Lesson Plan
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Forest Floor Terrarium

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students study the aspects of a forest floor ecosystem, including decomposition, the water cycle, food webs, the needs of living things, and physical vs. chemical change over an extended period. In addition, students conduct observations...
Lesson Plan
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The Five Senses

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Students use their senses to identify a variety of items in mystery boxes after listening to a read aloud of Aliki's, "My Five Senses." They taste and smell items to identify them before completing a Senses Literature Log. They label the...
Lesson Plan
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Plants and Roots

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students discuss the parts of the plant and perform an experiment in which they observe a plant's water transportation system. They become familiar with several local plants used for utilitarian purposes.
Lesson Plan
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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...
Lesson Plan
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Water and Ice

For Teachers K - 2nd
Pupils explore the states of matter. In this physical science instructional activity, students observe what happens to water when it freezes and record observations. Pupils then observe ice when it melts and record observations.
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Agreeing on Terms

For Teachers 8th - 10th
Students observe and describe the wind, analyze their descriptions for clarity, and compare them both with Jonas Ramoth's descriptions and with the Beaufort Wind Scale. observations.
Lesson Plan
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Just Bee-Tween Flowers!

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Pupils examine the major plant and bee parts and the interdependency between bees and fast plants. They observe and record the stages of growth of fast plants, take photos of the plant's life cycle, and cross-pollinate plants.
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Drift Study

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students observe, work with charts, and work with GPS in order to determine the path lobster larvae travel based on local currents. For this currents lesson plan, students work with local fishermen to observe the natural currents.
Lesson Plan
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Wait, They Can do it by Themselves?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers recognize the concepts of evolution and natural selection as well as cladistics and phylogenetics. They observe the process of regeneration in a sea anemone to simulate asexual reproduction.
Lesson Plan
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Biodiversity in Illinois-Pond Habitats

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders construct a pond habitat in the classroom using a small swimming pool partially filled with water, real cattails, a tree log adjoining, and plastic animal life appropriate to a pond setting. They examine the frog in detail...
Lesson Plan
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Don't Just Do It - Talk About It!

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students investigate a scientific problem while documenting their research with a video camera.  In this scientific method lesson, students hypothesize over a science question and conduct an investigation to find an answer....
Lesson Plan
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Adopt a Tree

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Young scholars adopt tress on their school campus for scientific observation purposes. In this tree science lesson, students adopt a tree at their school, observe the season changes for the tree, and create a PowerPoint presentation...
Lesson Plan
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Desert Tortoise Adaptations

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students observe the Desert Tortoise in its natural surroundings. In this adaptations lesson, students study and take pictures of an animal in its habitat, then design a PowerPoint which addresses adaptations, biodiversity, and threats...
Lesson Plan
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If You Don't Believe Me, Look It Up!

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Students learn about bats.  In this bats and comprehension lesson plan, students read Stellaluna and share what they know about bats.  Students complete a learning log and Internet bat research worksheet.
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Changing Weather: Comparing Climate from Voyageur Times to Today

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders compare climates. In this weather lesson, 5th graders observe and record weather observations and discuss the impact of weather on people. Students also discuss the concept of global warming and determine how weather...
Worksheet
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Dead Trees Alive! Nature Notebook

For Students 4th - 5th
In this tree worksheet, students find a dead tree or rotting log, describe it and look for signs of living things near it and all animals they find below it. 
Lesson Plan
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Give a Hoot - Don't Pollute at Black Bayou Lake

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders visit Black Bayou Lake refuge to observe the effects of land and water pollution. They photograph examples of pollution. They list the effects of land and water pollution. They write a persuasive letter to convince others...
Lesson Plan
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Endosymbiosis: A Friend Within

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students research the ecological principle of symbiosis. Using a microscope, students observe the relationship of mutualism between termites and flagellates. Students examine a live termite and protozoans. They discuss the principles...
Lesson Plan
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Hatching Chickens

For Teachers K - 2nd
Young scholars learn the importance of caring for eggs as they hatch chickens. In this egg hatching lesson plan, students observe what happens when eggs are hatched into chickens by completing a e-worksheet and watching a web based movie.
Lesson Plan
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2005 Submarine Ring of Fire Expedition: What's for Dinner?

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students compare and contrast photosynthesis and chemosynthesis as sources of primary production for biological communities, and describe sources of primary production observed in biological communities associated with volcanoes of the...
Lesson Plan
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Down to the Root of the Plant

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders identify types of roots and their purposes and observe and document root growth. students observe their roots once a week and measure them to see if there has been any change. Each student keeps a written log of the...
Lesson Plan
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Bug Jars

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Young scholars explore symmetry.  Students observe a variety of bug and plant drawings, then draw a bug jar. Young scholars observe bugs from the top of the jar for a symmetrical view, and the side of the jar for an asymmetrical...
Lesson Plan
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Seismic Calendar

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars discover how often earthquakes happen in a region of their choice. In this science lesson, students use online resouces to help them do their investigations. Young scholars make their own map of their region and show how...
Lesson Plan
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Testing Density of Various Soap Products

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students have the opportunity to observe, measure and analyze the density of aerosol shaving creams and foams generated from shampoo and dishwashing liquids or detergents.