Overview
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Author(s) : This unit was researched, authored, and edited by the Center, California Indian Museum and Cultural Center, California Indian Education for All, and the San Diego County Office of Education. Key writers and researchers of this unit are Nicole Lim, Rachael Barger, Denise Davis, and Dr. Staci Block. The unit resources were designed and created from funding through the California Department of Education’s Native American Studies Model Curriculum grant and contract.
We gratefully acknowledge PBS KIDS and the creators of Molly of Denali for providing the video resources utilized in this unit. Their dedication to sharing Indigenous knowledge and fostering cultural understanding through engaging storytelling has significantly enriched our educational experience. For more episodes and resources, please visit PBS KIDS: Molly of Denali.(PBS KIDS) https://pbskids.org/molly/videos
Grade(s) : K-2nd Grades
Suggested Amount of Time : 45 Minutes
Curriculum Themes:
- Cultural Strengths
- Relationship to Place
Learning Goals
By the end of the lesson, students will:
Identify an acorn and its parts (cap, nut, shell).
Understand the relationship between acorns and oak trees.
Recognize the role of acorns in the ecosystem.
Engage in creative and sensory activities to explore acorns.
Lesson Overview
- Students are introduced to acorns through sensory exploration, storytelling, and creative activities. They learn to identify parts of the acorn (cap, shell, seed), understand its life cycle, and recognize its role in the ecosystem. Students engage in labeling, drawing, and crafting to reinforce their learning while also connecting to Indigenous perspectives on nature.
Procedures
Engage
Show an acorn and ask:
"Do you know what this is?"
"Where do you think it comes from?"
Briefly explain:
An acorn is a seed from an oak tree.
It can grow into a big oak tree if it has the right conditions (soil, water, sunlight)
Explain
Read a story about acorns or oak trees to introduce their life cycle and importance in nature.
Pause to ask questions, like:
"What animals might eat acorns?"
"How does the acorn change as it grows?"
"How does this remind us of acorns and their importance?"
Highlight how Indigenous knowledge often emphasizes respecting and understanding the natural world.
Explore
Give each student an acorn to examine.
Encourage them to look closely at the acorn’s parts (use magnifying glasses if available).
Discuss:
The cap: Protects the seed.
The shell: Keeps the seed safe inside.
The seed: Where the oak tree begins.
Elaborate
Acorn Crafts
Students make acorn crafts, such as:
Decorating an acorn cutout with googly eyes to create an "acorn friend."
Drawing an oak tree and adding acorns at the base.
Evaluate
Review key points:
What is an acorn?
Why are acorns important in nature?
Where do acorns come from?
What can acorns become?
Encourage students to share one thing they learned with a family member or friend.
Distribute a simple worksheet for students to label parts of an acorn and take home.
Extend
Outdoor Exploration: Take a nature walk to find acorns and observe oak trees.
Science Experiment: Plant an acorn in a clear container to watch it sprout.
Story Writing: Ask students to write or draw their own story about an acorn’s journey.
Assessment
Observe students’ participation during discussions and activities.
Check worksheets for accuracy in labeling the parts of an acorn.
Unit Background
This interdisciplinary unit invites students to explore the acorn—a small seed with enormous ecological and cultural importance. Through hands-on experiences, storytelling, video content, and creative expression, students will develop an understanding of the life cycle of acorns and oak trees, their role as a keystone species, and the vital ways Native American communities have used, respected, and protected oak trees and acorns for generations. Drawing from Indigenous perspectives and knowledge systems, students will engage in place-based and inquiry-based learning that nurtures curiosity, empathy, and a sense of responsibility for the natural world.