Shaping the History of Petaluma

Participating Schools: Live Oak Charter School

Lead Teachers: Lois Wildgrube 

Participating Classes: 4th Grade 

Overview: The study of the Petaluma Watershed will be part of our study of California history and geography. Students will examine how human actions have affected the watershed. Students will examine the question: What is my responsibility to the watershed? What can I do care for the Petaluma River?

Curriculum Highlights

Key Learning Objectives:  Students will learn about and gain an appreciation of the Petaluma Watershed. Students will understand how the physical characteristics of the Petaluma Watershed have influenced the development of the city of Petaluma. Students will explore the ways in which human beings have changed the Petaluma Watershed. Students will learn that the actions of people have a significant impact on an ecosystem. 

Geoliteracy Integration: 
Interactions: The students will learn about how the Petaluma Watershed shaped the lives of the Coast Miwok and the development of the city of Petaluma. READ MORE

Fieldwork Activities

Visit the Bear Valley Visitor's Center and Kule Loklo village at Point Reyes in connection with our study of local wildlife and our study of the life of Native Americans who lived in the Petaluma Watershed. Visit the Petaluma Historical Library and Museum and take a walking tour of historical downtown Petaluma; take a field trip to Shollenberger Park to study the wetlands and wildlife of the Petaluma Watershed. Do a river clean-up project on the Petaluma River.

CA Curriculum Standards Addressed

English Language Arts

W.4.2: Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas and information clearly.
W.4.3: Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, descriptive details, and clear event sequences.
RI.4.2: Determine the main idea of a text and explain how it is supported by key details; summarize the text.
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