Life in a Biodiversity Hotspot

Videos

Growing Passion: Otay Mountains

A Growing Passion: Tecate Cypress.mp4

This clip highlights our seed collecting and banking work done in the Otay Mountains (5 mins.)

Growing Passion: Ocean Beach

A Growing Passion: Ocean Beach.mp4

This clip highlights our seed collecting and banking work done in Ocean Beach (7 mins.)

Plant Fieldwork Interview

HS LBH 2022.mp4

This video highlights a researcher on our Plant Conservation team about fieldwork in the Biodiversity Reserve. (3 mins.)

Mountain Lion Camera Trap

IMG_8566.MP4

This camera trap video from the Biodiversity Reserve features a crucial species in coastal sage scrub. (20 sec.)

General Extension Activities

Conservation Action Steps

Life in a Biodiversity Hotspot Pledge

This action plan goes step by step to guide students to take positive conservation actions!

Species Data Card Set

Species Data Cards 2022.pdf

This PDF features cards in English and Spanish giving background and yearly cycle information about some key species in coastal sage scrub. (time varies)

Biodiversity Jeopardy!

Jeopardy: Biodiversity of Southern California

This Southern California-based game features questions, answers, and points. (~30-1 hour)

*This can be adapted to any region.

Monarch Community Science

Which-Monarch-Community-Science-Program-is-Right-for-You_2026-04-17-133409_ikhg.pdf

Use this PDF to explore different opportunities to get involved in Monarch Community Science efforts!

The Biodiversity Reserve StoryMap

Of the 1,800 acres that comprise the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, 900 are undeveloped, supporting large expanses of coastal sage scrub vegetation. Explore this StoryMap created by one of our Research Coordinators on the Natural Lands team to get acquainted with the San Diego Zoo Safari Park's Biodiversity Reserve by experiencing some of its special places through the seasons. (~5 mins.)

Middle School Focused Extension Activities

Pre-Field Trip Lesson Plan

Pre-Visit Lesson Plan: This lesson plan will help students learn relevant vocabulary and practices, which will prepare them for their ECS Field Trip.

Objectives:

- - Students will understand and identify ancestral homelands.
  - Students will become familiar with the vocabulary utilized during the field trip. (~ 1.5 hours)

HyperDoc Digital Lesson Plan

MS-LS1-5 HyperDoc: This fully developed lesson matches the NGSS standard it is named after! This is the main HyperDoc, which features a guided lesson plan designed to be done over a week and complements our Life in a Biodiversity Hotspot lab. (time varies)
- Worksheets 1, 2, and 3: These documents are referenced in the MS-LS1-5 lesson plan and are ready for students to use in the context of the main lesson plan.

Literature Dive

Literature Dive Lesson Plan: This lesson plan provides background on how to set up this lesson with students.
Pre-Lesson Article: This article is from one of our scientists at the Beckman Center for Conservation Research and is designed to be presented to students as context BEFORE their field trip. (~15 mins.)
Post-Lesson Article: This article is from one of our scientists at the Beckman Center for Conservation Research and is designed to be presented to students as context AFTER their field trip. (~15 mins.)

High School Focused Extension Activities

HyperDoc Digital Lesson Plan

HS-LS2-6 HyperDoc: This fully developed lesson matches the NGSS standard it is named after! This is the main HyperDoc, which features a guided lesson plan designed to be done over a week and complements our Life in a Biodiversity Hotspot lab. (time varies)
- Final Project Document and Worksheets: These documents are referenced in the HS-LS2-6 lesson plan and are ready for students to use in the context of the main lesson plan.

Literature Dive

Literature Dive Lesson Plan: This lesson plan provides background on this activity and context on how to set up this lesson with students.
Pre-Lesson Article: This article introduces Biodiversity Hotspots and is designed to be presented to students BEFORE their field trip. (~15 mins)
Post-Lesson Article: This scientific article discusses umbrella species and is designed to be presented to students as context AFTER their field trip. (~15 mins.)

Interview an Organism

Interview-an-Organism.pdf

This activity by UC Berkeley and the Beetles Project introduces students to observation. (40+ mins.)

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