Lesson Plan
California Academy of Science

Buoyancy Bulls-Eye

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Why does a seastar sink, but a jellyfish float? Through a fun investigation, learners examine the concept of buoyancy using simple household items. The challenge: create neutral buoyancy for an action figure in water. With ample...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Microbes

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Microbiology beginners feed different sweetening agents to yeast and measure carbon dioxide production to estimate energy contained in each. They set the trials up in zip-top plastic baggies and then measure gas volume by water...
Lesson Plan
Desert Discoveries

Desert Tortoise: Fact or Fiction?

For Teachers Pre-K - 6th
Here is a good game that will determine which team knows the most about the Sonoran Desert tortoise. There are 16 questions posed, and the answers are printed in bold for the benefit of the teacher. Question # 16 reads, "Desert tortoise...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Turtle and Tortoise Preschool Lesson Plan

For Teachers Pre-K - K
One of the best parts about teaching the littlest learners is that you can create thematic lessons that use one topic to address every subject. Here is a nice set of thematic teaching ideas that uses turtles and tortoises to teach...
Lesson Plan
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NOAA

Vertebrates II

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Mammals of the ocean unite! Or not. The 20th installment of a 23-part NOAA Enrichment in Marine sciences and Oceanography (NEMO) program investigates how warm-blooded marine mammals survive in water. In the class activity, learners use...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Nailing Rust

For Teachers 4th - 8th
When your upper elementary or middle school class is learning about chemical changes, these activities help demonstrate the concepts. In Part A, they submerge and place a nail partially underwater, then after a week they make...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

An Arm and A Leg

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers examine how the movements of bones are dependent on the interaction of pairs of muscles. They design and construct a prototype of an artificial limb using a syringe system, and determine whether water or air makes the...
Lesson Plan
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Curated OER

Who am I Mobile: Ceramics

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
A getting-to-know-you activity that is perfect for the beginning of the year! Kids craft their portrait out of clay, then make a mobile by dangling ceramic representations of things they love. This project builds self-awareness, motor...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Bird Airport Control

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Young scholars visit a local wetland and record observations of waterfowl on downloadable worksheets. They compile class data and list similarities and differences among species of birds observed.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Becoming One With Clay: Pinch Pots

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Explore the making of a pinch pot using this resource. Learners discuss the properties of clay, including its molecular structure. Then, they make their own clay pot. As they work, they identify the techniques used to make a pinch pot,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

DNA Extraction from Yeast Cells

For Teachers 8th - 10th
Students explore DNA. They work in groups and mix prepared detergent/ salt solution, meat tenderizer solution, Fleischman's yeast and water to extract DNA from yeast. Observations are recorded.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduce Vocabulary: From Tadpole to Frog (Pfeffer)

For Teachers K - 3rd
Take an amphibious journey with budding readers as you explore vocabulary in Wendy Pfeffer's informative book From Tadpole to Frog. This text is the backdrop of a vocabulary exercise based on six words: fertilize,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Dancing Flamingos

For Teachers 1st - 2nd
Learners perform a number of activities that mimic flamingo actions and displays. The class discusses why animals behave in certain ways, and how behavioral adaptations help animals to survive.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Space Science: Adventure is Waiting

For Teachers 4th - 6th
These full-color handouts feature two activities. The first is a reading on comets, meteors, and meteoroids. Your space science learners will examine ten phrases and determine which of the three each characterizes. The second activity...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Metric Conversions

For Teachers 4th - 7th
Students measure an assortment of items using metric measurements. In this measurement lesson, students measure using length, mass, and volume units of measurement. They convert between units. Students learn a mnemonic to assist in...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sinking Races

For Teachers 2nd - 8th
Students build plankton models and compete to see which sinks most slowly. They write, or orally present ,the adaptations they incorporated to slow the sinking rate of their organisms. Race results can be grounds for some prizes!
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Germs, Germs, They're Everywhere!

For Teachers Pre-K - 3rd
Youngsters recognize that germs are everywhere, and can make us sick. They identify ways that germs can be spread, see how they can prevent the spreading of germs, and learn appropriate hand washing techniques.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

2nd Grade - Act. 25: Creature Creation

For Teachers 2nd
Create a creature using some of the characteristics of a real animal. Second graders will read a book from the "Froggy," series by Johnathan London to learn about the characteristics of frogs. After discussing and recording various...
Lesson Plan
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Curated OER

Motion Commotion!

For Teachers 4th - 12th
Learners explore the drawings of Rube Goldberg to design and construct a simple machine. They discuss simple machines, and using various materials and toy parts, design and construct a "Rube Goldberg" style machine to ring a bell.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Jeopardy

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers played a game of Jeopardy where there was five categories with five questions each in order to assess the retention of concepts taught over the semester. The categories included: Graphing/Summarizing/ Scientific Method,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Photosynethsis....How do we know it's really happening? - Biology Teaching Thesis

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers think of one way to detect photosynthesis in plants besides those ways shown in class. They identify the reaction that occurs during photosynthesis. Students define the difference between an acid and a base. They identify...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Interpreting Lao Design: Painting

For Teachers K - 8th
Young scholars examine Lao art techniques and practice replication and modification of Lao designs. Maintaining a symmetrical image, they embellish designs with imagery and background color. They discuss the students' works and note the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Help the Duck Find Her Babies

For Teachers 1st - 2nd
Students are introduced to a basic characteristic and need of living things-the ability and need to reproduce. They investigate how birds (and people) attract mates. Students discover how to build a nest. They discuss the needs and...
Lesson Plan
UAF Geophysical Institute

Observing the Weather

For Teachers 4th - 7th
How can you predict the weather without any technology? Young scientists learn to forecast the weather using traditional Native American techniques. Based on their observations of the weather, as well as talking to their classmates, they...

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