Curated OER
Beyond the Tap
High schoolers explain the basic properties of a watershed including how water flows from higher to lower elevations and how watersheds are interconnected. They comprehend how the placement of buildings, roads, and parking lots can be...
Curated OER
An Introduction to Sensors
Students list as many examples as they can of sensors in their homes and/or automobiles, define sensor and discuss what qualifies devices as sensors, explore human eyes as sensors while watching teacher demonstration, recognize that...
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How Powerful is Static Electricity
Students explore energy by participating in controlled electricity experiment. In this static electricity instructional activity, students identify the different sources that can create energy and how static electricity can be created...
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Life in Streams and Ponds
Learners collect microorganisms, demonstrate correct laboratory/Gram stain procedure, and design and construct tables to organize data.
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From Ground to Water
High schoolers explore groundwater and issues relating to groundwater. They discus the problems involving groundwater. Students write a newspaper story addressing groundwater problems. They create a comic strip addressing groundwater...
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Beach Erosion Investigation
High schoolers determine the effects of gentle and strong waves on beach erosion. They use a stream table to simulate a beach and sketch the beach profile after simulated waves of different sizes.
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Science: Draining the Land - the Mississippi River
Students use topographic maps to identify parts of rivers. In addition, they discover gradient and predict changes in the channels caused by variations in water flow. Other activities include sketching a river model with a new channel...
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Science: Not just Gold
Students articulate a possible relationship between arsenic and gold deposits in a written statement using data to substantiate the relationship they describe. They use real data to determine the source of the arsenic in the drinking...
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The Life and Times of the West River 1776-1896: A Study of Early Industry in Westville
Learners examine the role of the West River in Connecticut in providing water power to local industries. In groups, they determine and discuss what needs to be considered before building along a river. They also research the other...
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Groundwater Pollution Site Assessment
Students study how a geologist examines a hazardous waste spill using an actual site. They use site data to map the spill, find its source and determine how fast the spill is spreading.
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Using A Winogradsky Column to Analyze Microbial Communities
Students use easily obtained materials to study ecological succession in a microbiological community. They collect water samples from outdoor sources in plastic bottles to observe and record changes.
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Acid Rain
Learners write paragraphs and color illustrations about acid rain. They color in where gases come from, where they mix, and where they return. They discuss where acids form in the atmosphere and list manmade sources of gases.
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Wetlands Project
Students discover how wetlands filter out contaminants before they can reach other bodies of water. In groups, they design and build a model of a stormwater wetland. They test the water quality and inform their classmates about the...
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Take a Dip: Be a Field Guide
Students create a Visitor's Field Guide for the local area in order to enhance the understanding of natural features of the area for those who may be unfamiliar with the area.
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the Wonder of Wetlands
Students explore the importance of the wetland ecosystem, its properties and functions, as well as, the many birds, animals, and plant life found there.
NOAA
Ocean Primary Production
A cold seep is an area on the ocean floor where hydrocarbons leak from the earth, creating entire unique biomes. Learners explore cold seeps, photosynthesis in the ocean, and its limitations due to loss of sunlight. They further explore...
California Academy of Science
Pollution in Our Watershed
The concept of a how pesticides and other chemicals pass through a watershed can be difficult for younger learners to grasp without a concrete example. In the activity here, some blank paper, markers, and a spray bottle are all you need...
Curated OER
Everything Breathes!
Fifth graders test plants in the dark and in the light to see which grows better and produces more carbon dioxide. In this plants lesson plan, 5th graders also create ways for plants to go through photosynthesis that they can observe.
Curated OER
Reading in the Content Area-Leeches
Learners practice the habits of good readers in the content area of science. While reading a brief article about leeches, they compare and contrast the material read with other information they have encountered.
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Rollin' on the River: The McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System
Middle schoolers take a close look at the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation system. They study how the Army Corps of Engineers built and monitor the system. Learners discover how a lock and a dam work, and study three benefits of...
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Forecasting the Path of Mudflows
Students watch a demonstration to introduce them to the consistency of mudflows and how they move. In groups, they compare and contrast volcanic avalanches and mudflows. They create their own model of a volcano, simulate how it erupts...
Curated OER
Volcanoes!: Forecasting the Path of Mudflows
Students construct a mockup of a volcano by crumbling up newspapers and piling them into the shape of a volcano. They place a tarp over the newspapers making sure the tarp is large enough to simulate a flat area at the volcano's base....
Curated OER
Aquatic Science
What a terrific way to explore the pond habitat! Learners discuss the animal and plant life found in the Long Island area. They also discuss vocabulary terms, identify pollution concerns, and resource conservation.
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Natural Gardening
Learners study the effect of pesticides on plants and insects. In this gardening lesson, students discuss the importance of insects. They define pesticides, evaluate their effectiveness and the problems they might cause. Learners...