Grounds/Land Ecosystems Resources

The San Mateo County Office of Education's (SMCOE) Environmental Literacy and Sustainability Initiative (ELSI) developed a number of supplemental curriculum resources:

• • Home Audits: K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12

  • School Audit: 3-8 and 6-12

  • WebQuests: 3-5 Land Based Ecosystems WebQuest; 6-8 Land Based Ecosystem WebQuest, and 9-12 Land Based Ecosystem WebQuest

  • Curriculum: K-12 Land-Based Ecosystems Solutionary PBL Unit

California Education and the Environment Initiative is a program of CalRecycle's Office of Education and the Environment that aims to foster environmental literacy among K-12 students. Sign up to receive access to their free lessons!

• 3: California Indian People: Exploring Tribal Regions

• 3 - 4: Structures for Survival in a Healthy Ecosystem

• 4: Reflections of Where We Live

• 4: Witnessing the Gold Rush

• 5: Nature and Newcomers

• 7: Shaping Natural Systems Through Evolution

• 8: America Grows

• 8: Agricultural and Industrial Development in the United States (1877-1914).

• 8: Land, Politics, and Expansions in the Early Republic

• 9 - 12: Biological Diversity: The World's Riches

• 12:  Private Property and Resource Conservation

The California Academy of Sciences offers a multitiude of free science lesson plans in the "Educators" section of their website, many of which cover land ecosystems, biodiversity, and climate change.

• 2 - 4: Protect the Primates - Learn about primates, how environmental changes can impact the survival rate of organisms, and explore how primates can be protected.

• 4 - 5: Slippery Shores: Oil Spill Clean-Up - Evaluate problem-solving skills and observe the effects of a simulated oil spill on land, water, and wildlife.

• 4 - 5: Conservation Island - Learn the concepts of endangered and extinct species and develop a conservation plan.

• 4 - 5: Sustainable Fishing - Learn how fishing impacts life in the ocean, design solutions, and explore actions individuals can take to influence the fishing industry.

• 4 - 5: Carbon Cycle Role-Play - Understand that carbon is a limited resource, how it moves around, and the influence humans have on this cycle.

• 6 - 7: Slippery Shores: Oil Spill Clean-Up - Evaluate problem-solving skills and observe the effects of a simulated oil spill on land, water, and wildlife.

• 6 - 8: Conservation Island - Learn the concepts of endangered and extinct species and develop a conservation plan.

• 6 - 8: Field Guide to the Biodiversity of Your Schoolyard - Explore, observe, and record local biodiversity.

• 6 - 12: Sustainable Fishing - Learn how fishing impacts life in the ocean, design solutions, and explore actions individuals can take to influence the fishing industry.

• 6 - 12: Carbon Cycle Role-Play - Understand that carbon is a limited resource, how it moves around, and the influence humans have on this cycle.

• 6 - 12: From Farms to Phytoplankton - How agriculture affects aquatic ecosystems.

• 7 - 12: Ocean Acidification Mock Conference - Participate in a mock conference to address the affects of ocean acidification and discuss solutions.

Eco Rise: EcoRise develops the next generation of creative problem solvers by enlivening conventional classrooms with academically-aligned K-12 curriculum that introduce students to environmental literacy, social innovation and hands-on design skills. Green professionals serve as guest speakers and project mentors to help students solve real-world sustainability challenges concerning energy, water, waste, transportation, air quality, food and public spaces. 

The World's Largest Lesson brings the UN's 17 Sustainable Development Global Goals to students through lessons and projects:

• 4 - 5: Wild for Life - Understand the concept of endangered species and analyze the impact of technological development and growth in the human population on the living and non-living environment.

• 4 - 5: Life Below Water - Marine Litter - Understand the threats of plastic waste to our oceans and explore ideas of how to better control trash from entering our oceans.

• 6 - 8: Wild for Life - Understand the concept of endangered species and analyze the impact of technological development and growth in the human population on the living and non-living environment.

• 6 - 10: Life Below Water - Marine Litter - Understand the threats of plastic waste to our oceans and explore ideas of how to better control trash from entering our oceans.

• 7 - 9: Protect Life Below Water - Learn about what is threatening our ocean and how we can use our oceans more sustainably.

• 7 - 9: The Impact of Pollution on Our Planet and Our Lives - Explore different forms of pollution and their impacts on the planet.

This Living Schoolyard Activity Guide provides ideas for celebrating green school grounds, or any green outdoor area, and using them for hands-on learning, place-based inquiry, recreation, environmental stewardship and community-building.

• K - 5: Living Schoolyard Activity Guide activities relate to Wildlife & Habitat, Play, Art, and much more.

• 6 - 12: Living Schoolyard Activity Guide: Activities relate to Wildlife & Habitat, Place-Based Understanding, and much more.