Science Content Standards for California Public Schools: USGS Resources

USGS Education

Kindergarten
Science Content Standards
USGS Education Home / California Education Standards / California Resources

Life Sciences

2. Different types of plants and animals inhabit the earth. As a basis for understanding this concept:
a. Students know how to observe and describe similarities and differences in the appearance and behavior of plants and animals (e.g., seed-bearing plants, birds, fish, insects).
b. Students know stories sometimes give plants and animals attributes they do not really have.
c. Students know how to identify major structures of common plants and animals (e.g., stems, leaves, roots, arms, wings, legs).

Welcome to the USGS BRD Kids Corner (USGS Biological Resources Division)
http://biology.usgs.gov/features/kidscorner/kidscrnr.html

Biodiversity & Environment
http://www.nbii.gov/education/biodiversity.html#gradeK3
This is the National Biological Information Infrastructure [NBII] links page to educational websites for grades K to 3.

Names of Baby Animals
http://biology.usgs.gov/features/kidscorner/quizzes/bbynme.html
This USGS-BRD quiz is for preschool through early elementary grades. What are the different kinds of baby animals called?

Who Am I?
http://biology.usgs.gov/features/kidscorner/quizzes/whoami.html
For preschool through early elementary grades. This USGS-BRD quiz provides a simple set of clues with multiple choice answers. Have fun!

PIERC Education Pages (Pacific Island Ecosystem Research Center)
http://biology.usgs.gov/pierc/pierced.htm
This website has some coloring book pages and other activities for young students

Earth Sciences

3. Earth is composed of land, air, and water. As a basis for understanding this concept:
a. Students know characteristics of mountains, rivers, oceans, valleys, deserts, and local landforms.
b. Students know changes in weather occur from day to day and across seasons, affecting Earth and its inhabitants.
c. Students know how to identify resources from Earth that are used in everyday life and understand that many resources can be conserved.

USGS Image Collections
http://www.usgs.gov/newsroom/photos.asp
This website provides links to many USGS photo collections where images can be downloaded for free. Topics include geography, geology, water science, historic photographs, and national parks.

Minerals In Our Environment
http://geopubs.wr.usgs.gov/open-file/of00-144/
This poster shows how we use minerals in our everyday life.

Mineral Resources: Out of the Ground, Into Our Daily Lives
http://geopubs.wr.usgs.gov/open-file/of01-360/
This poster shows what minerals are used to common objects and materials around us.

Geography Standards

K.4 Students compare and contrast the locations of people, places, and environments and describe their characteristics.
1. Determine the relative locations of objects using the terms near/far, left/right, and behind/in front.
2. Distinguish between land and water on maps and globes and locate general areas referenced in historical legends and stories.
3. Identify traffic symbols and map symbols (e.g., those for land, water, roads, cities).
4. Construct maps and models of neighborhoods, incorporating such structures as police and fire stations, airports, banks, hospitals, supermarkets, harbors, schools, homes, places of worship, and transportation lines.
5. Demonstrate familiarity with the school's layout, environs, and the jobs people do there.

Map Adventures (Teacher Packet)
http://interactive2.usgs.gov/learningweb/teachers/mapadv.htm
An on-line teacher packet for grades K-3. Students learn basic concepts for visualizing objects from different perspectives and how to understand and use maps. Includes teacher information, seven lesson plans, two activity sheets, and a poster that can be printed in color or black & white by printing pdf files on fifteen 8.5" x 11" sheets.

Helping Your Child Learn Geography
http://www.ed.gov/pubs/parents/Geography/index.html
This 32-page booklet, published in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Education and the National Geographic Society, is designed to help adults stir children's curiosity about geography. Includes many suggestions for simple activities. K-4.

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URL: http://education.usgs.gov/california/kindergarten.htm
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Page Last Modified: Tuesday, 22-Jul-2008 17:22:02 EDT