Download 8 Field Trip Curriculum

Walden West
Abby Sobrato Science and Sustainability Center
K - 8 Field Trip Curriculum
Contact Information
Michelle Carothers
Science and Sustainability Center Coordinator
[email protected]
(408)573-3080
Walden West Science and Sustainability Center Program Description
The Abby Sobrato Science and Sustainability Center is a one-of-a-kind facility in Santa Clara
County. Science programs accommodate groups of up to 90 students during day-long field trips
that involve students in a unique blend of activities. Students rotate through three
investigative stations where they explore the outdoors, participate in a hands-on inquiry-based
science lesson and a sustainability-related lesson. These activities complement teachers’
classroom lessons and are aligned to Common Core and Next Generation Science Standards.
Lessons are lead by the Science and Sustainability Center Coordinator, center-provided
volunteers, and school-provided parents who guide students through each experience.
Program descriptions are available for grade levels preK-8 and more are being developed.
Field Trip Schedule
Buses arrive at 9:30.
9:30-9:40: Introductions, rules, and overview of field trip. Students divide into three groups.
9:40-10:30: Students in first rotational group.
10:30-10:40: Break; snack and bathrooms (students bring snack and re-useable water bottle).
10:40-11:30: Students in second rotational group.
11:30-12:20: Students in third rotational group.
12:20-12:30: Group wrap up and evaluations. Students are released to teachers and
chaperones to eat lunch, either at Walden West or another location.
Cost
$12/student, $250 minimum per program
Prekindergarten – Second grades
Terrific Trees
Description: Students will walk through the forest and observe and describe the basic
structures of trees, texture of different barks, and the size and shape of different leaves. They
will work with wood to connect wood types with common household and school products, and
participate in the cycle of growing a new plant to help the Earth.
Outdoor Component: Students will participate in a “tree treasure hunt” to collect and sort tree
parts during a hike on Walden West trails.
Inquiry Component: Students will learn about key features of various trees and identify
different species with these features. Tree related vocabulary will be emphasized, as well as
what trees need to survive.
Sustainability Component: Hammering, sanding, and planting stations in the Science Center will
allow students to investigate samples of wood and discuss the uses for each based on the
properties of the materials. Students will plant a seed to be raised at Walden West or to take
home or back to school.
Exploring Environments
Description: Students will walk the trails of Walden West to experience a variety of habitats,
including chaparral, riparian and redwood forest. They will observe the behavior of various
insects in a micro-environment and learn how ladybugs are especially beneficial to the
environment.
Outdoor Component: Students venture out on the trails of Walden West and learn about the
different habitats as they explore. Students will use field nets and “shake boxes” to discover
insects and the environments they inhabit.
Inquiry Component: Students hypothesize while observing insects such as crickets, mealworms,
pill bugs, and beetles and discover new things about their habitats, food, and special
adaptations.
Sustainability Component: Students learn about the life of a ladybug and how ladybugs are
beneficial, through observations and story.
Water, Water Everywhere
Description: Students will experience the force of water, and the connection that they have to
this natural resource. After activities inside and out, students will know how they can help keep
Silicon Valley’s water clean and healthy.
Outdoor Component: Students will explore a local water way and experience the power and
potential while on a hike to the Walden West pond and/or creek.
Inquiry Component: Now You See It, Now You Don’t; water pollution activity. Many harmful
substances are difficult to detect by sight or smell. Using crackers and frosting, students will
make various observations to detect mock “pollutants” and draw conclusions from their
observations.
Sustainability Component: Students split into two small groups and participate in two waterrelated activities. The 3-D Watershed Model will teach students what a watershed is and about
common pollutants in their watershed. With “Aquifer in a Cup” students will make their own
take-home aquifer and learn about groundwater and water pollution. Students will brainstorm
ideas on how to protect their watershed and conserve water.
Birth, Growth, Death, Decay
Description: Students will become nature detectives in search of plant and animal lifecycles,
and explore how common plants, animals and man-made products, such as videogames and
water bottles, have a lifecycle.
Outdoor Component: Students explore the trails of Walden West in search of evidence of
lifecycles. While in the forest and/or organic garden students will be introduced to plants and
animals that have different ways of reproducing, and important roles in our natural world.
Inquiry Component: Using microscopes, students will get up close and personal to insects
during various life stages and different plant parts and make observations about life cycles.
Sustainability Component: Students learn about product lifecycles and biodegradation through
short PBS kid’s videos. They will then look at common objects we throw away or recycle and
challenge themselves by figuring out how long each object takes to decompose. We will discuss
the importance of reducing, recycling, and reusing products in order to protect the environment.
Third - Fifth Grades
Birth, Growth, Death, Decay
Description: Students will become nature detectives in search of plant and animal lifecycles,
and explore how common plants, animals and man-made products, such as videogames and
water bottles, have a lifecycle.
Outdoor Component: Students explore the trails of Walden West in search of evidence of
lifecycles. While in the forest and/or organic garden students will be introduced to plants and
animals that have different ways of reproducing, and important roles in our natural world.
