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Lesson Title and Description
California Native Uses of Plants (Ethnobotany) This lesson complements the 4th grade Social Studies topic of California Indians. Students will learn about various plants that the Indians used for food, housing, baskets, medicine, tools, and other items and how plants were crucial to the survival of Native Californians and identify many of the plants in their school’s own native plant garden. Students gain hands-on experience with the plant material and make simple items. |
Alignment with California State Standards
CA State History- Social Studies Standard: 4.2.1 Discuss the major nations of California Indians, including their geographic distribution, economic activities, legends, and religious beliefs; and describe how they depended on, adapted to, and modified the physical environment by cultivation of land and use of sea resources. |
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Lesson Title and Description
Symmetry in Fruit During this lesson, students gain a deeper understanding of symmetry through hands-on dissection of various types of fruit. They also practice observational skills |
Alignment with California State Standards
Common Core State Standards for Mathematics: 4.G 3 Recognize a line of symmetry for a two-dimensional figure as a line across the figure such that the figure can be folded a long the line into matching parts. Identify line-symmetric figures and draw lines of symmetry. |
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Lesson Title and Description
Self-Similarity This lesson explores pattern recognition and proportional reasoning, and introduces mathematical models to represent quantitative relationships found in nature. |
Alignment with California State Standards
Next Generation Science Standard: 4-LS1-1 Construct an argument that plants and animals have internal and external structures that function to support survival, growth, behavior, and reproduction. CCSS for Mathematics: 1.1, 2.3, 3.3 |
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Lesson Title and Description
Leaf Adaptations Students will collect and observe different leaves, identify leaf characteristics, and how those characteristics (adaptations) aide in survival. They will also participate in a group discussion to show that adaptations in physical structure may improve a plant’s chance for survival. |
Alignment with California State Standards
Next Generation Science Standard: 4-LS1-1 Construct an argument that plants and animals have internal and external structures that function to support survival, growth, behavior, and reproduction. |
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Lesson Title and Description
Habitat Perspectives Students demonstrate their observation and description skills as they investigate and examine what lives within a schoolyard microhabitat. Student teams practice relating the physical conditions of a habitat to what lives there. |
Alignment with California State Standards
Next Generation Science Standard: 4-LS1 From Molecules to Organisms: Structure and Processes |