California Academy of Science
Energy: A Day in My Life
If only we could harness the energy of fifth graders, our energy problems would be over! The class discusses where different forms of energy come from and how we use them. They complete a chart of the activities that they do daily...
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Forests and Treescapes with Romey Stuckart
Students discuss Romey Stuckart's painting, "The Cedar," paint a tempera or acrylic picture of a forest or treescape, using overlapping shapes, intense hues, and heavy brush textures, and discuss managed forest techniques preserve...
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Quel temps fait-il?
Hit all the basics with this lesson plan, focusing on weather, greetings, and dates! Start by singing a weather related song ("Quel temps fait-il by Barbara MacArthur is suggested), and then read a story about getting ready for school....
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Froggy Gets Dressed
Froggy wants to know: what are you wearing? Lead young Spanish learners through a review of weather-related terms before reading the popular children's book Froggy Gets Dressed. Then, using a froggy puppet, discuss what you're...
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Trash Flash Through Time
Students describe ways in which solid waste was disposed in the past and the present. They survey an older citizen about his/her solid waste disposal methods. They discover solid waste practices from long ago.
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Trash or Treasure?
Students identify things that can be reused. In this environmental lesson, students read the poem "Hector the Collector" and discuss the difference between junk and treasure. Students complete a reflection about what they read by...
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Taking Charge of our Earth and its Resources
Students identify natural resources, discuss conservation and protection of them, and identify how pollution is harmful to the environment. Seven lessons on one page.
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All Wrapped Up
Students explore packaging. In this cross-curriculum lesson, students bring in samples of food packaging and identify the packaging as natural or manufactured.
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Everything's Connected
Students explore how trash decomposes. In this ecosystem instructional activity, students discuss new vocabulary words, such as producers and consumers, and think critically to answer how landfills work.
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Save the Earth: It's Everyone's Home!
Students research ways to conserve and reduce energy and resources. In this reducing waste lesson, students work in teams to experiment with water and losing resources. students brainstorm about ways to conserve and reduce energy and...
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Let's Clean Up Our Act and the Earth!
Students complete activities that help clean up the Earth and protect the environment. In this Earth protection instructional activity, students go outside and listen to the environment. Students discuss their observations and their role...
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Art Ideas for Your Adopted Tree
Students honor an adopted tree with artwork. In this adopted tree lesson plan, students find a tree in their neighborhood. They follow the tree throughout the year, keep notes, draw sketches, take photos and rubbings. They make artwork...
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Muffin Flowers
Students use construction paper to create muffin flowers. They use muffin tray cup liners and draw flower stems and leaves on the paper. They use the muffin liners for a 3-D effect.
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Invertebrates
Students identify insect body parts and look for local insect life. They create an insect using recycled material and design a classroom mural with bug facts. They study Monarch butterflies and dragonflies.
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When is a Block, not a Block?
Students use a stamped shape image to create a piece of imaginative art. In this stamped art lesson, students use a stamped shape as a starting point to create their own imaginative piece of art that incorporates the stamped shape.
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Cow Parade
Students create individual works of art using cow cut-outs as their canvas in this hilarious lesson ideal for the High School Art or Art History classroom. The lesson includes resource links and can be adapted for any animal or mascot.
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I Give You My Heart
Second graders create hearts using stencils, pastels, construction paper, and tracing and cutting techniques in this Art lesson for the 2nd grade classroom. Emphasis is placed on the concept of repeating patterns. An ideal lesson for...
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Rice Wreaths
Students create rice and glue holiday wreaths in this Art lesson plan ideal for the 1st or 2nd grade. The lesson plan can be adapted for older or younger students and includes an ingredient list and step-by-step directions for...
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Toilet Paper Tube Snowman
Students create "toilet paper tube" snowmen using toilet paper rolls, paints, pipecleaners, construtcion paper, wiggly eyes, and markers in this winter-time activity. The instructional activity is intended for the early elementary...
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Watermelon, Watermelon
Students create watermelon slices using red construction paper, paints, and watermelon rinds in this excellent elementary lesson for the end of the school year. The class is also able to enjoy eating watermelon slices during the activity.
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Shamrock Puppy
Learners create small "Shamrock Puppies" using colored construction paper, crayons, and glue in this pre-Kindergarten instructional activity celebrating St. Patrick's Day. The instructional activity includes a resource link where...
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Milk Carton Pen Pot
Students use a milk carton to create a pen pot. They decorate their milk carton in a creative fashion with pictures from old magazines. They put glue on after they are finished to help protect it.
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Draw a Picture to Help Save a Building
Students research building preservation. In this architecture lesson, students discuss how buildings are saved and sketch the special features of a specific building. Students are encouraged to use recycled paper.
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Quilt Squared
Students study West Virginia quilts. In this mathematics instructional activity, students use symmetry, geometric shapes, and patterns to create their own quilt square.