California Academy of Science
Which Way is North?
Who needs a compass to find cardinal directions? Just place a stick in the ground and record the movement of its shadow over the course of a day. Then, measure the shadow lengths in order to determine a north-south line. A simple...
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The First Amendment
Students participate in a mock trial. Given the scenario, students prepare a cases concerning the freedom of religion, freedom of speech, and the right to assemble. In groups, students prepare an opening and closing statement, as well...
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Decoding Information From the Catalog
Fifth graders identify the parts of a print catalog record as a way to find information and the location of a book in the media center. They complete a worksheet about decoding a catalog record, complete a Mad Libs activity online, and...
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The Sinking of the Titanic
Investigate the sinking of the Titanic with young scholars. They will read actual documentation from the Titanic and answer questions. They will then draw conclusions from the pictures they see and information they read.
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The Rare Earth - How Rare Is Earth-Like Life?
Students systematically investigate the time frame for complex life to develop on Earth. They approximate how many other planets there may be harboring Earth-like complex life in our galaxy.
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Rubric Rating
High schoolers develop a rubric or scoring guide to assess newpaper articles. They rate the story and write the reasons for the rating. An Essay Scoring Guide is attached for reference.
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Scientific Notation
Students observe the teacher writing numbers and determine the rules for scientific notation. After explanations, they perform operations on numbers in scientific nation and discuss reasons for using this method of writing numbers and...
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Discovering Why I Am Who I Am
Students analyze their family history and traditions. In this family history lesson, students identify family members to research and interview their family about the people. Students write their family histories and traditions. Students...
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Learning Directions on a Map
Students use north, south, east, and west to identify relative locations and provide directions.
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A Salute to Flag Day
Use Flag Day as a learning opportunity for your classroom. Collect a variety of books and other resources on the subject of the U.S. flag. Have pupils conduct independent research at home and come to class prepared to share some fun...
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Learning from Light: The Big Bang
Students explore what astronomers are able to examine our galaxy and universe by examining light. They explore in this sub-unit the formation of the universe, commonly called "The Big Bang," and it follows studying from the Light: The...
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Acting Out Respect
Fifth graders explore, analyze and study interacting with others in ways that respect individual and group differences. They assess how to exhibit mutual respect and compromise in relationships through a teacher and counselor scenario...
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Similes and Metaphors
Reward your class with tasty treats while teaching them about simile and metaphor. After a teacher demo and explanation of simile and metaphor, pupils read books, looking for examples of these literary devices and copying them down....
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Talk it Over and Work it Out!: Compromise
Fourth graders explore, analyze and discuss how to interact with others in ways that respect individual and group differences. They identify and practice the skills used to compromise in a variety of situations. Each students studies the...
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Compounding the Problem
Pupils sharpen their dictionary skills and their understanding of compound words in this plan. Tailor it to the grade level you teach by honing in on specific skills. For older learners, the plan suggests providing a word and having them...
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Tic Tac Toe, Get Off My Toes
Fourth graders describe the importance of recognizing and forecasting conflict and taking steps to solving it. They analyze conflict situations, follow the steps for solving conflict, and provide solutions involving compromise.
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Mature Forest Mime
Students come to understand vocabulary words through pantomime. In this vocabulary lesson, students first review several vocabulary words and their meaning, then they work in groups to pantomime the definitions.
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SWEET DREAMS, MOON BABY
Study previously-unpublished techniques and also stunning yet surprisingly easy historic techniques in quilting. Advance from simple needleturn applique to antiquarian fancywork with optional stencil-shading applique, inkwork, and...
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The 'Language of Dance'
Students choreograph dances. In this dance choreography lesson, students evaluate musical selections, then create a dance that capture the emotion of the music.
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Ellipses and Kepler's First Law
The class examines graphs in the form r = F(¿¿) in polar coordinates (r, ¿¿), in particular with the circle, ellipse and other conic sections. They determine the nature of an ellipse by studying the role of the semimajor axis and...
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Wide Awake Dreaming
Learners examine and discuss works of art by Juan Miro and other surrealist artists. They discuss paintings of Juan Miro, create a drawing of a dream-like creature, and write a description of their creature.
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Assessing Reading Fluency Using the Flip Video
Utilizing a video camera, learners will read a story while being recorded. Later, they analyze the footage. After identifying their strengths and weaknesses with the teacher, they discuss reading fluency techniques. Adaptation: Instead...
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Trash: Past, Present and Future
Students explore how much trash they create. In this recycling lesson, students define stewardship and conduct an experiment to see how much trash the class produces in a week. At the end of the week the students propose ways to...
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Propaganda, WWII, Ghetto‘s, and Analysis of Primary Resources
Learners consider the implications of anti-Semitism. In this World War II lesson, students examine selected documents and images featuring the propaganda that promoted Jewish persecution. Learners write essays that highlight how the Nazi...