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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

35m

Grades 3 - 8

Measuring Earthquakes

By California Academy of Sciences

3 - 8

35m

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

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Measuring Earthquakes
STEM • Nature and Wildlife
35mGrades 3 - 8

Sketching for Observation Exercises

STEM • Nature and Wildlife

3h

All Grades

Sketching for Observation Exercises

By California Academy of Sciences

All Grades

3h

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
3hAll Grades

Using the iNaturalist App to Conduct a Bug Safari

Nature and Wildlife • STEM

30m

Grades 3 - 8

Using the iNaturalist App to Conduct a Bug Safari

By California Academy of Sciences

3 - 8

30m

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
30mGrades 3 - 8

Using the GLOBE Observer App to Conduct a Sky Survey

Nature and Wildlife • STEM

25m

Grades 6 - 8

Using the GLOBE Observer App to Conduct a Sky Survey

By California Academy of Sciences

6 - 8

25m

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
25mGrades 6 - 8

Using the eBird App to Conduct a Bird Search

Nature and Wildlife • STEM

20m

Grades 6 - 8

Using the eBird App to Conduct a Bird Search

By California Academy of Sciences

6 - 8

20m

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
20mGrades 6 - 8

Draw a Scientist

STEM • Nature and Wildlife

45m

All Grades

Draw a Scientist

By California Academy of Sciences

All Grades

45m

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
45mAll Grades

Color Vision Genetics Evolution Simulation

STEM • Nature and Wildlife

1h

Grades 3 - 8

Color Vision Genetics Evolution Simulation

By California Academy of Sciences

3 - 8

1h

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
1hGrades 3 - 8

What Contains Carbon?

Nature and Wildlife • STEM

50m

Grades 3 - 8

What Contains Carbon?

By California Academy of Sciences

3 - 8

50m

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
50mGrades 3 - 8

Carbon Cycle Role-Play

Nature and Wildlife • STEM

45m

Grades 3 - 12

Carbon Cycle Role-Play

By California Academy of Sciences

3 - 12

45m

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
45mGrades 3 - 12

The Heat is On: Cause and Effect and Climate

STEM • Nature and Wildlife

1h 10m

Grades 6 - 12

The Heat is On: Cause and Effect and Climate

By California Academy of Sciences

6 - 12

1h 10m

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
1h 10mGrades 6 - 12

Sensational Seaweed

Nature and Wildlife • STEM

1h

Grades 3 - 8

Sensational Seaweed

By California Academy of Sciences

3 - 8

1h

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
1hGrades 3 - 8

Earthquakes & Tectonic Plates

STEM • Nature and Wildlife

2h

Grades 3 - 8

Earthquakes & Tectonic Plates

By California Academy of Sciences

3 - 8

2h

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
2hGrades 3 - 8

Featured in These Collections

Community Science Playlist

STEM • Nature and Wildlife

30 Items

Grades 3 - 8

Collection

Community Science Playlist

By

3 - 8

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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Community Science Playlist
STEM • Nature and Wildlife
Grades 3 - 8

COLLECTION

2020 National Summer Learning Association Awardees

Leadership and Teamwork

100 Items

All Grades

Collection

2020 National Summer Learning Association Awardees

By

All Grades

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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2020 National Summer Learning Association Awardees
Leadership and Teamwork
All Grades

COLLECTION

STEM Activities for Summer Camp

STEM

130 Items

Grades K - 8

Collection

STEM Activities for Summer Camp

By

K - 8

Keep curiosity high all summer with hands-on STEM activities that are fun, engaging, and easy to lead. From simple science experiments to engineering challenges, these ready-to-use lessons make summer planning easier while helping youth explore, create, and learn through play.

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STEM Activities for Summer Camp
STEM
Grades K - 8

COLLECTION

Intro to Science Notebooking

Nature and Wildlife • STEM

40 Items

Grades 3 - 12

Collection

Intro to Science Notebooking

By

3 - 12

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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Intro to Science Notebooking
Nature and Wildlife • STEM
Grades 3 - 12

COLLECTION

Outdoor Activities for Middle School at Home

Nature and Wildlife • STEM

110 Items

Grades 6 - 8

Collection

Outdoor Activities for Middle School at Home

By

6 - 8

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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Outdoor Activities for Middle School at Home
Nature and Wildlife • STEM
Grades 6 - 8

COLLECTION

Science Notebooks

Nature and Wildlife • STEM

70 Items

Grades 3 - 12

Collection

Science Notebooks

By

3 - 12

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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Science Notebooks
Nature and Wildlife • STEM
Grades 3 - 12

COLLECTION

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

Arts • STEM

110 Items

Grades K - 5

Collection

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

By

K - 5

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

COLLECTION

Setting Up Science Notebooks

Nature and Wildlife • STEM

40 Items

All Grades

Collection

Setting Up Science Notebooks

By

All Grades

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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Setting Up Science Notebooks
Nature and Wildlife • STEM
All Grades

COLLECTION

Learning Scientific Sketching

Nature and Wildlife • STEM

40 Items

Grades 3 - 12

Collection

Learning Scientific Sketching

By

3 - 12

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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Learning Scientific Sketching
Nature and Wildlife • STEM
Grades 3 - 12

COLLECTION

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Copyright © 2026, Mizzen Education, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit on a mission to empower, uplift and support out-of-school time educators.

Copyright © 2026, Mizzen Education, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit on a mission to empower, uplift and support out-of-school time educators.