Lesson Plan
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Latent Heat and Clouds

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Students explore latent heat and how it relates to clouds in the atmosphere.  In this earth science lesson plan students investigate how clouds are formed. Students examine clouds and the water cycle.
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Vibrant Volcanoes

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Young scholars explore volcanoes. In this science lesson, students discuss the characteristics of volcanoes and view a video segment about a volcano. Young scholars examine plate tectonics.
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Spiders and Their Body Parts

For Teachers K
Students gain an understanding of the different parts of spiders by observing and drawing a spider. They utilize technology in order to gain a better understanding of spiders and their body parts.
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Now You See It, Now You Don't

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students study the process of evaporation.
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World Wide Winds

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students recognize that global winds move in specific directions in specific latitudes and describe that in a written form. They relate the motion of the wind belts to historical navigation.
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Winds Go Spinning Around

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students simulate the Coriolis Effect to comprehend why winds in the Westerlies are prone to cyclonic and anti-cyclonic motion. They arrive at an explanation of processes that drive world wind patterns
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Sound: Are All Sounds Loud?

For Teachers 1st
First graders explore physics by utilizing education software. In this sound properties lesson plan, 1st graders discuss the different sounds associated with different materials and perform an object dropping experiment in class....
Lesson Plan
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Strong as the Weakest Link

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Students discover the types of stress that materials undergo. They examine how bridges and skyscrapers are built to withhold the tension. They create their own structure out of marshmallows and spaghetti.
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Acid-Base Titration

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students determine the concentration of an unknown solution. This task assesses students' abilities to state hypothesis, develop procedures for investigation, plan for recording and organizing observations and data, collect data, create...
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Acid Rain

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students use real-time weather maps to determine the likelihood of acid rainfall in a region. Students apply their understanding of interaction between weather systems, land and air pollution, to address acid rain and the effects on...
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Tanker Spills

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students predict the flow of an oil spill and depict it on a map. They explain the predicted route of the oil spill using knowledge of ocean currents in a short presentation to their peers.
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Investigating and Using Biomass Gases

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine the definitions of biomas gasification and generate their own biomass gas.  In this renewable energy lesson students collect gases and roast a marshmallow. 
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Atmospheric Cells

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars recognize that the sun is the source of energy driving atmosphere cells. They relate the motion of the atmospheric cells to mantle convection cells. Students recognize that the function of atmospheric cells is to move heat...
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Heating Crystals

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students examine the effects of heating on various crystals. They answer questions in the observation category which assess their ability to use a variety of senses to observe data in a certain way- a scientific way.
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Locating Vent Fields Using CTD Data

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students describe the way hydrothermal vents work. Students work on locating vent regions through remote collection of data about water temperature and density. Comparing density and temperatures graphs, students search for indicators...
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Determining pH

For Teachers 7th - 10th
Students evaluate pH levels through a solubility experiment. In this pH levels lesson, students list characteristics of acids and bases. Students complete their own pH level experiment. Students go to the GEMS Alien Juice Bar website to...
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Solids and Water

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students investigate mixtures made of water and familiar solid materials. They observe and discuss the changes that occur immediately and set the mixtures aside for a day. Finally, students observe the mixtures, note changes, and graph...
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Making Changes

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Students observe and record the changes they see when adding heat and cold to objects. In this changes lesson plan, students experiment with different objects and see if heat and cold change the makeup of the object. They then record...
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Cooling With Sunshades

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students conduct research in order to find the effects of properties exposed to heat and how they change temperature. They consider the effect of sunlight upon objects that are placed outside with the help of an experiment. They also...
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Cold Fronts

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students determine its' direction of movement, and list at least five weather conditions associated with the specific front, given animations of several atmospheric variables during a cold front passage. They list at least three weather...
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Ammonium Nitrate - Efficient Fertilizers

For Teachers 11th - Higher Ed
Students study the chemistry of ammonium nitrate and consider the advantages and disadvantages of this compound. They compare different fertilizers and calculate the molar mass and percent nitrogen in the different fertilizers.
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What is a Nanometer?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students develop a concept of the relative size of objects in the nanoscale. They complete an internet assignment using the website,"Scaling the Universe to Your Desktop". Using analogies to common objects they get an appreciation for...
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Chemistry - Atoms and Elements

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers perform varied activities as part of a layered curriculum unit: They write and perform a skit that outlines the evolution of the model of the atom. The script is submitted to the teacher for review before performance.
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Periodic Table

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders examine the metallic and nonmetallic elements on the Periodic Table. They identify the characteristics of these elements.