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HOW MUCH IS TOO MUCH?
Students observe the construction and workings of an aquifer. They record and react to the effects of pollution on the aquifer.
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Reflections
Students are given materials with various textures and light sources to investigate specular reflection, diffuse, reflection, angle of incidence, and angle of reflection. Students draw and label an everyday scenario showing specular and...
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Life Cycle of Brassica Plants: Planting Seeds
Students explore botany by participating in a calendar class activity. In this plant observation lesson, students examine a diagram of a Brassica plant and identify its anatomy before planting their own seeds and viewing the changes over...
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Weathering Landforms
Fifth graders brainstorm a list of ways the Earth's surface can change. As a class, they are introduced to the concepts of erosion and weathering and discover how wind and water cause changes to the surface of the Earth. To end the...
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So -- What's Happening Here, On This Old Christmas Tree Farm?
Students review their prior knowledge on biomes and ecosystems. At a local Christmas tree farm, they work together in groups to identify the changes occuring in the area. They participate in solving a mystery in which they determine the...
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Trout Life-Cycle Booklet
Students write books about trout, completing one page per life stage.
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Bluebirds Project
In this bluebirds project activity, students are given directions on completing a project about bluebirds including measurements, scientific method questions, data entry, and more. Students complete 15 exercises.
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Getting the "Yuck" Out
Students examine various types of household materials for their usefulness as filters. They work together in teams to design a filtration system that produces the cleanest water in the shortest time.
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The Phases of the Moon
Students observe the questions, "Why do we say there is a man on the moon?, What do you think of when you hear "the moon is made of cheese"?, What is meant, to you, by the expression "Once in a blue moon"? and a comic of Snoopy typing,...
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Animal Trackers
Students use space technology to monitor migratory species, map their movements, and gather data about their habitats and possible responses to climatic shifts.
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Fantastic Friction!!!
Students work in small groups to list at least 10 items that have movement or motion choosing one item from the list to use as a topic for the following questions: How does this item move? How can we slow down the movement? How can we...
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Sound
First graders investigate sound and recognize the importance of hearing. They listen to and identify sounds in the environment, classroom, and on a pre-recorded tape. The students classify each type of sound and participate in a Sound...
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Rusting and the Scientific Method
Students observe the oil can scene with the tin man from a clip from "The Wizard of Oz" and answer the question, "What can we learn about rust from this scene?". They take 2 tubes and 2 nails, adding 1 salt packet to 2 ml of distilled...
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E.T. Write Home
Students read the book, The Magic School Bus Lost in the Solar System, and discuss the planets visited by the characters in the book. They write journal entries from the viewpoint of E.T., writing letters home describing his travels in...
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Sowing Seeds of Service
Third graders use metric measuring for model and actual plan in designing a roof garden. They photograph the process, record results in a journal, and plant seedlings in small containers. Finally, 3rd graders complete an acid rain...
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FIELD NOTE SCAVENGER HUNT
Students explore how to take good field notes through a scavenger hunt.
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Determination of Phosphates
Learners engage in a laboratory lesson in order to increase understanding of the impact of phosphates at the chemical and ecological levels. The lab exercise is completed with the goal of getting them to predict the outcomes and future...
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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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So -- What's Happening Here? On this Old Christmas Tree Farm
Learners take a field trip to an old Christmas tree farm near their school. In groups, they gather data at the site and analyze the data in an attempt to discover what happened to the area. They identify human activities that led to the...
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Changing Ways
Third graders examine hard boiled eggs as possible models for the earth's layers.
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Environment and Recycling Issues
First graders read and understand the text found while conducting internet research. They recognize how literature records information and reflects the human experience. Students also compare and contrast answers to questions. Then...
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Cracked Marbles
Fourth graders determine how weathering, specifically ice, snow, and freezing water change the Earth's surface and rocks. After completing the investigations, they explain how heating and cooling expand and contract marbles until cracks...
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Coral Reefs Endangered
Students research where in the world coral reefs are located. In this ecology lesson, students create food chains and food web. They simulate growing coral reefs to understand their characteristics better.
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Trading in Gems
Students receive a bag of common gemstones. Without knowing gem names or value, students trade with each other as they desire. They choose one gem from their bags to keep. They discuss the name, value and characteristics of each gem.