We are excited to announce that this field trip now has a project based learning unit you can choose to use to help extend the learning for this field work opportunity at Coastal Roots Farm. This comprehensive unit embeds the Pre-Lessons, Post-Lessons, and Conservation Project while also encouraging in depth inquiry, collaboration, and real-world phenomena. While completing the pre, post, and Conservation project is required, this PBL unit is optional. We hoped to provide you with an opportunity to utilize a project based approach in your classroom.
This PBL unit is aligned with the educational goals of the Coastal Roots field trip, where students will engage in hands-on learning at an operational sustainable farm. During the visit, students will explore the challenges that pests pose to crops and discover how native animals play a key role in ecological pest management.
Back in the classroom, students will apply their learning by selecting a native animal known for controlling pests and designing a functional, attractive habitat to encourage its presence on the farm. Through this project, students will gain a deeper understanding of environmental stewardship, design thinking, and the interconnectedness of ecosystems and agriculture.
Students can engineer physical habitats, models, or digital designs.
This week, the PBL begins with a launch lesson that introduces plants natural defenses against pests. Then students will complete the “Farmer Training” lesson from Coastal Roots farm where they learn how to plant and grow seeds. Students will learn about the properties of living and nonliving things. In addition, students will learn how plants respond to stimuli such as light, internal and external structures of plants, and how these parts help a plant reproduce and survive.
This week, students will go on the field trip to Coastal Roots Farm and reflect about their experience. They will learn about how farmers can support plant health on an organic farm. Students will participate in an engineering design challenge to build a trellis to support the health of their pea plant.
This week, students will apply their learning from the entire project to collaboratively engage in the Design Thinking Process as they explore the question, “How can animals assist farmers in organic farming?” Working in teams, students will select an animal and design a suitable home for it on the farm. They will also explain how their chosen animal can help farmers maintain healthy crops by protecting plants from pests and promoting sustainable farming practices.
Kristen Wrisley kwrisley@eusd.org
This PBL was written in collaboration with Coastal Roots Farm and EUSD.