24 Activities

California Academy of Sciences

The California Academy of Sciences is an aquarium, planetarium, rainforest, and natural history museum in the heart of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park—and a powerful voice for biodiversity research and exploration, environmental education, and sustainability across the globe.

Inspire wonder of the natural world through STEM activities focused on community science and introducing the scientific method to youth. Explore their activities as standalone lessons or follow their suggested scaffolded collections.

Activities

Measuring Earthquakes

STEM, Nature and Wildlife

Grades 3 - 8

Measuring Earthquakes

California Academy of Sciences

3 - 8

35 Minutes

Students make their own seismograph and learn how scientists measure earthquake intensity.

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Measuring Earthquakes

STEM, Nature and Wildlife

Grades 3 - 8

Sketching for Observation Exercises

STEM, Nature and Wildlife

Grades K - 12

Sketching for Observation Exercises

California Academy of Sciences

K - 12

3 Hours

Scientific sketching isn’t about making a pretty picture! It’s about looking at something so closely you notice something new. These exercises help students practice sketching for observation, data collection, and analysis during a science investigation.

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Sketching for Observation Exercises

STEM, Nature and Wildlife

Grades K - 12

Using the iNaturalist App to Conduct a Bug Safari

Nature and Wildlife, STEM

Grades 3 - 8

Using the iNaturalist App to Conduct a Bug Safari

California Academy of Sciences

3 - 8

30 Minutes

Community science, also called citizen science, is a global effort in which scientists and the public work together to help gather data on the earth’s biodiversity. In this activity, your students will practice using scientific collection tools and conduct a Bug Safari observation. They will gently collect arthropods, take photos, and record their findings in iNaturalist, a citizen and community science project and online social network for nature research.

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Using the iNaturalist App to Conduct a Bug Safari

Nature and Wildlife, STEM

Grades 3 - 8

Using the GLOBE Observer App to Conduct a Sky Survey

Nature and Wildlife, STEM

Grades 6 - 8

Using the GLOBE Observer App to Conduct a Sky Survey

California Academy of Sciences

6 - 8

25 Minutes

Community science, also called citizen science, is a global effort in which scientists and the public work together to help gather data on the earth’s biodiversity. In Sky Survey, youth will step into the shoes of scientists by exploring the features of the sky. They will use the GLOBE Observer app to submit their celestial sightings to NASA researchers who are studying the connection between clouds and climate. NASA uses this sky data to verify satellite images of Earth’s atmosphere and to validate and calibrate the instruments that take them.

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Using the GLOBE Observer App to Conduct a Sky Survey

Nature and Wildlife, STEM

Grades 6 - 8

Using the eBird App to Conduct a Bird Search

Nature and Wildlife, STEM

Grades 6 - 8

Using the eBird App to Conduct a Bird Search

California Academy of Sciences

6 - 8

20 Minutes

Community science, also called citizen science, is a global effort in which scientists and the public work together to help gather data on the earth’s biodiversity. In Bird Search, youth will search for birds, identify them, and contribute observations to eBird, the world’s largest nature-based citizen science project.

By sharing their observations with the global community, eBirders help scientists around the world track the movement and needs of birds on a global scale and contribute to important conservation efforts. Scientists use many tools and strategies to identify and study birds. In this activity, youth learn and practice different bird identification techniques.

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Using the eBird App to Conduct a Bird Search

Nature and Wildlife, STEM

Grades 6 - 8

Draw a Scientist

STEM, Nature and Wildlife

Grades K - 12

Draw a Scientist

California Academy of Sciences

K - 12

45 Minutes

Students draw their idea of "a scientist doing science." This exercise surfaces students' prior understandings of the nature of science and the demographics of scientists, serving as a launching point for discovering that students, in fact, can be scientists.

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Draw a Scientist

STEM, Nature and Wildlife

Grades K - 12

Color Vision Genetics Evolution Simulation

STEM, Nature and Wildlife

Grades 3 - 8

Color Vision Genetics Evolution Simulation

California Academy of Sciences

3 - 8

1 Hour

Students participate in a natural selection simulation, flipping pennies to mimic the probability of passing on certain traits. The traits are the three genes for color-vision, found on the X chromosome. In the simulation, students simulate six generations of primates and track how the gene pool changes over time.

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Color Vision Genetics Evolution Simulation

STEM, Nature and Wildlife

Grades 3 - 8

What Contains Carbon?

Nature and Wildlife, STEM

Grades 3 - 8

What Contains Carbon?

California Academy of Sciences

3 - 8

50 Minutes

What kinds of everyday objects contain carbon? Students recognize where carbon is found and start thinking about how it cycles through the environment.

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What Contains Carbon?

