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...
Curated OER
Amazon Water Cycle Role Play
Students participate in a role play where they play clouds, the ocean, rain drops, and more in order to learn about the water cycle. For this water cycle lesson plan, students have discussions and learn vocabulary.
Curated OER
When Trees Are Red, Color in Remote Sensing
Student learn about "chromatography" in a hands-on experiment. Students make a chart showing what the colors represent.
Curated OER
Solar System Vocabulary
In this solar system vocabulary skills worksheet, students match the 13 solar system-related names and terms in the word bank to the appropriate definitions.
Curated OER
Water Cycle Bracelets
Students engage in a lesson that investigates the hydrological cycle. They create bracelets with different colored beads that represent parts of the cycle. Students can follow the cycle in the order of the beads. The lesson includes...
Curated OER
Home-Made Clouds
Fourth graders witness cloud formation in a jar during a teacher lead simulation. They research, draw and predict weather using information they gather about clouds.
Curated OER
Photosynthesis
Students are introduced to the process of photosynthesis. In groups, they test the effects of the lack of sunlight on plant leaves and compare the results with their hypothesis. They note the characteristics that plants and animals share...
Curated OER
Measuring Precipitation
A little engineering design is mixed into this lesson on precipitation measurement. Groups plan and construct a rain gauge, and use it to collect precipitation. As part of the PowerPoint presentation, learners view a satellite map of...
Curated OER
Ozone Hole Expert Groups
Research topics associated with the hole in the ozone layer over Antarctica. Researchers write five facts about their topic and one question for each of those facts. They present what they learned to the rest of the class. Six topics are...
Curated OER
Properties of Liquids
Students describe properties of liquids and use descriptive language as a springboard to develop precise vocabulary for properties of liquids. They also use vocabulary as practiced with liquid-vocabulary card games. Finally, students...
Curated OER
Solar System Multiple Choice Activity
In this solar system activity, students complete a ten question multiple choice page pertaining to the solar system. Prior knowledge is assumed.
Curated OER
Solar System Crossword
In this solar system crossword puzzle worksheet, learners use the 13 clues and the terms in the word bank to help them correctly complete the word puzzle.
Curated OER
Weather Crossword
In this weather crossword puzzle worksheet, students use the 16 clues and the word bank to fill in the blanks in this crossword puzzle.
Curated OER
Solar System Vocabulary 2
In this solar system worksheet, students write vocabulary words describing the solar system next to their definitions. Students write 12 vocabulary words.
Curated OER
How Lightening Works
Annotated diagrams explain the distribution of charged particles in clouds that can lead to lightening bolts. This is a super short slide show but it is useful for explaining the phenomenon and safety mechanisms.
Curated OER
Air Quality Issues
Students study and chart the levels of the atmosphere. They determine volume and location of the whole in the ozone layer by problem solving and drawing Antarctica.
Curated OER
Meteorology
Seventh graders examine the job of meteorologists. They decide which characteristics of the atmosphere that meteorologists focus on. They use local weather maps from newspapers to predict weather in their area.
Curated OER
DAY AND NIGHT
Students use a lamp as the sun and his/her body as the earth. They rotate in different directions to explain how the earth moves around the sun. Using specific questions in their discussion, students discover the reasons for day and night.
Curated OER
Dimming the Sun
Students collect, interpret and analyze weather variable data. They describe atmospheric variables that affect evaporation. Students create graphs and analyze the information collected.
Curated OER
Smog Be Gone
Students begin the lesson by identifying greenhouse gases. In groups, they observe and record the effect of the gases on the atmosphere and the temperature of the Earth. They participate in activities that describe the role of...
Curated OER
What's Making It Look So Brown Outside?
Ninth graders analyze cars and particulate matter in the atmosphere. They analyze results of particulate pollutants and identify which vehicle gives off more particulates. They identify sources of particulate matter and relate to...
Curated OER
A Solar Project
Students make predictions about the global temperature of the earth and to see how this is dependent upon a number of variables. Students visualize how changing parameters can impact the global temperature of the earth.
Curated OER
Carbon Dioxide: The Heat is On
Students examine the greenhouse gases affecting the atmosphere. In groups, they participate in activities in which they examine the effects of heat on the atmosphere and phytoplankton. They research how the phytoplankton differ in warm...
Curated OER
Diurnal Temperature Changes and Water Vapor Content
Learners determine how much moisture in the air affects the diurnal temperature range. They investigate to determine the different climatological regimes of both the Southern Plains and the world. and greenhouse gases effect the earth's...