California Academy of Science
What's on a Penny?
As a instructional activity on scientific observation, have your class investigate the features of a penny and a nickel. Working in pairs, they practice writing detailed descriptions using their senses and a ruler to gather information....
Desert Discoveries
What's For Dinner?
Youngsters compare the teeth of plant-eating dinosaurs with those of meat-eating dinosaurs. The concepts of herbivore vs. carnivore are also introduced. There is an excellent worksheet embedded in the plan which shows five skulls of...
Curated OER
Star Quest
Students review the concepts of the branch of science known as astronomy. They discuss stars and constellations and then view the night sky using a portable digital planetarium projector. They identify a variety of constellations using a...
Curated OER
Forest Communities
Young scholars identify tree specimens. In this tree specimens lesson, students collect different parts of a tree from the areas around the school or their home. They then work in groups to create booklet that identifies tree...
Curated OER
Growing Stages of a Rice Plant
Third graders make a chart to compare the growth of a wheat plant verses the growth of a rice plant. In this planting lesson plan, 3rd graders study the growth of the 2 plants and show the similarities and differences.
Curated OER
Probability
Here is a classic activity used to introduce your class to the concept of probability and data collection. They will roll one die 30 times, then record and discuss the results. Great introduction, but too shallow to be considered a...
Curated OER
Probability: The Study of Chance
Students practice the basic principles of probability by conducting an experiment, determining if a game is fair, collecting data, interpreting data, displaying data, conducting analysis, and stating and applying the rule for probability.
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Friction in Our Lives
Students explore force and friction. In this force and friction lesson, students discover everyday examples of how friction helps and hinders things we do. Students create a ramp to test the speed of their car. Students use...
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Grand Canyon History Lesson
Students explore the history of the Grand Canyon. In this Grand Canyon lesson, students read "Grand Canyon National Park" by David Peterson and respond to questions regarding the piece. Students also create their own fossil models that...
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Tree Lesson
Pupils compare and contrast characteristics of conifer and hardwood trees. After collecting samples of branches around the school, they classify the branch as hardwood or conifer. Groups of students identify given twigs. They go...
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Making a Human Tree
Students explore botany by defining the anatomy of a tree. In this environmental exploration lesson plan, students research plant vocabulary terms and discuss the uses of each word. Students create a "human" tree by role-playing as one...
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Mature Forest Mime
Learners come to understand vocabulary words through pantomime. In this vocabulary lesson, students first review several vocabulary words and their meaning, then they work in groups to pantomime the definitions.
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Computer Olympics
Young scholars compete to achieve excellence in math facts, writing terms, problem solving, and writing skills on the computer. In this Computer Olympics lesson plan, students practice the skill of drill and practice in order to succeed...
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C.S.I. on the Deep Reef
Students study chemotropic sybioses and chemotropic nutrition. In groups, they complete a Chemotrophic Species Investigations (CSI) Worksheet.
Worksheet Web
Where do Bears go in Winter?
Do bears really sleep for an entire season? Six multiple choice questions and a drawing activity make up a worksheet that tests scholars' comprehension skills after reading about bears during winter.
Curated OER
Geometric & Arithmetic Patterns
Eighth graders explore sequences. They discuss the difference between an arithmetic sequence and a geometric pattern. Students participate in workstation activities where they determine arithmetic or geometric patterns and predict the...