Sustainability Teacher Resources

Delicious Chipotle burritos are a big treat, especially when they are offered for only $2.00. This Halloween-themed learning experience isn't tricky, but learners will need to think critically about division with large numbers in order...

Considering adding more research to your curriculum? Check out this idea. The assignment example, which connects to the Common Core, is written for a lesson on "The Scarlet Ibis." However, you could adapt the bigger idea to almost any...

Your pupils are beginning their research project and are having a hard time narrowing their topics down. If you’re not sure how to help them, then start here. Provided is a student dialogue that works though the issues of narrowing a...

While the lesson is lacking in procedure, it does provide a wealth of information on artist Yasuo Kuniyoshi. Information on his life, art, and inspirations can provide you with insights into creating learning activities that convey...

Only two minutes long, this video explains that 189 species of animals were added to the list of known species in the year 2012. An interview with the Dean of Science and Research Collections from the California Academy of Sciences...

A super short video explores the announcement of finding water on the moon! With about a minute and a half of information, viewers learn that on November 13, 2009, water molecules were detected in a plume of moon dust by the...

The Large Hadron Collider is the highest energy-particle collider that scientists have ever designed, but is it safe? Interviews with several scientists explain what it does, why it was built, and what we can learn from it. Show this in...

What does art have to do with science? Follow Maya Lin, an artist and environmental activist who recently installed a piece of art at the California Academy of Sciences. Kids will learn about her mission to spread global awareness...

This may be as close to playing a piano as it is possible to get without actually having a physical instrument in the class. Learn the names and sounds of keys, play a solo or a duet, and practice scales or any song you'd like–all for free!

There is a wealth of evidence to suggest that octopi are the smartest of all invertebrates; observe why as you see an octopus walk across the ocean floor carrying a coconut shell to use as shelter. The video alone is short and does not...

Could a virus be the key to reversing color blindness in humans? Some researchers believe so, and have even tested it out on monkeys. Learn more about the experiment and its effects in a short video that could accompany a lesson on gene...

Protecting buildings, bridges, and roadways from damage during an earthquake is an important task for engineers. Discover how one lab goes about testing the safety of existing and yet-to-be-built structures with a short video. See some...

It takes four generations of Monarch butterflies to complete the migratory path from the Rockies to Mexico each year, so how do they know where to go? The answer may surprise you; it certainly surprised the scientists who figured it out!...

Island chains are some of the best environments to study evolution and the small adaptations that occur in an isolated ecosystem. Papua New Guinea is an excellent example of these evolutionary gems, with a diverse bird population on its...

Evolution occurs on large and small scales, in both living organisms and viruses. By learning the pathway taken by pathogens such as the virus that causes dengue fever, scientists can get one step closer to understanding how to stop...

Though this is meant to be second in a two-part instructional activity, the two are not dependent on each other. Pupils play the roles of visible light rays, light or dark surfaces, and carbon dioxide molecules. They interact and react...

California's water supply is not always stable. Learn about the ways that California weathers a drought with a reading activity about water usage and agriculture. Once kids finish the reading passage, they answer a series of...

By playing this game, learners discover what happens to a fish stock when large amounts disappear.

Students understand the concept of a scientific model and how it relates to climate change.  In this obsesrvation and gathering data lesson students design a trial and error model using PowerPoint. 

Students detect water leaks. In this water conservation ecology instructional activity, students take a tour of the school grounds and identify sources of water and possible leaks. Students report leaks to the custodian and administration.

Students discover the types of batteries and their uses. They experience static electricity by rubbing glass jars and using it to raise their hair. After discussing the importance of recycling batteries and using ones that are...

Ninth graders explore the core challenges faced by children in Haiti.  In this World History lesson, 9th graders examine the impact poverty has on access to education, nutrition, basic healthcare, and child mortality.  Students...

Learners study the issues and plight of the developing country of Bangladesh. In this developing country lesson, students study a fictionalized case with actual statistics to learn about issues facing children in the country of...

Students read media and identify examples of science technology and society. In this physics lesson, students learn about acceleration and velocity. Students estimate how many people would have come in contact with a person who...