Nature and Wildlife, STEM

Grades 3 - 8

Carbon Cycle Role-Play

Nature and Wildlife, STEM

Grades 3 - 12

Carbon Cycle Role-Play

California Academy of Sciences

3 - 12

45 Minutes

How does the finite amount of carbon on this planet move around in the environment, from one place to another? How do the geosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere interact? In this active demonstration, students model the carbon cycle, and consider ways in which human actions play a role.

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Carbon Cycle Role-Play

Nature and Wildlife, STEM

Grades 3 - 12

The Heat is On: Cause and Effect and Climate

STEM, Nature and Wildlife

Grades 6 - 12

The Heat is On: Cause and Effect and Climate

California Academy of Sciences

6 - 12

1 Hour 10 Minutes

Students practice distinguishing between correlation and causation within the context of global climate change.

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The Heat is On: Cause and Effect and Climate

STEM, Nature and Wildlife

Grades 6 - 12

Sensational Seaweed

Nature and Wildlife, STEM

Grades 3 - 8

Sensational Seaweed

California Academy of Sciences

3 - 8

1 Hour

Students learn the parts of algae, compare them to land plants, and rotate through exploration stations to investigate seaweed close up with their different senses.

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Sensational Seaweed

Nature and Wildlife, STEM

Grades 3 - 8

Earthquakes & Tectonic Plates

STEM, Nature and Wildlife

Grades 3 - 8

Earthquakes & Tectonic Plates

California Academy of Sciences

3 - 8

2 Hours

How can we determine the locations of tectonic plate boundaries? How can we use seismic waves to pinpoint the epicenter of an earthquake? Students will explore these and other questions using seismic data and triangulation.

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Earthquakes & Tectonic Plates

STEM, Nature and Wildlife

Grades 3 - 8

Featured in These Collections

Intro to Science Notebooking

Nature and Wildlife, STEM

4 Activities

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Grades 3 - 12

Intro to Science Notebooking

3 - 12

4 Hours

This collection of activities introduces students to science notebooking, and how to establish systems, organize information, and sketch like a scientist.

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Learning Scientific Sketching

Nature and Wildlife, STEM

4 Activities

●

Grades 3 - 12

Learning Scientific Sketching

3 - 12

4 Hours

This collection of activities teaches students how to sketch like scientists. Students learn techniques for observation, data collection, and analysis. After learning and practicing these introductory sketching techniques, they will then be able to confidently use their skills for scientific inquiry.

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STEM Activities for K-5th Grade at Home or in Small Groups

Arts, STEM

11 Activities

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Grades K - 5

STEM Activities for K-5th Grade at Home or in Small Groups

K - 5

10 Hours

This playlist is a great mix of engineering and science activities that are easy and fun for home or small groups of kids k-5.

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Science Notebooks

Nature and Wildlife, STEM

7 Activities

●

Grades 3 - 12

Science Notebooks

3 - 12

7 Hours 15 Minutes

Keeping a notebook can help your students think and act like scientists. Sample these easy-to-implement strategies and lessons to bring science notebooking into your program.

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Outdoor Activities for Middle School at Home

Nature and Wildlife, STEM

11 Activities

●

Grades 6 - 8

Outdoor Activities for Middle School at Home

6 - 8

9 Hours 45 Minutes

This Playlist is all about getting outside and trying some STEM outdoors or in for Middle-School aged kids, and has been mixed especially for having fun at home or in small groups!

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Community Science Playlist

STEM, Nature and Wildlife

3 Activities

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Grades 3 - 8

Community Science Playlist

3 - 8

1 Hour 15 Minutes

Community science, also called citizen science, is a global effort in which scientists and the public work together to help gather data on the earth’s biodiversity. In this playlist, youth will learn how to use three community science tools and make observations about arthropods, birds, and sky conditions to share with naturalists around the world.

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2020 National Summer Learning Association Awardees

Leadership and Teamwork

10 Activities

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Grades K - 12

2020 National Summer Learning Association Awardees

K - 12

9 Hours 30 Minutes

This playlist is brought to you by the awardees of the 2020 National Summer Learning Association Awards. We are so excited to feature the winners of Excellence in Summer Learning, Founder's Award, and Climate Change Award! Congratulations ANYTOWN, Camp EDMO, CityParks Foundation Green Girls Empowered by ING, and Young Audiences of Maryland- Summer Arts & Learning Academy for these achievements and all you do for the community.

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Setting Up Science Notebooks

Nature and Wildlife, STEM

4 Activities

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Grades K - 12

Setting Up Science Notebooks

K - 12

3 Hours 30 Minutes

This collection of activities helps students set up science notebooks for the beginning of your science lessons for the year, semester, term, or week. By learning to establish systems, organize information, and sketch like a scientist, students learn and practice processes of analysis, note-taking, and scientific inquiry.

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Categories Collaborators Explore All Activities All Collections

Community

Our Story Team Mizzen Events The Mizzen Minute

Engage

Newsroom Contact Us

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