National Park Service
Climate Science in Focus: A Streamflow River Study
Data speaks, but it's our job to determine what it's trying to say. Young scientists explore the changes in weather and climate using data from the Yosemite National Park in a six-day unit. Learners first compare weather and climate and...
K12 Reader
What Glaciers Leave Behind
Glaciers may seem distant and stationary, but they are huge deposits of moving ice that have made changes to the earth's surface. Your pupils can learn about the different types of impressions left by glaciers by reading the short...
Curated OER
Driving Directions
In this driving directions worksheet, 5th graders interpret a driving route from Yosemite National Park to Mount Saint Helens National Monument. Students answer five math word problems associated with the route.
Curated OER
Born to be Wild
Students watch an episode depicting the human vs. polar bear conflict in Churchill, Canada. They conduct online research and analyze the information. They interpret the facts and use storytelling techniques and role playing to convey...
DocsTeach
Environmental Case Study: Hetch Hetchy Valley
What is more important: building a new school or preserving a nature reserve? Keeping a natural area clean or providing clean drinking water to a city of millions? Young scholars weigh these questions—almost literally—using an...
Curated OER
Environment: John Muir Day
Students observe John Muir Day by visiting Websites containing fact sheets, excepted writings, as well as songs, pictures, and educational sources. They use April 21 as a day to reflect on Muir's accomplishment and environmental legacy....
Curated OER
Saving the Big Trees
Pupils use a core map to obtain information about the Big Trees for measuring and graphing. In addition, students judge whether the Big Trees should be preserved or conserved.
Curated OER
Life Science Terms
Students work with the teacher as they go through the vocabulary. At the end of the lesson plan they are asked to define the terms without their notes.
Curated OER
Postcard to Self
Students, during their free time near the end of their journey they are, reflect on their trip.
Curated OER
Natural Beauty
Young scholars read and investigate the accomplishments of John Muir. They gather information about one of the United States National Parks founded by John Muir. They create a tri-fold brochure about John Muir and a National Park he...
Curated OER
Whose Water Is It?
Students role-play as San Francisco residents in 1908 who support or oppose the building of a dam in Yosemite National Park. They create posters and write letters to representatives defending their positions.
Curated OER
John Muir's Vision Lives On
Students identify perspectives on land management issues. They research and debate Yosemite's General Management Plan and develop personal responsibility on a local issue through citizen action.
Curated OER
Designing the Wilderness - The Hetch-Hetchy Reservoir
Students study the controversy over building the Hetch Hetchy Dam and determine their points of view regarding the use of public lands.
Curated OER
Ecosystems
Students examine biodiversity in plant life and what an ecosystem is composed of. In this ecosystem lesson students go around their school and collect specimens and examine the plant species they encounter.
Curated OER
Rock On!
After five class sessions, young scientists will be able to identify common rock types: igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic. This plan involves hands-on activities, includes various handouts and worksheets, and requires there to be...
Stanford University
Ansel Adams at Manzanar
Analyzing photos from Ansel Adams of Manzanar—a camp where the American government imprisoned thousands of Japanese-Americans during World War II—individuals consider what images have to say about this period in American history....
Curated OER
Problem Solution Writing
Students, after brainstorming possible problem solving activities, choose from one of the many and write what the problem is and a solution to solve it.
Curated OER
Choosing and evaluating a range of subject matter, symbols, and ideas
Art is a great way to convey or express an idea. Learners choose an idiom, draw it, and use transfer paper to create photograms. They discuss how why they chose the phrase they did, and how they expressed that idea through their...
San Francisco Public Utilities Commission
Hetch Hetchy: The Story of San Francisco's Water
How did San Francisco supply enough water for its residents over the last two centuries? Learn about droughts and water conservation in California, as well as specific historical events that led to the water system today. Kids read...
Curated OER
A Campfire Conversation
Students examine point of view as it relates to public issues. In this point of view activity, students become familiar with the point of view of John Muir and Theodore Roosevelt about the wilderness. Students debate if the...
Curated OER
Falling Water
Young scholars drop water from different heights to demonstrate the conversion of water's potential energy to kinetic energy. They see how varying the height from which water is dropped affects the splash size. In seeing how falling...
Curated OER
Geography Journey
Fourth graders examine the geographic features that define places and regions and answer questions about the state of California. They discuss the components of a map legend and answer worksheet questions using a map of California as a...
Curated OER
Revising For Parallel Structure Worksheet 3
In this grammar worksheet, students read and rewrite the italicized part of twenty sentences to make each one parallel with the rest of the sentence.
Curated OER
You Can Depend on Me
Students identify how they depend on others, and examine and discuss the images on the California Quarter Reverse. They view and discuss images of various habitats, complete a Habitat Research worksheet, and create a habitat diorama.