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Activity ideas Ecology

Camouflage Lab: try this simple science activity in your classroom to learn about animal adaptations!

Are you studying animal adaptations with your class? If so, there is nothing quite like a camouflage lab to learn first-hand how concealing coloration can help animals avoid being eaten by predators! This lab activity is very simple and effective for showing students how natural selection favors animals that can hide from predators. This lab […]

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Amazing Wildlife

Types of Reptiles: snakes, lizards, turtles, and more!

Reptiles are a cool group of critters – and not just because they are cold-blooded! They are part of a bigger category of animals called vertebrates, which means they all have a backbone. There are seven different groups, or classes, of vertebrates on Earth. These include amphibians, birds, mammals, reptiles, and three kinds of fish. […]

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Activity ideas Outer space

Build Your Own Solar Eclipse Viewer Box: a step by step guide!

If a solar eclipse is happening where you live, make this simple solar eclipse viewer from household materials. You cannot look directly at the Sun because it will damage your eyes. However, you can view a solar eclipse using a homemade eclipse viewer box. You can use this viewer box to watch a partial or […]

Categories
Outer space

Stages of a Total Solar Eclipse: a step-by-step guide with diagrams

As you know, the Earth is orbiting the Sun, and the Moon is orbiting the Earth. Every once and a while, the Sun, Moon, and Earth all line up and something very special happens. A solar eclipse happens when the Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun. During a solar eclipse, the Moon totally […]

Categories
Activity ideas Outer space

Solar System Distances Lab: try this hands-on math activity to model the solar system!

Learn about the relative distances between objects in our solar system! In this fun lab, your students will learn about the vastness of space and the spacing of planets in a hands-on way as they perform calculations and mark the locations of planets on a measuring tape. This post includes a materials list and directions […]

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Activity ideas Earth Science

Phases of Water: phase changes and classroom activity!

There are three phases of water. Water can transition between these phases via six different phase changes. In this post, learn about each one, then try out the phases of water classroom activity at the end! Ice (solid) Water molecules are packed closely together and bonded in a rigid pattern, such that they cannot move […]

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Activity ideas Earth Science

Measuring Snow: hands-on classroom activity to learn about snow hydrology and the water cycle!

If you live somewhere that gets snow in winter, you’ve likely measured the depth of snow before! But with a few extra steps, you can turn this simple task into an awesome, hands-on snow measurements lab activity for your classroom. By measuring snow and performing calculations, we can determine snow water equivalent, stored water, and […]

Categories
Earth Science

Earth’s Layers: crust, mantle, core, & more. Plus a layers of the Earth-inspired density activity!

In school, you usually learn that the three main layers of the Earth are the crust, mantle, and core. Geologists call these compositional layers because the layers are defined by the materials they are made of. However, geologists also think about how different layers of the Earth move: for example, do they flow easily? Are […]

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Activity ideas Ecology

Bird Beaks Lab: try this hands-on classroom activity to learn about adaptations and natural selection!

This is a hilarious and hands-on way to experience competition between species and learn about natural selection and animal adaptations. In this post, you will learn how to set up your own bird beaks lab to try out in your classroom!

Categories
Botany

Tree Anatomy: the parts of trees and their functions

Why do trees have leaves and roots? What is inside the trunk of a tree? We will answer these questions and more in this post.