California Academy of Science
Measuring Earthquakes
After a brief discussion on earthquakes, make a makeshift seismograph to record the shaking of the table that it sits upon. While the background information will be useful to you as a teacher, the seismograph does not seem like it would...
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Weightlessness
Young scholars use a coffee cup to demonstrate weightlessness. After a lecture/demo, students read an article on free-fall. They perform a simple experiment which helps them explain the concept of weightlessness.
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Biomes: Islands and Evolution
Learners discover how islands form, how plant and animal species get there and what the term means. In this biomes lesson students prepare a presentation that describes the life forms and geography of an island.
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Living Fossils
Students study the term living fossil and examine why some of the reasons they survived. In this fossils activity students form a hypothesis and use data to see if it is accurate.
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Testing the Caverns
Students build model caverns using paper mache or clay and bury them in a tray of sand. They test the models by dropping balls onto them to simulate an asteroid hitting the earth. They evaluate the effectiveness of a structure against...
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Constellations
Students explore the major constellations. After reviewing the Earth's basic motions and their significance, students discuss the moon's orbit and revolutions. Using a Digitarium Alpha portable planetarium projector, they observe at...
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Solstice and Equinox
Students identify the dates of the solstices and equinoxes and how they relate to the various seasons on Earth. After discussing how the solstice and equinox affect the seasons, students use their bodies to demonstrate the how each...
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Continental Drift
Be sure to come prepared to discuss the theory of Pangaea and the two super-continents, Laurasia and Gondwanaland. Collaborative learners look for fossil evidence that supports the theory that one super-continent divided into two. They...
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Continents Adrift
Young scholars examine how tectonic plates change the Earth's land. In this geology lesson, students are divided into small groups to construct a continent puzzle. Young scholars use transparency pieces to demonstrate how Africa and...
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Reef Attack
Students identify the locations of coral reefs. In this oceanography lesson, students use the Coral Reefs website to locate the coral reefs on a world map and discuss ways to help protect the coral reefs.
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Hello, Anybody Out There?
Young scholars understand that people believe there may be life in other solar systems. For this communication with other solar systems lesson, students analyze our planet and write things they want to communicate to other solar systems.
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Composting "The Right Mix"
Students investigate the correct mix of material types for compost. In this composting lesson, students explore the correct amounts of different types of materials to create a compost heap. Students then create a compost heap.
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Should Soil Be Sterile?
Learners determine if the sterilization of topsoil is beneficial to seed germination and plant growth. They grow plants alongside control groups, make and record observations of plant growth and measure plant biomass.
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Ordering Geologic Events Using Cross-Sections
Students analyze cross-sections of geologic events. In this geology lesson, students identify the type of environment where the cross-section come from. They take a quiz at the end of the lesson.
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Creating Public Awareness - Indoor Air Quality
Students design a poster about indoor air quality. In this indoor air quality lesson plan, students make a billboard that tells the occupants of a building about at least one air quality problem.
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Identifying Indoor Environment Pollution Sources (List, Group, Label Activity)
Learners identify the cause of indoor air pollution. In this indoor air pollution lesson, students list, group, and label sources of indoor pollution. They brainstorm a list of all of the indoor pollutants they can think of before...
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Understanding the Indoor Environment:Preventing and Fixing Indoor Air Pollution
Students explore air pollution. For this environmental studies lesson, students work with a partner to create a Venn diagram comparing and contrasting possible solutions to prevalent indoor air pollution problems. Students...
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Invention Project
Students study air pollution and design inventions to prevent indoor environment problems. In this air pollution inventions instructional activity, students read about and discuss famous inventors and inventions. Students then research...
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Deck of Word Cards
Young scholars study vocabulary words associated with indoor air quality. In this air quality lesson, students participate in a word card game where they write sentences for the vocabulary words given. Young scholars then check the...
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Indoor Air Quality
Young scholars make a work puzzle using air quality vocabulary. In this air quality vocabulary lesson, students design a word puzzle using a teacher designated number of vocabulary words. They peer edit the puzzles with their classmates.
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Understanding the Indoor Environment: Word Walls
Students study vocabulary words about indoor air quality. In this indoor environment lesson, students create a word wall with vocabulary words about indoor air quality and pollutants.
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Planetary Orbits
Middle schoolers explore space science by completing a solar system identification worksheet. In this planets lesson, students discuss the different planets in our star system and identify their traits. Middle schoolers complete an...
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Throwing It All Away?
Students read a New York Times article as part of their investigation as to what happens when an item is thrown away or recycled. They analyze the relationship between a product's ingredients and its effect on the Earth and healthful...
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Diseases
Sixth graders create a type of notebook or journal using colored copy paper on which to take notes. They complete research on a certain disease and report on it and then design their own disease causing bacteria or virus. Finally, 6th...