Distance Learning & Environmental Literacy
New! K-12 Distance Learning Lesson Sequences for Science and Environmental Literacy
We are proud to launch our new Teacher Leadership Institute website which includes K-12 Distance Learning Lesson Sequences developed buy our community of teacher leaders and environmental education partners! We hope all teachers will use these lessons to bring science and environmental literacy experiences to students K-12 in every school and district.
The lessons support Next Generation Science Standards while connecting students with nature, local environmental organizations and stewardship. Many thanks to our dedicated teacher leadership institute participants: our Environmental Educator Partners and Teacher Leaders for all their work - they are the community of collaborators behind all this work.
K-12 Distance Learning Collections for Environmental Literacy
Click on the document on the left to access grade level collections of distance learning lessons and experiences to connect students with local outdoor learning while supporting Next Generation Science Standards.
Choice boards to connect students with nature and science while learning at home
Santa Cruz COE and Environmental Education partners are creating weekly choice boards for K-12 teachers to connect students with nature. Click on the tables below to get link to all activities! WE"LL ADD A CHOICE BOARD EACH WEEK THROUGH THE END OF SCHOOL.
Distance Learning activities to investigate the local environment
Activities for younger grades emphasize the wonder of our planet and encourage exploration and connection--the foundation for future stewardship! Upper grade activities emphasize protecting the environment and taking action.
Parks Online Resources for Teachers and Students (PORTS) program provides FREE live interactive videoconference programs for K-12 students to connect with interpretive rangers and learn academic content standards within the context of California’s dynamic state park system. "On-Demand" PORTS Programs are also available to teachers with remote classrooms.
THANK YOU TO OUR DEDICATED ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PARTNERS WHO ARE HELPING TO CREATE OUR EE CHOICE BOARDS!
And many thanks to the other organizations--Life Lab, Save Our Shores, Big Sur Land Trust, City of Watsonville, Monterey Bay Center for Environmental Literacy, Monterey Bay Salmon Project, Ventana Wildlife Society, Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History--for contributing lessons and supporting the event! We will add more resources for taking distance learning outdoors the rest of this year.
Visit the Santa Cruz County Office of Education's Distance Learning website for all resources for educators, families, and administrators.
There is an urgent need to re-imagine PreK-12 schools in order to safely reopen. Outdoor learning spaces are a cost-effective way to increase instructional space while providing fresh air, hands-on learning opportunities, and the health benefits associated with increased access to natural spaces.
This website shares information related to an online public forum held on June 4, 2020, entitled: Outdoor Spaces as Essential Assets for School Districts’ COVID-19 Response.