Inquiry Component: Using microscopes, students will get up close and personal to insects
during various life stages and different plant parts and make observations about life cycles.
Sustainability Component: Students learn about product lifecycles and biodegradation through
short PBS kid’s videos. They will then look at common objects we throw away or recycle and
challenge themselves by figuring out how long each object takes to decompose. We will discuss
the importance of reducing, recycling, and reusing products in order to protect the environment.
Earth and Energy
Description: Students will journey into outer space by entering Walden West’s Star Lab to learn
about the stars and moon in the night sky. Explore the relationship between the Sun, its energy,
and life on Earth through both inside and outside activities.
Outdoor Component: Students will hike the Peterson Loop Trail and find their “inner Earth,
Moon and Sun” during an interactive activity to learn about the revolution and rotation of
these celestial giants.
Inquiry Component: In small groups, students will rotate through four stations to; create a
moon phase flip book, learn to use a star finder, review the rotation and revolution of the
Earth, Moon, and Sun, and make a constellation viewer from a re-used toilet paper roll.
Sustainability Component: Students will enter Walden West’s spectacular Star Lab where they
will experience the night sky in a totally new way! Students will learn about constellations, hear
a solar system related myth, learn the effects of light pollution, and create their own stories
after this stargazing experience.
Brainy Birds
Description: What is so special about our flying feathered friends, birds? Students will learn
about the industrious and expert nest builders whose beaks and tongues are perfectly adapted
to take advantage of their favorite food.
Outdoor Component: Students will work in small teams to create their own bird nests. After
building the nests and placing them in a chosen location, the students locate each other’s nests,
and discuss the pros and cons of each design. The group will talk about the structures of the
nests and the different methods birds use to make sure their nest is a safe place to call home.
Inquiry Component: Students will learn about a beautiful bird and the challenges it faces to
survive on the open ocean by dissecting an albatross bolus.
Sustainability Component: Students learn about product lifecycles and biodegradation through
short PBS kid’s videos. They will then look at common objects we throw away or recycle
everyday and challenge themselves by figuring out how long each object takes to decompose.
We will discuss the importance of reducing, recycling, and reusing products in order to protect
the environment.
Body Systems, Earth Systems
Description: Students will learn how a healthy environment is not only good for plants and
animals, but good for humans too! Make a model lung, learn how different plants and animals
breathe, and find out more about why Silicon Valley participates in “Spare the Air” days.
Outdoor Component: Hike to the pond and/or creek and learn about how plants and animals
live and breathe. Students will discover the importance of biodiversity and dissolved oxygen by
conducting dissolved oxygen and benthic macro invertebrate tests with their classmates.
Inquiry Component: Students will have a chance to learn about the human respiratory system
by building a model lung and discovering how their body inhales and exhales about 23,000
times a day.
Sustainability Component: Students will see and conduct an air inversion experiment in small
groups and discuss the experiment as well as their own connection to "Spare the Air Days" and
how they can help to improve air quality in their community.
Incredible Interdependence
Description: Students will build plankton models and explore the aquatic ecosystem. They will
find out how all living things, including humans, play an important part in the ecosystem and
discover how we are all interconnected.
Outdoor Component: Students will conduct a Pond Ecosystem Study to learn about the biotic
and abiotic factors in this aquatic ecosystem and how they are interconnected.
Inquiry Component: Students will engage in an activity called Sinking Slowly where they will
learn about plankton in the aquatic/marine ecosystem and work in small groups to build
plankton models.
Sustainability Component: Students get an up close view of “life under the surface” with a
series of microscope viewing stations and practice drawing what they see to scale.
Sixth - Eighth Grades
Stellar Solar Energy
Description: Students will explore solar power and learn about other forms of renewable
energy. They will discover the main source of energy on the planet and sample tasty treats
made using their own energy.
Outdoor Component: Students learn how the sun is the main source of energy for the earth, by
personally experiencing the power of the sun. They will participate in a renewable energy
scavenger hunt in, and around our organic garden.
Inquiry Component: Students will experiment with solar panels to understand the difference
between passive and active solar and quantify how much power is actually generated and
required.
Sustainability Component: Students will learn about wind, water, and other forms of renewable
energy through a series of activities in a building that has been built from recycled and reused
materials and runs on renewable energy sources. During one of these activities they will enjoy
making their own smoothies while riding our pedal powered blender bike.
Water, Shaping the Earth’s Surface
Description: Students will quench their thirst for knowledge through a series of educational
games, hands-on water tests and looking at a 3-D watershed model.
Outdoor Component: Students venture out into the Saratoga Creek Watershed to learn about
local history and how water was used from the time of the Ohlone Indians to present day
through a fun and educational game called Common Water.
Inquiry Component: Students will have a chance to learn about water chemistry and biological
diversity by sampling at the Walden West pond and/or stream.
Sustainability Component: Students split into two small groups and participate in two waterrelated activities. The 3-D Watershed Model will teach students what a watershed is, about
common pollutants in their watershed, and allow them to come up with ways they can help
keep the environment clean in their community. Each student will also make their own “Aquifer
in a Cup” and learn about groundwater and water pollution in their own backyard.