Curriculum Highlights

Key Learning Objectives: Students will learn the interconnectedness between native plants, wildlife, and the watershed. Students will write a research paper describing this relationship and focusing on one particular plant. They will include a section that describes their experience with this program.

Geoliteracy Integration:
This program will introduce the students to the interconnectedness of wildlife, plant life, and the watershed. They will visit local creeks, rivers, and the local water plant to experience and understand how things work together. By having these experiences and education the students should better be able to understand the implications of their actions and how that effects their surrounding environment.

Fieldwork Activities

Activity One: Connect with Cotati Critter to help with native plant restoration
Activity Two: Visit the Sonoma County Water Plant located on Lakeville Hwy
Activity Three: Get a boat tour along the Petaluma River

Students will work with John Shribbs at Casa Grande's Native Plant Nursery. They will learn more about plant communities, farming, and plant care. They will help with planting in the native plant garden that is already underway on campus.

Participating Schools: Live Oak Charter School

Lead Teachers: Tamara Lemesh

Participating Classes: 5th Grade

Overview: The essential question: Why do we need native plants to grow in the watershed and how does this effect the surrounding wildlife? Students will explore this question by learning about the watershed, native plants, and the surrounding wildlife. They will help to restore some of the native plants along local creeks and/or rivers.

CA Curriculum Standards Addressed

Science Standards from Next Generation Science Standards:

Use observations to describe patterns of what plants and animals (including humans) need to survive. [Clarification Statement: Examples of patterns could include that animals need to take in food but plants do not; the different kinds of food needed by different types of animals; the requirement of plants to have light; and, that all living things need water.]

READ MORE about the Curriculum Standards addressed in this project.