Last summer a team from Return of the Natives and a wonderful RON teacher, Michelle Micalizo, from Gonzales High attended a two week long summer institute in Madison Wisconsin with the Earth Partnerships for Schools Program http://uwarboretum.org/eps/. In these two weeks we learned about this great program and left with new knowledge on schoolyard restorations as well as a fantastic curriculum guide.
For a taste of this curriculum check out: Botany Bouquet
We are in the process of converting these great activities written with Wisconsin ecosystems in mind to California ecosystems. As well, we are correlating the activities to fit California state standards. If you are interested in receiving this curriculum we are planning a series of workshops though out the 07-08 school year. At each workshop you will receive a couple activities and upon completion of the workshops you will receive the full guide. The first workshop is scheduled for Saturday, September 29th from 8:30am to 4pm.
** We strongly encourage all new teachers to Return of the Natives to attend the Saturday, September 29th teacher workshop.
California State Standards Return of the Natives and Your School
Return of the Natives recognizes the increased pressure put on teachers to cover state standards and to increase test scores. We also know that very little science is taught in grades K-4 due to the pressure to cover language arts and math. RON would like to help and has many activities that cover standards in all subjects. Science activities can also cover many standards in other areas. If you would like to have us visit your classroom feel free to ask us to mold our activities to fit your needs!
Free Native Plants!!! Return of the Natives can provide some natives for your garden but we have another wonderful resource with Dana Mills Helman! Dana is a retired teacher from the Alisal School District who grows native plants free for school gardens from her home up San Benacio Road. Contact: home (831) 484-5755 cell (831) 915-1959.
For assistance with school gardens please contact:
(831) 582-3687 or email: emily_smith@csumb.edu
Teacher Resources
A California Mathematics and Science Partnership
http://www.intheloupe.org/
Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary
http://www.mbnms.nos.noaa.gov/
Monterey Bay Aquarium
http://www.mbayaq.org/
Moss Landing Marine Labs
http://www.mlml.calstate.edu/
National Science Teachers Association
http://www.nsta.org/
California Science Teachers Association
http://www.cascience.org/
California Regional Environmental Education Community
http://www.creec.org/
