California Academic Content Standards

John Muir Lesson Plans

The John Muir lesson plans, part of our expanded John Muir Study Guide, are aligned to the pre-Common Core California Academic Content Standards for each grade level. Adopted standards applied for History-Social Science, English-Language Arts, and Science, Mathematics, Visual and Performing Arts. Although the references below do not assign the relevant Common Core standard, these lessons can be readily measured to meet updated California's Common Core Standards.

In additon to the Lesson Plans listed below, allso available is an extensive new curriculum Through the Eyes of John Muir:: A Multi-disciplinary Approach to Looking at our World by Janice Kelley (2016).
This curriculum, aligned to both Common Core and Next Generation Science Standards, can be applied in and outside the classroom for students to learn how to see through the eyes of John Muir - as environmental stewards, scientists, historians and advocates. These Standards apply to grades 3 and 4. Most activities are applicable to or can be modified to meet the needs of older students.

Do you have ideas for more John Muir-related Lesson Plans? Please join our mailing list to share your ideas with others!

Alphabetical Academic Content Standards Index

English - Language Arts

Power Quotes and Essay Writing (Grade Five) (Reading Standard 3.0: Literary response and analysis; Writing Standard 1. and 2: Writing Strategies and Applications; and 1: Listening and Speaking Strategies)
Make a Nature Journal (Grades K-8) (Writing Strategies and Applications)
More coming soon

History-Social Science

People Who Make a Difference:
2.5 Students understand the importance of individual action and character and explain how heroes from long ago and the recent past have made a difference in others' lives.
Grade Two

California: A Changing State:
4.1 Students demonstrate an understanding of the physical and human geographic features that define places and regions in California.
Grade Four

United States History and Geography: Growth and Conflict
8.3 Students understand the foundation of the American political system and the ways in which citizens participate in it.
Grade Eight

United States History and Geography: Continuity and Change in the Twentieth Century
11.11 Students analyze the major social problems and domestic policy issues in contemporary American society.
11.11.5. Trace the impact of, need for, and controversies associated with environmental conservation, expansion of the national park system, and the development of environmental protection laws, with particular attention to the interaction between environmental protection advocates and property rights advocates.
Grades 9-12: John Muir's Vision Lives On - National Park Management in Yosemite
Grades 9 - 12: Forest Management

Science

Earth Science

Earth Sciences: Soil
3c. Students know that soil is made partly from weathered rock and partly from organic materials and that soils differ in their color, texture, capacity to retain water, and ability to support the growth of many kinds of plants.
Grade Two.

Earth Sciences: Weather
4c. Students know the causes and effects of different kinds of severe weather.
Grade Five

Earth Sciences: Earthquakes
1d. Students know that earthquakes are sudden motions along breaks in the crust called faults.
1e. Students know major geologic events, such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and mountain building, result from plate motions.
Grade Six

Life Science

Life Sciences: Diversity 3b. Students know examples of diverse life forms in different environments, such as oceans, deserts, tundra, forests, grasslands, and wetlands.
Grade Three

Life Sciences: Habitat:
2a(a). Students know different plants and animals inhabit different kinds of environments and have external features that help them thrive in different kinds of places.
Grade One

Life Sciences: Ecosystems
3a. Students know ecosystems can be characterized by their living and nonliving components.
3b. Students know that in any particular environment, some kinds of plants and animals survive well, some survive less well, and some cannot survive at all. Grade Four

Life Sciences: Ecology:
6b. Students know how to analyze change in an ecosystem resulting from changes in climate, human activity, introduction of nonnative species, or changes in population size. Grades 9 - 12

California Science Standard Grades 9 - 12, Investigation and Experimentation:
1m. Investigate a science-based societal issue by researching the literature, analyzing data, and communicating the findings. Examples of issues include ...land and water use decisions in California.
Grades 9 - 12

Earth Science (Earth and Life History):
4a. Students know Earth processes today are similar to those that occurred in the past, and slow geologic processes have large cumulative effects over long periods of time.
Grade Seven

Investigation and Experimentation:
9. Scientific progress is made by asking meaningful questions and conducting careful investigations.
Students will:
a. plan and conduct a scientific investigation to test a hypothesis.
Grade Eight

Social Studies Lesson Plans
Science Lesson Plans
Lesson Plans
Through the Eyes of John Muir: A Multi-disciplinary Approach to Looking at our World by Janice Kelley

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