California Academy of Sciences

This lesson familiarizes learners with the term "tropical belt." First, learners locate the equator, Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn on a map and trace these lines with a crayon.

In this creative activity, learners will find out what makes an insect an insect by studying examples of insect adaptations and by examining why there are so many different types of insects.

By building a simple watershed with paper and markers and then using a spray bottle to simulate precipitation, learners will understand how pollution accumulates in our water sources, especially from

In this hands-on activity, learners will become familiar with the special adaptations of rainforest plants and discover the conditions needed for tropical trees to survive along with what can impinge

By playing a card game similar to "Go Fish," but based on the stages of metamorphosis, learners will be able to see how insects change in form as they grow and will consider the advantages of undergoi

In this inquiry-based activity, learners investigate the basic forces of flight as they construct their own paper glider that represents a rainforest creature from Borneo (large, tropical island in So

In this activity, learners use a model for how fishing affects marine life populations, and will construct explanations for one of the reasons why fish populations are declining.

In this culinary activity, learners use multiple senses (sight, smell, touch, and taste!) to explore real seaweed samples.

In this experiment, learners will explore whether increased carbon dioxide makes our oceans more basic or more acidic.

In this craft activity, learners will explore the structure and purpose of antelope horns by constructing their own headband using toilet paper rolls and yarn.