Lesson Plan
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Show Me the Halite!

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Introduce middle school mineralologists to halite. The opening of the lesson involves a video and worksheet to which there are no links. However, you can replace the video with any informational clip that you can find online about halite...
Lesson Plan
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Diversity in Insects

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders examine bug photos from across the world. In this biodiversity lesson, students use a field notebook to make observation of insect photos. The class gather on the floor to investigate a mock field of...
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Pollutants on Coral

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students consider the effects of acid pollution on coral reefs. They brainstorm previous knowledge about coral reefs, examine a piece of coral and observe its reaction to acid and list ways we can prevent pollution from reaching the reefs.
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Cycles of Life

For Teachers K
Students begin their study of insect life cycles by listening to a read aloud of Eric Carle's The Very Hungry Caterpillar. They learn the vocabulary of metamorphosis including egg, larva, pupa, chrysalis, and adult. They observe actual...
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Temperate Forest: Comparing Deciduous and Evergreen Trees

For Teachers 1st - 4th
Students  compare deciduous and evergreen trees. In this tree lesson, students list the differences between these two species of trees.
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Forest Ecosystem Field Trip

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students investigate the environment by participating in a class field trip. In this botany lesson plan, students attend a field trip through their local park or forest while listening to a nature guide. Students practice using their 5...
Lesson Plan
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Decomposers- Nurse Logs

For Teachers 1st - 4th
Students investigate temperate forest ecosystems. In this environmental lesson, students discover different forms of decomposition and its effect on the environment.
Worksheet
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Kingdom Protista

For Students 6th - 8th
In this kingdom protista worksheet, students conduct an experiment by placing a handful of grass in to a jar and filling the jar with pond water. Then they place the jar in a dark place for 3 days and observe the contents. Students also...
Worksheet
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A View of the Cell

For Students 6th - 12th
In this viewing of a cell worksheet, students will read a paragraph about how microscopes work and will use a diagram of a light microscope to complete 2 short answer questions.
Lesson Plan
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Microscopy Exercises

For Teachers 2nd - 7th
Students explore organisms and botany by utilizing microscopes. In this microscopic research lesson, students define many plant and organism related vocabulary terms such as conifers, moss and spores. Students view spores and other...
Worksheet
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Optics - The Study of Light

For Students 9th - 12th
For this optics worksheet, students read about how light can reflect or refract and how lenses and mirrors work. Then students complete 13 matching, 27 fill in the blank, and 8 word problems.
Worksheet
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Optics- The Study of Light

For Students 9th - 12th
In this optics activity, students read about refraction and reflection, lenses and mirrors, and objects and images. They answer 13 matching questions about light rays, light behavior and types of lenses. They also answer 9 questions such...
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Labs from YSI 95: Telescopes

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Learners build a telescope and give quantification of its magnification and field of view while making observations regarding images. In this telescope lesson, students use a simple lens to project a scene and examine various telescope...
Interactive
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Microscope Online

For Students 7th - 10th
For this microscope worksheet, students use an on line site to answer questions about the history of the microscope, they view objects and identify what each is, they explore different magnifications of the microscope and they answer...
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Lenses

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students identify the different uses of lenses. In this physics lesson, students compare lenses with different magnifications. They record data and discuss results in class.
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Looking into Space

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students explore how telescopes work, build a model of their own, and consider how real telescopes can be used to ask-and help answer-questions about the universe.
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In the Field with Salamanders

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students observe salamanders, take pictures of them, and classify them into an online format. In this animal classification lesson, students use collection materials and digital camera to photograph and observe salamanders. Students...
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Stream

For Teachers 1st - 2nd
Students examine stream waters. In this scientific inquiry instructional activity, students "explore" wetlands as they participate in a demonstration that reveals information about steam waters and insects.
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Investigating Fingerprints

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students observe that each individual possesses a unique set of fingerprints. The Magic School Bus series of books, "Inside the Human Body," is used in conjunction with this lesson.
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Playground Pounding

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Learners view photographs depicting soil compression. They use soil and sponges to observe how soil can be compacted, and its implications.
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The Rubber Band Air Test

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Learners complete an experiment to determine how dirty the air is in their local community. They analyze images and discuss the varying degrees of air pollution. They discuss the results of the experiment.
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The Birth of a Butterfly

For Teachers K
Students explore the life cycle of a butterfly. In this butterfly instructional activity, students visit Internet websites, observe a live butterfly culture, and examine pictures of the stages of the butterfly life cycle in order to...
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Rocks and Minerals Unit

For Teachers 6th - 7th
Students test and identify minerals according to their physical properties. In this mineral analysis activity, students brainstorm ways to identify rocks and list their ideas on chart paper. Students study samples in pairs and identify...
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Prints and Patterns

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students learn the art of lifting a fingerprint and write about the procedure.