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Capturing the Sun's Warmth

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students explore the variety of ways to use solar energy. They investigate the thermal energy storage capacities of different test materials to determine which to use in passive solar building design. They explain how passive solar...
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Lakes and Ponds

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Students describe and recognize the difference between a lake and a pond. They name six ways in which a lake or pond can be formed. They describe the importance and act of evaporation on a waterway.
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World In Motion Curriculum

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students explore the night sky and its solar system. Using a Digitarium planetarium system, students observe four constellations. They discover the phases of the moon and eclipses. Students recognize the difference between normal and...
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Differences between Climate and Weather

For Teachers 4th - 7th
Students collect weather data over weeks, graph temperature data and compare the temperature data collected with averaged climate data where they live.
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Magnetic Field Activities

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore the idea of magnetic field through investigations of magnetic fields as produced by various common magnetic materials and direct currents. They study the vector nature of fields, the ubiquity of field sources in the...
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Effects of Ozone in the Air

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders, in groups, conduct an experiment in which they measure ground level ozone levels using an ozone measuring kit. They analyze and compare the weather conditions and locations where ozone readings are highest and lowest.
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Conservation in Costa Rica

For Teachers 3rd - 12th
Students brainstorm what they do that requires land use and use a worksheet to calculate their footprint (the total area of land and water required to produce all the resources they consume). They then compare their footprints to each...
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Moon

For Teachers K - 4th
Learners discover scientific facts about the Moon and how some American Indian Tribes used the moon to measure time. They accomplish this by listening to stories and poetry, writing stories, communicating with an astronaut,...
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Meteor Showers

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students use the Internet to discover the wonderful world of comets and meteor showers. They discover how to spot one and predict them using a calendar. They also examine the makeup of meteoroids and meteorites.
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Vectors

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students describe a complex path by the use of adding vectors. They comprehend the difference betwee scalar and vector quanitities. Students disucss the naviagation lab. They are explained the procedures for the lab. Students are...
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Vectors

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students describe a complex path by the use of adding vectors. They are explained the procedures and rules of the balloon car race. Students are remined that the summary and answers to the questions are due Monday. They are given the...
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Vectors

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students are introduced to the bridge building challenge. They perform two labs and work in small groups to finish the vector worksheet. Students review vector additions. They then move onto the Forces on an Inclined Plane Lab. ...
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Ocean Murals

For Teachers K - 3rd
Students identify characteristics of water. They describe the process by which light decreases and pressure increases as water depth increases. They demonstrate the principle of water pressure in a small group experiment.
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Landfills: A Solid Waste Management Plan

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students are able to list the types of household waste that they produce daily. They are able to describe some other types of waste that are produced by industry or agriculture to help maintain their lifestyles. Students are able to...
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Solar Energy Connection

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Young scholars conduct solar experiments. They calculate the solar gain and operate a solar cell devise used to generate electricity. Students compare and contrast solar energy gain with young scholars in India. They analyze the...
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Beach Zonation

For Teachers 4th - 12th
Young scholars investigate the characteristics of the beach environment and explore beach zonation. After gathering samples from different areas of the beach, students discuss how the beaches work and the characteristic of each zone....
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Rocky Intertidal Field Trip

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students investigate tides and the land submerged under them.  For this intertidal field trip, Students visit the intertidal zone and observe the habitats and animals that live there.  Students view the pools under rocks where...
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Scale Drawings of Dinosaurs

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students, working in groups, make scale drawings of dinosaurs. The four groups then assemble their assigned parts into one composite drawing.
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Disappearing Sand

For Teachers 5th - 9th
Students discover what sand looks like, how sand dunes form and what minerals can be found in sand. They also examine how beach erosion occurs. They explore how to stay safe at the beach.
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How Trees Contribute to the Water Cycle

For Teachers 3rd
In this water cycle instructional activity, 3rd graders conduct an experiment where they observe and calculate how water transpires in different types of trees.  Students engage in a class discussion and use Venn Diagrams to compare...
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How Many Birds Would It Take To Keep A Jackal Alive?

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students examine the role of large families in some animal populations. They work together to complete an activity related to food supply. They discover the relationship between preys and predators.
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Studying Fossils: Hominoid Skull Comparison

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers collect data on the differences in Hominid skulls using acrylic casts of fossil skulls. They measure a series of structures on skulls from six different species then use the data to determine evolutionary relationships...
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Coral Reefs

For Teachers 4th - 12th
Young scholars research an inhabitant of a Caribbean coral reef using a list of common organisms that live on or near it. Students then write a description of their organism and draw a picture or a 3-D model of it. Eventually they all...
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Simple Thermodynamics of Transportation

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students watch videos about various modes of transportation, they examine the energy transformations that occur in each, and they be introduced to the laws of thermodynamics.