the following in controlling erosion: Contouring, cover crop, strip cropping, reforestation, inter-seeding.
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Lighting Our Way

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Pupils read a variety of web-based articles to explore the history of human understanding of light. They investigate light waves and read about the work of Albert Einstein.
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Could a World of Swimmers Raise Sea Level?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners determine the volume of water they displace. In this earth science lesson, students calculate the total water displaced by the world's population. They evaluate whether or not this value is enough to raise the sea level...
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Life in Extreme Environments

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students compare and contrast local environments with the extreme environment of the Dry Valleys, Antarctica. Students explore and gain knowledge of the adaptations organisms use to survive extreme conditions and the diverse conditions...
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Our Solar System

For Teachers 7th - 10th
Pupils analyze the theories of the formation of the universe and solar system. Students analyze planetary motion and the physical laws that explain that motion: Rotation, Revolution, Apparent diurnal motions of the stars, sun, and moon,...
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Astronomy

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students complete a series of activities to better understand space studies. In this space science instructional activity, the teacher is provided with a number of activities for students to complete such as finding words that begin with...
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Glowing Glimpses of Our Universe

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students will complete hands-on space activities. In this space science lesson, students will create a glow-in-the-dark model of the solar system, visit a planetarium, make star pictures, and paint constellations. Activities are meant to...
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Models of the Water Cycle

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students describe and review the stages in the water cycle. In groups, they build their own models of the water cycle and demonstrate where the water goes in a closed system. They answer discussion questions after the experiment to end...
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Cosmic Rays

For Teachers 6th - Higher Ed
Students study cosmic rays and the energy behind them.  In this atmospheric lesson students complete a cosmic ray telescope project. 
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Human Needs

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students investigate human needs and how they have adapted to different environments. They complete an experiment to discover the effect of stress on muscles. They use the food pyramid to create a plan for healthy eating.
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Activity #9 Extending Oil Well Production

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students simulate methods used to extend the effective life of an oil well by extracting less available oil. They identify techniques which can be used and evaluate their effectiveness. Pupils are introduced to rock size and temperature...