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Transpiration

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students interactively explore the term transpiration. In this science/ecology lesson, students discuss what they would do if they were thirsty while conducting research in Brazil. Additionally, students write descriptive words to...
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WS 8.9 Presentation Questions

For Teachers 9th - 11th
In this mixtures worksheet, students answer twenty three questions about student presentations on topics such as amalgams, homogenized milk, antifreeze and coolants, soaps and detergents and water softeners.
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Comparing Local, National, International Biomes

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students calculate averages of climate sets of data. In this ecology instructional activity, students analyze data to determine identity of a biome and collect meteorological data to understand process.  Students also compare data...
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Detectives in the Landscape

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders explore landscapes. In this landscape lesson, 4th graders investigate different elements of landscapes. Students design a visual presentation using photographs taken during a nature walk.
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Soil Scrolls

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders examine soil samples and explore the what happens in each layer of the subsoil. They work in cooperative groups to create a scroll that shows what takes place in each layer, and discuss why much of the activity is in the...
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Suitcase, Parfleche and 'Isaptakay

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders explore farfeche and how the Nez Perce people use natural materials to derive colors for their artwork. They explore traditional paints and dyes used by the Nez Perce and create their own parfleche 'isaptakay.
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Using Radioactive Decay to Determine Geologic Age

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Young scholars investigae using radioactive decay to determine geologic age.
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LAYERS OF THE EARTH

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Young scholars use construction paper to model the layers of the earth.
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Speleothem Formations

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students examine how speleothem formations can be simulated. Students follow directions carefully in this laboratory experiment, and keep a written account of everything they observe. After five days, the students share their experiment...
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Geology of Yosemite

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Students are shown slides of Yosemite and explore how the valley was formed by performing an experiment. Instructions on how to set up the lab are included. They can be assessed orally or by writing a report on the outcome of the lab.
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Geology of Connecticut

For Teachers 8th - 9th
Students examine the geology of Connecticut, including plate tectonics, glaciation, and fossil formation. After reviewing past lessons, they write essays about what life may have been like in the Mesozoic Period. Following a field...
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Go With the Flow

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers experiment with a simulated river bed and examine how erosion takes place faster with a young, fast-moving river than with a slow, older river.
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Gold Mine

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students view and discuss a demonstration of how gold is mined and panned. They design and create a tunnel that has reinforcements to withstand collapse.
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Understanding Salinity

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students discuss why the ocean is salty. They discuss what salinity is. Students are told that is they want to know how much salt is in a body or water, they would use a special scientific tool. They complete an Estuarine Layers science...
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Quiz: Weather Lore

For Teachers 3rd
In this science worksheet, 3rd graders will focus on the weather. Students will respond to ten fill in the blank questions regarding well known weather sayings and phrases.
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HOLD ON TO THAT

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students will analyze how water enters different soils, how readily it passes through and how much water is held.1. Materials needed for the activity are; pint of clay, pint of sand, pint of loam, newspaper, three frozen fruit juice...
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The Formation of Soil

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students identify the different components that make up soil. In this earth science lesson, students create a pamphlet for next year's class. They analyze how erosion and weathering shape the Earth.
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How Soft or Hard is Your Water?

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students test samples of water to determine how a chemical water softener affects water's ability to form suds. After collecting their data and analyzing their results, students answer follow-up questions about their lab.
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Soil Analysis

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Learners examine zip lock bags of clay, silt, and sand to determine its origin. They rotate through stations to compare different soils and perform oil separation and Tullgren funnel tests.
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LESSON PLANS (print version) pdf What is a Fossil?

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students can better explain how mould and cast fossils occur when they make their own cast fossils using plaster of Paris and objects such as shells, bone or even their own hand or footprint.
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Back to the Past

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Students label fossil imprints. In this Geology activity, students view fossil imprints of several items. Students explain what a fossil is.
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Exploration Activities

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students examine the stages in finding, removing, and processing mineral resources. They participate in the "Exploration Hunt" and "Leasing Mineral Rights" activities to better get a handle on their studying.
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Froth Flotation

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders experiment with the froth flotation process to extract metallic ore by using basic chemicals and equipment in the science classroom.
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Secrets in a Grain of Sand

For Teachers 7th - 10th
Students working in small groups examine beach sand to discover signs of erosion, weathering, ocean currents and waves. They present their findings to the class.