Curated OER
Phase Changes of Water
A micro-unit on the phase changes of water includes three laboratory activities. Junior scientists compare the densities of ice and water, and then they do the same for cold and warm water. They examine freezing and boiling temperatures....
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Matter and Energy
Does the change in energy of matter lead to a change in mass? Upcoming chemists compare the mass of equal-volume, but different-temperature liquids and materials both before and after a chemical reaction has occurred. In another...
Curated OER
Heat Energy Released or Absorbed in Chemical Reactions
Chemistry whizzes test the change in water temperature produced by a burning candle and the change in acid temperature produced by magnesium metal. With these two laboratory activities they explore heat produced during chemical...
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African Americans in California’s Heartland – The Civil Rights Era
Events related to the Civil Rights Movement in Sacramento, California during the 1960s offer class members an opportunity to compare the nonviolent resistance approach favored by Dr. Martin Luther King and the NAACP with those of the...
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Laws of Motion
Do you need some new ideas for teaching Newton's Laws of Motion? This series of activities will spring your curriculum to life! Choose from five activities to demonstrate or have your science stars perform. As a result, they will have...
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Variations in Living Things
Biology beginners observe traits in a collection of plant parts to realize the tremendous amount of genetic variation within a species. They consider rules of nature and discuss what would happen if they changed. They also examine data...
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The Effects of Osmotic Balance and Imbalance In Living Cells
Students investigate osmotic balance in living cells. In this osmotic balance lesson plan, students use elodea leaves to study the effects of salt solutions on the cell. They compare the changes in an elodea leaf with salt water on it to...
K12 Reader
Traveling to the Distant West
If you build it they can come. After reading a short article about the impact of western expansion, middle schoolers cite evidence from the article to explain how this expansion forced changes in transportation.
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Fantasy / Art Maps
Ninth graders analyze a fantasy art map by Jeremy Anderson, paying careful attention to the way the topographic features of the land are represented. They create a similar map of Sacramento that includes topographical features as well as...
K12 Reader
Gold Rush Boomtowns
The California Gold Rush sparked many people to try for their fortunes and led to the formation of some well-known California cities. Have your class read about the changes that happened and then respond to the five included questions.
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Construction of Food Chains and Tracing Energy Changes
If you need a few basic activities for teaching food chains to your emerging ecologists, here they are. Three sheets of organism cards are included for learners to cut out and arrange according to trophic relationships. To make the most...
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Heat, Temperature, and Transfer
Physical science scholars discover an array of heat sources. They experiment to connect radiation to heat. They begin to understand thermal equilibrium. Then, they test to see if mass affects the rate of temperature change. Choose a few,...
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Observing Chemical Reactions
Start this series of lessons with a bang! Five exothermic reactions are outlined in this resource, including a demonstration that produces both light and sound. In the lab, chemistry apprentices record temperature changes, make hand...
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Biographies of Heroes
Second graders explain the importance of individual action and character. They explain how heroes from long ago and the recent past make a difference in others' lives.
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VAcations in Northern California
Students explore the natural resources and National Parks of Northern California that are commonly visited by people traveling in the United States. They use maps to locate various sites, plan a highway travel route and use the internet...
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Estuary and Watershed
High schoolers investigate the San Francisco Bay Estuarine Research Reserve and watershed. In this estuary and watershed lesson plan, students complete 4 activities to better understand estuarine systems. They include studying the San...
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American Indians of the Local Region
Students describe the American Indian nations in their local region long ago and in recent past. They research religious beliefs, customs, and various folklore traditions.
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California-Becoming an Agricultural and Insustrial Power
Fourth graders explain how California became an agricultural and industrial power. They trace the transformation of the California economy in its political and cultural development since the 1850's.
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Biology Trivia Questions
Students answer 71 questions about a variety of topics in biology. For this biology trivia lesson plan, students use the internet to find the answer to questions about the systems of the body, their structures and functions, the...
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Making and Carrying Out Laws
Second graders explain the institutions and practices of governments in the United States and other countries. They explain the difference between making laws, carrying out laws, determining if laws have been violated and punishing...
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The Birth of a City
Third graders understand the role of rules and laws in our daily lives. They research the basic structure of the United States government. They participate in a simulated City Council meeting.
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The Mysterious Plant Caper
Students investigate the basic parts of plant and that plants are living things which require water, air, light and nutrients for survival. They do this through a series of scientific experiements and multi-curricular hands-on activities.
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Our School - Our Trees
Sixth graders observe school ground trees planted nearly 3 decades ago. For this ecology activity, 6th graders examine a group of trees planted near their campus and measure the diameter, circumference and growth of the tree compared to...
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Chemical Equilibrium
Middle schoolers explore Le Chatelier's Principle. In this lesson about chemical equilibrium, students do an experiment with several different activities . Middle schoolers observe as they do the experiments and understand the outcome....