Lesson Plan
California Academy of Science

Carbon Cycle Role Play

For Teachers 3rd - 12th Standards
Anytime you make concepts clear with role playing or hands-on experience, it's a win for the whole class. Ping-Pong balls are used to represent carbon in a carbon cycle role-play activity. In small groups, children first discuss what...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Effects of Photosynthesis on Plant Growth

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students are able to draw a diagram of the light reactions and briefly describe what is occurring throughout the process. They are able to explain where each reactant/product in the photosynthesis equation comes from/goes during the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Photosynthesis Study Guide

For Teachers 11th - 12th
In this photosynthesis worksheet, students answer 18 questions in a combination of multiple choice and short answers including the completion of a table.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Biological Carbon Cycle

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students learn about the biological carbon cycle. In this carbon cycle instructional activity, students access the web site and mouse over the diagrams to follow the carbon cycle. They read about what happens to humans and plants during...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Biogeochemical Cycles

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Learners demonstrate comprehension of the energy sources of various cycles by completing mini stories. They demonstrate analysis of words by defining individual word parts and combining them to form definitions. Students demonstrate...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Carbon and Oxygen Cycles

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students construct their own diagrams outlining the pathway of carbon and oxygen in the atmosphere. Students explain their diagrams outlining the pathway and teacher checks for accuracy and completion.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How Much Carbon is Held by the World's Forests?

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders identify how much carbon is held by the world's forests. For this forestry activity, 7th graders study the carbon cycle and discuss what role humans have had on climate change. Students write a one page paper on how...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How Does Your Plant Grow?

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students measure and record their height in centimeters on a graph. By integrating math and science, students collect data and apply graphing skills to the experiences they are having growing plants. Finally, students identify how to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Biogeochemical Cycles

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students research an assigned biogeochemical cycle. For this cycle activity, students need to determine that all cycles need energy to continue. The students will look at a given cycle to describe it, research and draw an assigned cycle,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Food Chains, Food Webs, Biomass Pyramids and Cycle

For Teachers 7th - 10th
In this food chains worksheet, students complete a crossword puzzle by placing 16 terms into the puzzle that match the clues given. Students review food webs, biomass pyramids, and the water cycle.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Prairie In A Bottle

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders observe images of prairie ecosystems and discuss the needs of living things. They create a prairie habitat in a closed jar to observe the water cycle and plant growth.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mussel Your Way Through Photosynthesis

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students, using zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha), elodea and an indicator dye, observe and record the role of light in photosynthesis. They consider plant production of carbon dioxide and the use of live materials in biological...
Lesson Plan
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Teach Engineering

Photosynthesis—Life's Primary Energy Source

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Wouldn't it be great if you could produce your own food? Scholars learn about the processes of photosynthesis and cellular respiration in plants. They consider how to use photosynthesis as a model of an efficient system and how to apply...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Plant Transpiration

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students conduct various experiments to investigate plant transpiration. In this biology lesson, students explain how this process helps maintain the hydrologic cycle. They measure the rate of water loss in plants using a potometer.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Cricket and The Plant

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students examine determine the symbiotic relationship between plants and animals as the find ways to naturally reduce carbon dioxide emissions. They study the carbon cycle. They work with probe and graphing calculator to examine the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Stomata: Microscopic Openings that Let Plants Breathe

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Young scholars participate in a lab experiment to observe and measure the opening and closing of stomata. They focus on photoperiod, locate and identify stomata on a leaf and explain the role of stomata in the daily functioning of a plant.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Effects of Photosynthesis on Plant Growth

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Young scholars examine the process of photosynthesis; its products and reactants, and the sequence of the process. They diagram the light reactions, record observations of plants, and discuss how difficult it is to measure plant growth...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Science: What Is the Carbon Cycle?

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students examine the carbon cycle while identifying its sources, sinks, and release agents. Using magazines and newspapers, groups of students design collages illustrating the carbon cycle. Finally, they write responses to several...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Terrestrial Sequestration - Photosynthesis and Cellular Respiration

For Teachers 7th - 10th
Students investigate how plants absorb carbon dioxide during photosynthesis. In this biology lesson, students differentiate photosynthesis and cellular respiration. They discuss the important role of plants in the environment.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Biochemical Cycles: Recycling Carbon and Nitrogen

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students construct flow diagrams of the carbon and nitrogen cycle processes. They identify sequences in each cycle that are affected by human impact and present their research to the class.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Plants and Animals Depend Upon One Another

For Teachers 1st
First graders study plants and animals and how they depend on one another. They also study that plants give energy to animals and provide oxygen needed for life. Finally, 1st graders give examples of the roles plants and animals play...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How do plant & animal cells make and use energy?

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Pupils show the relationship between the need for plants to undergo photosynthesis in order to generate oxygen. They see the flaws associated with this thinking because of the lack of CO2 and H2O and lack of sufficient gravity in order...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Plant Science: Introduction to Photosynthesis

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students explore the process of photosynthesis in plants. They discuss the purpose of photosynthesis and its components. Students discuss the importance of photosynthesis for plants and they examine the parts of the plant that play an...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Radish Experiment

For Teachers 1st
First graders grow radishes. In this Science instructional activity, 1st graders observe the growth of radishes in both the light and dark. Students discuss what plants need to live.