Lesson Plan
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Blooming Thermometers

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students study phenology, or the study of climate change. They research the Japanese springtime festival of Hanami and plot and interpret average cherry blossom bloom date data from the past 1100 years.
Lesson Plan
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Erosion Explosion

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders explore soil erosion. Through a class discussion, they examine soil conservation methods. Given a potted plant, 9th graders observe the effects of erosion when water is poured over the soil. Students brainstorm terms...
Lesson Plan
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School Yard Park/Ecosystem

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders observe and categorize different sections of a park and it's ecosystem. In this categorizing lesson plan, 5th graders collect different facets of nature from a nearby park (without disturbing the ecosystem). They map,...
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Who Cares About the Forest?

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students explore the natural environment and people's views, in particular the Native Americans. In this environment lesson students discover the many uses of wood as it pertains to our natural resources.
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Coqui Culture

For Teachers 3rd - 12th
Students investigate natural and manmade features that are specific to the island of Puerto Rico. They make lists of features after research is conducted using a variety of resources that includes the Internet. They follow-up with class...
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Match the Hatch

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students learn how to flyfish and learn that flyfishing plays an important role in protecting, and restoring coldwater fisheries. In this flyfishing lesson plan, students learn the art of flyfishing and learn about the natural feeding...
Lesson Plan
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Wild Animal Investigation - Habitat Diorama

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students research wild animals in cooperative groups and use their information to construct habitat dioramas. They demonstrate competence in using different information sources, including those of a technical nature, to accomplish...
Lesson Plan
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Introducing Models to Elementary School Students

For Teachers K - 8th
Students explore the concept of models. In this model lesson, students examine 3-dimensional models of various objects and body parts to better understand the natural world.
Lesson Plan
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What is a Living Thing, and How Does a Living Thing Respond to Its Environment?

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students investigate how living things interact with their environment. In this living things lesson, students complete lessons for science investigations on what living things have in common. Students study cells, complete...
Lesson Plan
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Do You Want to Risk it?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students investigate the history of natural disaster events for a given county, discuss the impact of population and the risk from natural disaster events.  In this hurricane activity students use a geographic information system to...
Lesson Plan
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Seahawk Educational & Environmental Discovery Program

For Teachers K - 12th
Students identify and describe local poisonous plant/animals. They compare characteristics of three local ecosystems and describe common plants from different ecosystems; comparing shapes, colors, textures, and measuring sizes.
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Land Art

For Teachers 1st - 5th
Students use natural materials outside to create a work of art. In this land art lesson plan, students plan their sculpture inside in one day and create it outside over a period of 2 days.
Lesson Plan
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Composting

For Teachers 2nd - 8th
Students discover the concept of decomposition. They examine how it makes the soil more fertile and how it helps plants. They put a compost bin in their backyard and record their observations.
Lesson Plan
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This One is for the Birds

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students create a bird feeder to form their technological skills and create a better bond with nature. In this nature lesson plan, students use websites, technology, brainstorm ideas, and build models.
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Antifreeze - Anti Fish

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students participate in the production of a play that highlights the direct linkage between storm drains and natural river, stream, or creek ecosystems. They explore their thoughts, feelings, and actions through dramatic interaction and...
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Inroads On Erosion

For Teachers 3rd - 12th
Students investigate the concept of farming as found in Puerto Rico an focus on how to prevent erosion. They use a sand table to conduct an experiment to observe the process of erosion and how it is influences by natural factors like...
Lesson Plan
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California Biodiversity

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars examine several maps of California exhibiting features such as precipitation, topography, and vegetation. They look for patterns that might be the source of or influence biodiversity in different regions. They pay...
Lesson Plan
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The Benthic Drugstore

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine active chemicals that are in marine invertebrates and how they act to fight diseases.  In this marine lesson students identify three pharmacologically-active chemicals, describe their disease fighting action and...
Lesson Plan
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Blue Planet: Coral Seas

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students create a poster about coral reefs. In this oceanography lesson, students teach the class about a given aspect of the coral reefs.  Students create posters with images and facts about this habitat. 
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Experimenting with Sound

For Teachers 4th - 7th
Students explore physical science by completing a worksheet. In this sound perception lesson plan, students collaborate in small groups to research sound properties on the Internet and in libraries. Students conduct a listening...
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Puerto Rican Parrot Paradise

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students investigate the environment of the Puerto Rican Parrot. They visualize the ecosystem with and without information. They conduct research to find information and participate in classroom discussion to demonstrate comprehension of...
Lesson Plan
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Radical Raptors

For Teachers 1st - 12th
Students are introduced to raptors and their role in the environment. They identify three characteristics of raptors and list several types of raptors found in nature. Students discuss how raptors and humans can benefit each other and...
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Wood

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students practice reading comprehension strategies. In this literacy and science lesson, students read a non-fiction article about wood and locate main ideas and details. Students construct a card game using information taken from the text.
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Animal Species Richness in Tioga County, PA

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students compile an extensive list of animal species seen throughout Tioga County. In this data collecting lesson, students report daily any animal species seen during the course of their travels and adventures outdoors in Tioga County...