BioSITE SEED Restoration Project

Pioneer BioSITE Native Plant Nursery

In the fall of 2008, with help from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, the BioSITE program was able to embark on an exciting new project. In cooperation with Pioneer High School, BioSITE has created a Native Plant Nursery on the Pioneer campus.

Throughout the year, students helped propagate a variety of California native plant species while learning about their importance to the health of our watershed. In the spring, they gave away the plants they had grown to local residents at various community events in order to share what they had learned and distribute native plants across the valley. They gave away almost 3000 plants!

Fourth grade BioSITErs also contributed to the restoration of our local environment by planting wildflower seed and Valley Oak acorns. We were able to donate over 200 new oak trees to Our City Forest and the Santa Clara Valley Water District!

This year the Native Plant Nursery is still going strong. We are growing more species, building new partnerships, and finding more opportunities for students to participate in restoration all the time. If you have any questions or would like more information about the BioSITE Restoration Project, please contact Biret Adden, badden@cdm.org .

Kit Showcase: Sorting through Sediments

  

What is down there under your feet? In just one tray of soil you can find a variety of things to test your skills of observation. We will supply sifting trays, magnifiers, and other materials to turn your students into soil scientists; you supply the soil and enthusiasm.
Sorting Sediment Journal Pages

Kit Showcase: Pollution Soup and Santa Clara Valley History

This classroom kit helps students explore how our Santa Clara Valley has changed over the past few hundred years. Students learn how each step along the way has presented unique challenges to our water supply and perform a visual demonstration of what happens to clean water as contaminants are added.

Click the links to view the kit activity card and materials card.

This activity is based on Unit 3 Activity 3 in the BioSITE curriculum.

Field Guide to BioSITE staff

Ever wonder about your BioSITE field staff? Want to know what your contact person looks like for your field days? Need some light reading? Visit the Field Guide to BioSITE Staff to see pictures and more.

Kit Showcase: Leaf observations

 

All around you- there is something green happening! Our leaf observation kit will help your students become more aware of the nature right outside every door. This kit will give your students the opportunity to practice comparing shapes and patterns, using dichotomous keys, and identifying the trees found in our community and at the river. It's a great beginning-of-the-year activity to practice making and recording observations in your BioSITE journals.

View the activity instructions and the kit materials list

The complete list of kits, kit checkout procedures, and kit feedback form can always be found along the right hand side of the blog below the ACE sign-up links.

For ACE teachers: Day 1 outline

For those of you participating in ACE this year who might be curious about what we will be doing during the Day 1 Watershed classroom visit, I have posted my outline here.

Please remember to sign up for your ACE Days using the links at the right hand side of the blog. We look forward to working with you and your classes!

Kit showcase: Snail Inquiry

Periodically, we will be showcasing one of our supplemental kits that are available for all BioSITE teachers to borrow and use in the classroom. Contact the BioSITE staff member you work with for check-out details and availability.

This week's activity: Open-ended investigation of snails.

In this activity, students learn and use the processes of open-ended exploration and inquiry to investigate snail anatomy and behavior. Questions are formed, observations are recorded, and students learn the fun of acting like a scientist. The kit includes magnifiers, measuring tools, and various materials to explore snail behavior. You will need to supply the snails!

View the Kit Activity Card, including instructions and suggested guided discussion questions.

This is Unit 1, Activity 2 from the BioSITE curriculum.