West Contra Costa Unified School District
The Power of Ten: Building a Magnitude Model
Add visual representation to teaching place value with a magnitude model. Using adding machine tape, pupils build a linear place value strip from 1 to 100.
Teach Engineering
Android Acceleration
Prepare to accelerate your Android. Pupils prep for the upcoming activity in this third installment of a four-part series. The lesson plan progresses nicely by first introducing different types of acceleration to the class. The teacher...
Teach Engineering
Restriction Enzymes and DNA Fingerprinting
Show your class why restrictions aren't always a bad thing. In the third segment of a four-part series, the instructor develops the idea of restriction enzymes. Pupils learn how scientists use restriction enzymes in DNA analysis and DNA...
John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum
Recipe for an Inaugural Address
An inaugural address represents the first moments of a new beginning. Using John F. Kennedy's speech as a model for guided practice, groups examine the ingredients of an inaugural address. Individuals then repeat the analysis...
Curated OER
"Potato Mountain": Reading/Understanding Topographic Maps
Students investigate how to read topographic maps. In this map reading lesson students complete a topographic map activity.
Curated OER
Water: Naturally Cleaned
Students use stream trays covered in different types of rocks or soil to investigate infiltrates and runoff. In this water pollution lesson plan, students work in groups with stream trays that have different substrates. They write a...
Curated OER
A Variety of Very Safe Veggies
Students study viruses and bacteria that can contaminate vegetables. They examine how vegetables can be preserved and what farmers might do to keep vegetables safe. They examine with pickling as a way to keep vegetable preserved safely.
Curated OER
Poster Presentations
Students create visual displays explaining how nuclear power is used to produce electricity. They create a display board that shows the chain reaction, the fission process, and a schematic diagram of the reactor.
Curated OER
Properties of Color
Second graders explore the properties of primary color and investigate what happens when primary colors are mixed. They listen to the story The Crayon Box That Talked and list the colors. They experiment mixing primary colors and...
Curated OER
Physics The Earth and Beyond
Fourth graders will explore our solar system. In this physics lesson plan students create a model of the solar system to explore the movement of Earth, the Sun, and stars.
Curated OER
Time to lend NASA a hand
In this measurement worksheet, students complete an experiment answer questions about how they measure the units of volume, temperature, and mass of certain objects. Students answer 5 questions.
Curated OER
What is evolution and how does it work?
Learners discuss the theory of evolution. In this evolution instructional activity, students discover Charles Darwin and his ideas of heredity, variation, and selection. This instructional activity gives information for the learners to...
Curated OER
Ancient Atomic Theories
Studdnts research ancient texts and compare ancient Greek atomic theories, as used in the production of silver, to modern theories.
Curated OER
Darwin, Politics, and Religion
Students gain an understanding of the Darwinian theory of evolution, examine how Darwin's theory has been adopted by ruling elites in order to justify their position in power, compare religious and historical responses to Darwin's...
Curated OER
Model Storage Facility
Students design a storage facility that can withstand extreme wind loads. In this physics activity, students decide how to build their facility considering budget constraints. They evaluate their design and present it to class.
Curated OER
Investigating Jack London's White Fang: Nature and Culture Detectives
Young scholars explore images of the Klondike and read Jack London's White Fang to become culture and nature detectives. For this novel analysis lesson, students analyze the setting of the novel and the ways London portrays...
Curated OER
How Old Are the Stars?
Students determine the age of a star cluster by observing, measuring, and plotting astronomical data. They examine the Jewe lbox cluster, located within the southern constellation Crux and determine its age.
Curated OER
Surface Friction and Wear Characteristics of Common Materials
High schoolers identify the factors affecting friction. In this physics lesson, students construct their own rocket car and race them. They graph the average speeds and discuss how lubricants affect friction between rubbing surfaces.
Curated OER
Galaxy Mapping
Students research the constellations and discuss their findings. Then they construct their own maps of the galaxy using paper, black paint, aluminum foil, etc. They make a 3-D map of their chosen constellation.
Curated OER
Galaxies Galore, Games and More
Students practice skills used in scientific investigation while studying the three main types of galaxies. Students identify Earth as part of Milky Way galaxy, the parts of galaxies, and the types of galaxies, as well as classify...
Curated OER
A Trip To Outer Space: Planet Exchange
Students examine the different planets in outer space. Each class studies a different planet and creates a scavenger hunt for the other classes to explore that planet.
Curated OER
TARGET EARTH
Students explore the possibility of an asteroid hitting planet earth. In this planetary lesson plan students complete a lab activity to see the effects of an asteroid hitting earth and compare different craters.
Curated OER
Earth's Magnetic Field and Magnetosphere
High schoolers investigate the magnitude of Earth's magnetic field using PASCO. In this physics lesson, students describe the features of the magnetosphere. They explain how atmosphere layers protect the Earth.
Curated OER
The Dollars and Cents of Research
In this cost o research learning exercise, students calculate the costs to pay professors to do research, they determine the costs for equipment needed for research and they calculate the amount of money needed to support research...