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Wig-wag Physics

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners make observations on the effects of a small, medium and large weight on the movement of a wig-wag apparatus. They use their observations to develop a generalized inference of the effect weight on movement patterns.
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Three-dimensional cooperative modeling

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students explore what is present below the surface in order to drill into the ground and record the type of material that the drill brings to the surface. They discuss the benefits and drawbacks of distance communications. Students...
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Can You Catch the Water?

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Pupils work together to construct a model of a water catchment basin. They survey water patterns and complete experiments to see where rain travels and collects. They discover how engineers design structures that help with drainage.
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Bird Banter

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students listen to examples of common bird songs of birds found in Illinois. As a class, they discover the importance between the differences in songs and calls. They practice making their own bird calls and songs to end the...
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Where's the Beach?

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students use beach profile data to analyze how erosion and sediment transport changed seashore slopes. In this geology lesson, students plot the data provided and analyze erosion patterns. They also assess coastal erosion management...
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Using SWMP Data

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students are introduced to the SWMP system which tracks short-and long-term changes in water. Using this data, they plot and interpret the data on a graph to determine how human activities are lowering the water quality. They also...
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The Path of Pollution

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students follow the path of pollution from the Chernobyl accident. Students name and locate countries where radiation traveled to, describe how air pollution travels from one area to another, and seqence the travel of radiation in...
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Particulate Matter: How Dirty is the Air We Breathe?

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders create a simple testing device and collect and observe the pollution in the air we breathe.
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Pecan Fingerprints

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students investigate the traits that make them individuals. They study that natural items have traits that make them unique by looking at pecans. They make fingerprint animals which they use to design fingerprint cards.
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The Great Food Hunt

For Teachers 1st - 4th
Students locate 'animals' in various environments and draw conclusions about the survival value of structures the animals possess. They create model macaroni animals and hide them and other teams of students find them and evaluate the...
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Salmon and Steelhead Life Stories Web Search

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Young scholars conduct an Internet investigation to discover the natural history of local salmon and/or steelhead. They then write a story that describes the life of a salmon or steelhead from the local creek, including a description of...
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Plants

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders examine the characteristics of plants. As a class, they brainstorm a list of items plants need in order to survive. In groups, they complete various experiments in which they discover the functions of the parts of the plant.
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Primate Classification 2006

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students examine groups of hierarchy and see how primates are categorized.  In this primate classification instructional activity students view video and slides then examine the taxonomy of primates. 
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Bats

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Pupils examine the migration patterns of the long-nosed bat. They identify threats to the animal and the plants bats help pollinate. They participate in a game to help them with the information.
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Who Am I Like?

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Students examine family structures. In this family structure lesson, students discover things about their own families and those of their classmates. They make a chart as they discuss nature versus nurture, complete a worksheet about who...
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Building a Car: Mechanical Engineering

For Teachers K
Students use common materials to build a car. In this car building mechanical engineering lesson, students build a car using a milk cartoon and plastic wheels. They discuss what mechanical engineers do and what makes a car run.
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How Machines Help Us Stay Healthy

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Students visit different departments at a local hospital to see how machines help peoples such as the CAT scan machine. They build a model of such a machine that shows how patients are moved in and out of the machine.
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Galileo's Battle for the Heavens

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Students view a video about Galileo's discoveries. They work together to create graphs showing the current sunspot cycle. They discuss how sunspots can cause communication devices problems.
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Principles Of Flight: Wings That Spin

For Teachers K - 1st
Students discover how flight is possible.  For this physics lesson, students investigate the properties of a blimp and gyro-copter, comparing rotating wings and fixed wings of aircraft.  Students create their own model aircraft...
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Animals Finding Rice Paddies

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders examine the animals who live in rice paddies and create a chart.  In this rice lesson, 4th graders link the types of animals living in each ecosystem with a bar graph. Students use colored bars to show...
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Integrating Art Into Other Content Areas

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Here are some ideas to help add an art lesson to every math, science, social studies, or language arts unit.
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Climate Weather Seasons Review

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students review the concepts of weather, climate, and seasons. They read and discuss a book about weather. Students collaborate on a class definition for climate and weather. They match weather to the specific season. Students...
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Can We Be Both Conservationists and Consumers?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers explore their role as consumers and conservationists and what roles they play in today's economic climate. They explore resource allocation issues. Students analyze data and draw comparisons between historical and...
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How Has Transportation Changed Since the 1899 Harriman Alaska Expedition?

For Teachers K
Students recognize modes of transportation. They research historical data from a variety of primary and secondary sources including the Harriman expedition journals, related web sites, and photographs from the expedition. Students...