Lesson Plan
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Genetic Disease Symposium

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Pupils research simple and complex inheritance patterns, fetal development and the potential complications of teratogens, fetal and genetic testing, and the ethical, legal, and social implications of genetic counseling.
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Reading Trees: Understanding Dendrochronology

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students examine tree-ring dating and discuss the lack of water the settlers in Jamestown faced. They create paper tree rings, simulate rain patterns, and describe the history of construction paper tree sequences.
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Exploring the MapleCopter

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Study explore the motion of maple seeds and design experiments to explain their spinning flight patterns. They make observations, explain ideas of motion, use models, analyze previous reports and experiments, identify relevant factors...
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Mystery of the Matching Marks

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students view a Power Point and complete activities related to genetic evidence of human evolution. In this molecular evolution lesson, students view and discuss a provide presentation. They search for the "tell-tale telomere" and...
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Solar System: Let's Take a Trip

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders consider outer space. In this introductory solar system lesson, 3rd graders complete a KWL chart and listen to the story The Magic School Bus: Lost in the Solar System, by Joanna Cole & Bruce Degen. They will contribute...
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Climate Control

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students explore the locations, characteristics, and natural and human dangers to the Earth's biomes to better explain the relationship between daily life and the environment.
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Stars and Galaxies

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders define constellations and how they are used as reference points and identify stars and constellations in the nighttime sky. They construct their own planetarium star finder and identify the location of circumpolar, zodiac,...
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Keep It Hot

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Young scholars design and conduct an experiment to explore the insulating abilities of different materials for keeping a liquid in a paper cup warm. A small group of lab partners test four different materials: black paper, white paper,...
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Mining Minerals

For Teachers 8th - 11th
Students define the properties of minerals and their uses in their world. In this multi-lesson unit, students contribute actively to discussions of mineral mining, mining methods and mine safety. A role play lesson asks students to...
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Biomimicry: Working Together, Cooperative Design

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students explore the concept of biomimicry. In this cooperative design lesson, students consider how cooperation is connected to nature and then collaborate to create their own cooperative designs for the future.
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Clay Sculpture: Relationships

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students explore art history by conducting an in-class activity. In this sculpting lesson plan, students examine previously created art sculptures in a textbook. Students utilize clay, sculpting tools and grey paper to create their own...
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Walking the Talk

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Students research production, consumptions, and disposal of everyday items and their ecological impacts. In this sustainable economics lesson, students discuss clothing and various items used everyday in groups. Students then study a...
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Aging of Trees

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Students examine tree rings to determine its age.  In this tree ring lesson, students examine core tree samples, identify the tree rings, and then determine its age. Students complete a worksheet, deciding which of the two core...
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Global Warming Part 2: Climate Change

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students examine natural climate fluctuations of the Earth and compare climate change in last 100 years to earlier climate changes. From this data students will begin to define current issues related to global warming.
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Investigation 2 - Classifying Rocks

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders identify basic properties of minerals and rocks. They access websites and utilize worksheets imbedded in this lesson plan to further their understanding of rock classification.
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Why Is Evolution Controversial?

For Teachers 11th - Higher Ed
Students explore why evolution has always been a controversial topic. They use scientific process to determine patterns and to critically analyze alternative explanations for natural phenomena.
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Crayon Resist Fall Leaves

For Teachers K - 2nd
Young scholars create examples of fall leaves using crayons, paints, and white paper in this fall Art lesson for the early-elementary classroom. Emphasis is placed upon a class lecture/discussion about why leaves change color prior to...
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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...
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Clay Hill Animal Sampling

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students create animal print casts from molds in the classroom. They use the cast patterns to identify animal prints on a field trip in which they locate animal tracks, identify the location with GPS and create field casts of the...
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Wet-Dry Bulb Hygrometers: Measuring Relative Humidity and Apparent Temperature

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Young scholars work in groups of 4 for the activity/activity part of this exercise. They know that clouds are formed by the condensation of water vapor, affect weather and climate. Also that global patterns of atmospheric movement...
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Global Warming Investigation Guide

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students expllore the issue of global warming. They investigate how temperature changes naturally over time and by location. In addition, they explore the different areas where human activities might be affecting climate and write a...
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Water, Rivers & Topography

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore the topography of Idaho and the importance of surface water and drainage. using digital maps, they inspect the courses of major rivers, Yellowstone Hot Spots, and the natural landscaping of Pocatello. Students explore...
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Pre-School Ball Run

For Teachers Pre-K
Students demonstrate force and motion by rolling a ball through a tube. In this motion lesson students explore what happens to the ball when it is rolled with other balls of various sizes, weights, and textures.
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Wood

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students practice reading comprehension strategies. In this literacy and science lesson, students read a non-fiction article about wood and locate main ideas and details. Students construct a card game using information taken from the text.