Lesson Plan
California Academy of Science

Where Do I Put My Trash?

For Teachers 2nd - 8th
Where does the trash go after you put it in the garbage can? The class discusses sustainability, recycling, compost, and landfills as they play as fun relay game. In teams, they race to be the fastest group to successfully sort...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

To Rot or Not!

For Teachers K - 1st
Students discover that composting helps reduce landfill waste and is good for the soil. They explore the techniques of composting through a variety of media, art activities and hands-on experience.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Protecting the Environment

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Young scholars explain what biodegradable materials are and list examples of them. They design, with online partners' feedback and input, a product made of biodegradable materials and develop a marketing campaign to best sell their product.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Buying in Bulk

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students investigate buying purchases in bulk. In this buying in bulk lesson, students consider ways to cut costs and reduce waste in landfills by making bulk purchases.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Household Hazardous Waste Identification

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders discuss the concept of reduce, reuse and recycle. They identify products in their homes that are hazardous and discover alternatives to them. They examine the inventory of other classmates hazardous materials.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Molehill or Mountain

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students explore the concept of waste management. In this environmental stewardship lesson, students consider the trash generated by people per day and discuss what steps they can personally take to reduce waste.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Disposing Garbage

For Teachers 1st - 5th
Students explore environmental cleanliness by completing a worksheet in class. In this waste management lesson, students identify the technological advances in society and how they increase waste production our planet is unable to deal...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Lifecycle of Aluminum

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students examine the importance of recycling aluminum and the recycling process as it applies to aluminum. They discuss the recycling process fo aluminum, analyze a section of the book "Where Does the Garbage Go?," and create an...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ecology of the Dump

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners determine which types of garbage are biodegradable and which are nonbiodegradable. They practice measuring skills, hypothesizing, taking data, and writing a lab report. Students observe the relative biodegradability of metal,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Electronics: Wants or Needs?

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders determine how electronics negatively impact the environment. In this environmental lesson, 3rd graders read the article "Earth Friendly Waste Management", and identify how recycling impacts our environment. Students...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Treatment of Wastewater

For Teachers 4th - 7th
Students, through a series of lessons, study the various processes of treating wastewater. They participate in discussion and complete various worksheets and a hands-on activity, in which they observe the processes of filtration and...
Lesson Plan
The Imagination Factory

Design a Postage Stamp for Black History Month

For Teachers 1st - 6th
Learners create a postage stamp for Black History Month. In this U.S. History lesson, students discuss the contributions of African-Americans and design a postage stamp to celebrate their impact.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Biodegradability

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students study the effects of water, salt water and heat on common household materials. They separate an emulsion and show that the materials are completely recoverable and observe the effect of acetone and water on polystyrene.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Not In My Backyard: Siting A Resource Recovery Facility

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students role play a town meeting in which a new resource facility could be built. They have time to question each other after all sides have presented.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

There Is No Away

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students identify how trash is disposed of. In this environmental lesson, students read and discuss the poem "Sarah Sylvia Stout" by Shel Silverstein and discuss the ways people treated the items in the poem. Students discuss how trash...
Lesson Planet Article
Curated OER

Earth Day Activities

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Earth Day is April 22nd - you can celebrate by incorporating some environmental activities into your curriculum Code: F7G4U8JHCDTD.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Environmental Event: Earth Day Activities

For Teachers K - 12th
Students identify solid waste and water pollution concerns. They discuss how to prevent water and air pollution as well. They describe any behaviors they have that would be considered environmentally irresponsible.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Water Is Cool!

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers study water as a non-renewable resource. For this water lesson, students examine sources of water, uses of water, and explain why it is important to take care of water sources for the common good. They research the water...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Cast A Paper Valentine

For Teachers K - 5th
Students create and learn about the history of Valentine's Day cards, as well as use recyclable materials to design their own cards.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Potato Ways

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students analyze the packaging process. In this consumer awareness lesson, students analyze the process of packaging a potato and identify positive and negative ways of packaging. Students study statistics on an overhead transparency to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Make Your Own Trashasaurus Rex Sculpture

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students explore environmental awareness through reusing materials. In this environmental awareness lesson, students use trash to create a "trashasaurus," a large dinosaur sculpture made from waste. Detailed structure and papier-mâché...
Worksheet
Curated OER

5th Grade Social Studies Civics

For Teachers 5th
In this social studies worksheet, 5th graders answer multiple choice questions about America, citizenship, Congress, and more. Students complete 25 multiple choice questions.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Shred a Scarecrow

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Students investigate scarecrows. In this farming lesson, students learn why scarecrows are important and construct their own scarecrow from art materials.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Valentine Character Mailbox

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Pupils create a valentine mailbox. In this holiday lesson, students celebrate Valentine's Day and create a mailbox for valentines.