Lesson Plans - GPS Outreach

Finding the beauty in microbial diversity*

Students will use mud samples collected on a field trip to create their own pint-sized microbial communities in flasks. Students will observe their flasks with their eyes and with a microscope to learn about microbial communities in aerobic and anaerobic environments. This lesson can be modified to use mud provided by the instructor to offer it without a field trip component. (2x 1.5h)

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How rocks record Earth's climate

Students will observe, describe, and interpret a variety of fossil and rock examples. This lesson helps students experience how rocks help scientists understand Earth's past climatic conditions. The lesson can be taught with physical rock samples from Caltech's collection, or with handouts with photos of rock examples (included). (1h)

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Simulating California debris flows*

Students will test hypotheses about the factors that can change the strength of a debris flow through a hands-on experiment. This classroom lesson can be paired with a field trip to a local debris basin. (2h)

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Getting our hands dirty with soils

Students will compare and contrast different types of soil, including soil from their neighborhood, through hands-on observations. This lesson is designed to be taught outdoors (e.g., on school grounds), but can be modified for a classroom. (1h)

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Plant light-blocking experiment*

Students will explain how plants transform energy using photosynthesis and will use an experiment to observe how blocking light causes leaves to bleach. (2x 1h)

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Just Passing Through

Students learn about stormwater runoff and erosion, using their bodies in an interactive physical activity outside. (1h)

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Party Time for Volcanoes

Demonstrate how difficult it can be to predict when sudden Earth events will be triggered - volcanoes, earthquakes, etc. (1h)

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Rocks and Minerals

Students will learn to describe rocks and minerals, and start to understand the processes that form them. (1h)

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Making a battery out of soil*

Students will demonstrate how the chemical energy stored in soils can be transformed into other useful forms of energy. (1.5h)

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Renewable and nonrenewable energy*

Students will associate natural resources with their ability to create energy and evaluate the pros & cons of different energy sources. (3h)

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Phases of the Moon

Students will demonstrate the connection between the Moon's phases and its relative position to the Earth and Sun. (1h)

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Scale of the Solar System

Students will deduce the relative sizes of the planets and their distances from the Sun using information about their properties. (1h)

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Exploring the effects of sunshine on Earth's surface

Using a simple classroom experiment, students will observe and record how different Earth materials like sand and water reflect heat energy from sunlight. An interactive discussion will guide students to connect their results to weather and climate effects that they experience in their daily lives. (1x 1h)

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Human Impacts on the Environment

Students will visit Whittier Narrows Natural Area and learn about human impacts on the environment, as well as native plant and animal species. They will discuss direct impacts on wildlife from human impacts on the environment; visit a human-made water fixture and discuss its purpose as well as impacts; and design sustainable communities.

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