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Hands on Habitat
Students teach others about habitats. In this Science instructional activity, students use a Science Log to record data about a habitat for research. Students analyze the data and construct an eco-chamber. Students share what they have...
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Earth's Energy Cycle: Albedo
Learners complete all of the steps in the scientific inquiry process to study Earth's energy cycle; most specifically temperature and the effects of albedo (energy reflected back from Earth's surface) on temperature.
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Scientific Inquiry: Periodic Motion
Young scholars construct their own pendulum. In this physics lesson, students design an experiment to find the factors affecting its period. They formulate a conclusion based on experimental data.
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Calibrated Peer Review: Introduction-Why Study Geology?
Students read an article written by Sarah Andrews, a geologist who has written mystery novels featuring a geologist who solves crimes. After reading the article, students write an essay based on a Writing Prompt and begin peer review...
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What is the Thermal Depolymerization Process?
Young scholars examine the differences between Boyle's Law and Charles' Law. They discuss the concept of thermal depolymerization. They answer discussion questions to end the lesson.
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The Artistic Process
Students experiment with and compare different types of natural resources and tools used by artists in ancient Rome. They describe changes in natural resources that result from human use of tools.
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Urban Impact on Chollas Creek (California): A Field Study
Students, in groups, take samples from a creek and keep a field journal on their samples. They also perform tests on their samples.
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The Miracle Fish: Learning to Design an Experiment
Students develop procedures to explore the behavior of fish. In this scientific experiment lesson students from a hypothesis, write a question, identify different variables and controls in their experiment.
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Mock Environmental Summit
Students increase understanding of human impact on Earth's sytems and the climate. They develop persuasive and critical skills as writers and presenters. They become familiar with political decision making processes.
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Can You Detect Bias?
Eleventh graders recognize some, but not all ethical processes (e.g., independent verification, clarifying assumptions, disclosing conflicts of interest) that shape scientific endeavors. Students build awareness of how various sources...
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Determining the Geologic History of Rocks from a Gravel Deposit
Students apply the scientific method to identify rocks from glacial deposits, hypothesize how they got there and then test their hypothesis. They are given the experience of active, hands-on inquiry.
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Paper Chromatography
Small groups of students perform paper chromatography to separate food dyes into their component colors. Students perform the experiment and collect, organize, and represent their data to form an explanation of their outcomes. Students...
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Classification
Students investigate how to classify items based on similar characteristics. They study the scientific system of classification.
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Wheel of...Geology!
Students participate in a group review activity in order to prepare for an exam. Students study together in their teams prior to the review activity. During the game, the teacher spins a wheel with subject categories written on it and...
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Bird Populations
Students gather data about bird populations. They study bird migratory patterns using the methods that researchers use. They write an essay explaining the differences between the four types of population movements.
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Deep Freeze
Students practice various sampling methods for retrieving data under water, ice, and soil. They use the sample material to make temperature measurements, chart contents, and draw their own conclusions as to what is happening in the...
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Color My World
Students identify colors created by mixing primary colors and describe the process. They then design a book using the colors of a given season entitled "Colors of the Season".
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Super Glue Fuming of Latent Fingerprints
Students explore latent fingerprinting. They observe a supervised demonstration of the process that real-life crime scene investigators sometimes use to identify latent fingerprints. In addition, they brainstorm ways to improve the...
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Dissect with Respect
Students, through exercises and discussions, examine ethics involved in the process of choosing and using laboratory animals, respect for the animal they dissect and how to behave in an ethical manner as they dissect various lab specimens.
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Natural Disaster Risk at Home
Students analyze the natural disater threat and potential mitigation techniques of their (parents?) home. They apply classroom knowledge to students, non-academic daily life. Students recongize how earth processes specifically affect...
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Crustal Sinking
Students measure the rate of sinking of a test tube into a beaker of "glop", representing a model of the interaction between the Earth's crust and upper mantle. This task assesses students' abilities to make simple observations,...
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Cell Swelling and Shrinking
Students examine the concept of osmosis in relation to dehydration. They identify the function and structure of semi-permable membranes. They predict how certain processes can affect the characteristics of an organism.
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Temperature and Enzymes
Students compare the times it takes the milk in each of two cups to curdle. They are told that an enzyme that is added to the milk, rennin, is involved in the natural curdling process of milk. Students are asked to consider what...
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Let the Sunshine in
Students collect and analyze data to study wavelengths of visible light. They cover Styrofoam cups with three different colors of sun filtering products and shine a lamp directly on the cups. They determine the most effective filtering...