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How do new species form?
Tenth graders conduct a critical analysis of current evolutionary concepts. They describe how scientists continue to investigate theories. Students examine examples with experimental data that suggest alternative methods of species...
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Paleoecology of "Fossilized" Owl Pellets
Students examine fossilized owl pellets to determine how a species environmental preferences allow us to reconstruct probable past environments. Differences in anatomy are used to identify species in this lesson plan.
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In a Family Way
Students research a rare species of animals that are a step away from the well known animals of our zoos. They create a mobile which displays the geography, habits, population and habitat of the animals. They draw a picture.
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Classification
Students work in groups of 4-6 for the experiment/activity part of this exercise. They classify ten animals using the information on the picture to group the animals. Students develop descriptions, explanations, predictions, and models...
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Bird Beak Buffet
Students complete an activity that allows them to better understand that birds traits are closely related to what they eat, where they live, etc. In this bird trait instructional activity students complete an activity, create a...
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Diversity And Adaptations Of Organisms
Eighth graders study how and why animals are classified into eight groups in the animal kingdom. They work together to identify organisms. They use the key to determine the phylum for the included problems.
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Keys and Classifying
Learners classify plants and animals. In this organisms lesson, students define classification and sort various objects according to its attributes. Learners then research wildlife of Utah and group the organisms into categories.
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Trees In Nature And Art
Students study the use of trees in art. In this investigative lesson students create art using leaf rubbings and develop a classification method for trees.
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Matter
Fifth graders investigate the nature of matter and of the scientific processes associated with them in this series of lessons.
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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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Writing About the Indian Monsoon (Calibrated Peer Review):
Students develop an understanding of the atmospheric processes underlying the Indian Monsoon. They explore the use data to make a scientific argument. They listen to lecture on atmospheric circulation processes.
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Jurassic Park Debate
Students research behavior, phsyiology, and ecology of dinoaurs. Students role-play as scientific specialists such as geneticists and ecologists. They present their research findings in a research paper.
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Dichotomous Keys
Third graders practice using dichotomous keys. They discover why scientists use them and why it is important to classify animals. They use candy to practice classifying objects and move on to classifying animals.
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Using Insects in the Classroom
Learners identify and interpret the importance and diversity of the insect world. Students organize various insects into a classification system based on their characteristics. Learners create tree or window ornaments utilizing their...
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Centipede or Millipede?
Pupils discuss millipedes and centipedes in terms of their classification as arthropod. Using a diagram, students categorize and compare and contrast the characteristics of millipedes and centipedes based on their discussion of...
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Identifying Trees Using Their Leaves in the Summer
Students discover how to identify trees. In this research lesson students use dendrology to decipher what a trees classification is and explore each trees traits.
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The World of Insects and Spiders
Students identify numerous insects and their body parts. In this insect life lesson, students practice using scientific vocabulary while comparing the different parts of spiders and insects. Students view several videos...
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Science NetLinks: It Counts
Pupils explore how numbers are assigned to objects, as well as think about more, less, or equal values. They describe, compare, and classify plants.
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Delicious Graphing
Fourth graders sort trail mix by type and use that information to create different types of graphs for comparing.
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Sink or Float?
Students predict and explore to discover which objects sink or float in fresh and salt water, predict how salt affect objects, write predictions on T chart, discuss difference between man-made and natural waters, and graph results.
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Applemania
First graders read "Ten Apples Up On Top!" and view real apples in a basket. They taste different kinds of apples and describe the tastes: sour, sweet, etc. They graph everyone's favorite apple. They interpret the graph and draw their...
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Rock Sorting
First graders observe rocks, record their observations about the rocks and classify them according to their observations. As a class, 1st graders create a list of observable characteristics of rocks. They sort a group of rocks...
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Who's There
Fifth graders, in groups, make a list of at least three animals that would survive well in a particular environment. After an allotted time, they pass their list to another group, where they will add to it. They discuss adaptations each...
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Out of Sight, Out of Mind
Students analyze and graph the waste created in a typical lunch period. They increase awareness of various types of garbage students create during a lunch period. They construct and label a graph of lunch waste. They brainstorm...