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USING YEAST AS AN ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT MEASUREMENT TOOL
Pupils realize the importance of organisms as standards of measurement and experimentation.The first lab is a simple survival curve that demonstrates the effects of UV light on cells. The second lab looks at repair mechanisms of the DNA...
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Hold on Tight!
Students explain how manufactured products depend on its function for a purpose. In this sticky tape lesson students test the strength of different tapes, take measurements and record data.
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Puzzling Planets
Learners examine the concept of a solar system. In this research based lesson, students compare a star and a planet. They explain the requirements for life in a biosphere.
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Waterworks
Students investigate the water quality of a river. In this water quality lesson plan, students use microscopes, probing devices, and global positioning systems to determine water quality and create presentations on it.
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The Phases of the Moon
Students observe the questions, "Why do we say there is a man on the moon?, What do you think of when you hear "the moon is made of cheese"?, What is meant, to you, by the expression "Once in a blue moon"? and a comic of Snoopy typing,...
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Natural Resource Awareness
Seventh graders design a collage that shows natural resources or things made from natural resources. They discuss the collages and decide how they use natural resources at home and school. They listen to a read aloud of a Native American...
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Oil Spill
Fourth graders watch a video about the types of products made from oil or oil used as energy to produce the product. In groups, they identify the positive and negative aspects of oil and participate in various activities. They use the...
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The Power of Atmospheric Pressure Process
Students are introduced to the basic principles of atmospheric pressure. After watching demonstrations, they discover the capability of air pressure and how it affects weather. In groups, they use an inquiry template to solve different...
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Energy Is Everywhere
Students determine the difference between renewable and non-renewable resources and identify the different forms of energy. They discuss life without energy and where energy comes from before reading an article about the different...
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Reading the Periodic Table
Students explore the structure and function of the periodic table of elements. Though memorization drills and games, students working in pairs, identify the elements of the periodic table, their grouping, their properties and their...
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Energy Efficiency Ambassadors
Pupils compare two products that provide the same function but require different amounts of energy. In this energy efficiency instructional activity students research and demonstrate energy efficiency in action and how it...
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Take the Energy Action Challenge
Students take an energy challenge and implement it in their lives. In this energy conservation lesson plan students read a handout and complete an energy activity.
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Chart the Stars
Seventh graders find constellation distances and plot the stars. In this star lesson, 7th graders plot the star points for Canis Major. Students use graphing calculators to graph the constellation. Students choose another constellation...
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Sea Connections: Marine Ecosystems
Learners identify producers and consumers from marine ecosystems and describe the balance among them in the environments. After constructing a food chain from a marine ecosystem, they examine human activities that can upset the balance...
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Life in Space: International Space Station
Students explore the potential challenges of living in space. In this investigative lesson students search the Internet to locate 16 nations that are working together to build the Independent Space Station, then they divide into...
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Mystery Mollusc
Students investigate the different regions of our oceans by researching the Internet. In this oceanography lesson, students discover the different jobs related to ocean research and examine their roles by reading related...
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Demonstrating Erosion in Action
Students easure and record volume of water, then measure and record mass of soil. They explain the effects of the following in controlling erosion: Contouring, cover crop, strip cropping, reforestation, inter-seeding.
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Lighting Our Way
Students read a variety of web-based articles to explore the history of human understanding of light. They investigate light waves and read about the work of Albert Einstein.
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GeoHunt
Students describe the difference between geological resources and othe natural resources. They list the rocks, minerals, and fossil fuels that are found in Illinois and their uses. They identify ways to conserve natural resources.
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The Gifts of Trees
Students examine the various things trees give us. They read the book, "The Giving Tree" by Shel Silverstein, cook a food using a tree fruit, create notepads using unused paper, construct a picture frame with twigs, and write a poem.
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"Weather" or Not?
Students complete a three week unit about weather and how it affects our behavior. They read and discuss various books related to weather, conduct an experiment about the tilt of the earth, plan a field trip based on temperature,...
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The Geologic TimeString
Students create a simple tool to visualize geologic time. They create knots to represent the K/T, P/T and Precambrian boundaries in a 4.6 meter string with each millimeter representing one million years. They then refer back to this...
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Roots of the World
Learners recognize consist stems, trunks, leaves, and roots. They compare different types of roots by observing and comparing photographs. Aterwards, they observe the growth of a lima bean plant and document changes in root and shoot...
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Dreaming of Gardens
Students demonstrate ways to be an environmental philanthropist. In this philanthropy lesson, students read The Gardener and Just a Dream and compare the two books. Students discuss ways the characters demonstrated environmental...