Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Snacks in a Bag

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Students brainstorm a list of their favorite snacks. Using clues, they identify the type of snack being described. On a map, they identify and locate the origin of the ingredients used to make it. They write their own clues for...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Journey to America

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders carefully analyze the artwork, Les Emigrants, and explore the reasons that people emigrated to the United States, and what life was like for new arrivals. They discuss what things immigrants were able to bring with them and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Gray Whales on the Move

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Young scholars study whale migration and their natural history.  In this migration lesson students plot whale migration on a map and describe their ecosystems. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Stolen Smell

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders read the story The Stolen Smell, and complete language arts activities based on the book. In this The Stolen Smell lesson plan, 3rd graders complete activities such as discussion, reading, researching, drawing, role...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Where Does It Come From?

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students explore where agricultural commodities used in snack foods are grown. They choose a snack food and locate the top five states that produce the food that the snack is made from.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Where In the World Am I?

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Learners identify their location in the world after studying latitude, longitude, relative location, and absolute location. They use assigned web site to find information to make a flipbook that answers questions about their location in...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sea Connections

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students, after locating different marine habitats on a globe, play a card game about ecosystems, food webs and organisms.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Resources and Trade Flow

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students plan for a service project. In this service instructional activity, students determine the materials they will need to complete their service project. Students discuss possible trade flows into the United States.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Discovering Angel Island: The Story Behind the Poems

For Teachers 4th - 10th
Students watch a video, view websites, and discuss the Chinese Exclusion Act that took place on Angel Island. In this Chinese exclusion act lesson plan, students discuss the interrogations that went on and fill out worksheets bout the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Planning a Railroad

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students use a topographical map to plan a route from Doknner Summit to Truckee, then compare it to the route selected by Theodore Judah.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

LESSON 3: Riding the Underground Railroad

For Teachers 6th - 7th
Students explore the Underground Railroad.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Arsenic Contamination: Water Filtration

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students work in groups to design a filtration process that will separate clean water from polluted water. They organize data in tables or graphs and present their findings to the class. Students identify further safety protocols that...
Primary
Calisphere: University of California Libraries

University of California: Calisphere: Rich Resources

For Students 9th - 10th
From Primary source images and informational text learn about the natural and human-driven resources and land use in California and how they have contributed to the growth of California.
Handout
NSTATE

The Geography of California

For Students 3rd - 8th
Here you will find a variety of facts about the geography of the state of California. Find out the geographic center, total area, elevations and much more.
eBook
Other

Yosemite Online: Handbook of Indians of California: Chapter 30: The Miwok

For Students 9th - 10th
A very scholarly article on the Miwok from the Handbook of Indians of California, written in 1919. Learn about the geography of where they lived, their culture, arts, religion, and social practices.
Website
Curated OER

Bureau of Land Management: Blm California

For Students 9th - 10th
The U.S. Bureau of Land Management offers fascinating information regarding the public lands of California - conservation, use for energy, waste, wildlife, etc. Visit various locations o learn more about specific regions of the state and...
Article
Seeker

Seeker: Week of 8 4 14: What if California Runs Out of Water?

For Students 9th - 10th
Learn about the potential effects of a water shortage on the state of California.
Website
A&E Television

History.com: California

For Students 9th - 10th
Take a detailed look at the state of California! From its earliest history and peoples, to present day facts which include population, climate, geography, plants and animals, economy, government, cultural life, sports and recreation,...
Website
Other

California Historical Society: California History Online

For Students 9th - 10th
With over four hundred original images, this site covers periods in California's history from 1600 to the 1930s. Topics covered include the geography and climate of California, early aboriginal groups, the first European explorers, the...
Activity
Nature Conservancy

Nature Conservancy: California, Protecting the Golden State

For Students 3rd - 8th
Explore the rich habitats and natural beauty of the California landscape in this interactive video.
Activity
Nature Conservancy

Nature Conservancy: California

For Students 3rd - 8th
Explore the rich habitats and natural beauty of the California landscape in this interactive video.
Handout
Johns Hopkins University

Johns Hopkins University: California Maps

For Students 9th - 10th
At this site from the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, you can learn more about the great state of California. Find out about the landforms that run through this vast state. There are several types of maps found at...
Graphic
University of California

University of California Museum of Paleontology: Distribution in Time and Space

For Students 9th - 10th
The Understanding Evolution site provides evidence for evolution in biogeography utilizing relative dating, geography, and plate tectonics.
Activity
Read Works

Read Works: California

For Teachers 8th
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text about the state of California. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.