It's Wonderful Wildflower Time!

Fall rain and cool weather mean it's safe to start sowing wildflowers! Wildflower seed can be planted any time between November and early March. For those of you who have already received "Wonderful Wildflowers" activity materials, you are good to go!

If you have not yet, but would like to receive some high quality wildflower seed and instructions for doing the "Wonderful Wildflowers" activity with your class, we still have some available.

Email Biret at badden@cdm.org to request a packet while supplies last. Masters and instructions will arrive with your packet, or click on the following links to download: instructions, envelope, and slideshow. Happy planting!

BIOS.I.T.E. 2011 - 2012

November Update
Fall has been quick-- and productive! The entire BioSITE calendar is full- and we are looking forward to the work ahead of us. Over 1,000 river guardians will be engaged this year at more that five watershed study sites.
Pioneer-
Always stellar and always finding new ways to engage students.

Leland and LelandPlus-
We have an amazing group of high school mentors that already have proven that they are up to each task! Along with the Friday Field program, Leland is partnering with us to offer a mentor experience to ACE elementary classes.
ACE teachers can sign up to have their ACE Day 3 at Leland and have the trained mentors work with their students.

ACE-Yahoo!
As we fine tune what we offer as the ACE experience- we are also reminded that the core of our program is ultimately successful because we engage students in real hands on- minds on thinking. In the classroom or in the field- BioSITE students are finding out more!

BIC-
This week BioSITE staff, partnering with the City of San Jose Environmental services department and their Creeks Come to Class program, will be starting a new program at Independence High School. BIC, BioSITE, Independence Teaching Academy, and Creeks Come to Class will be facilitating in class watershed lessons for elementary students using the 'Enviroscape' model and engaging these young stewards in field monitoring.
ACE teachers can also sign up to have the Creeks Come to Class program for their classes!

ACE Program Strands--
This year we have fine tuned our ACE days to better meet the needs of the different elementary level classes we serve, and the specific science teaching goals of our individual teachers. The core mission of ACE, as always, is essentially and most importantly to provide students with an authentic field study experience in water quality monitoring and watershed science. By the end of the three day experience, every ACE student will have participated in field study methods, journaling, water quality testing, and surveys to study the health of the local riparian community. How we do this may vary slightly as teachers choose which of the three strands they would like us to focus on with their students. As we develop these strands, more information and tools will be posted for our ACE teachers, and we hope to gather feedback from all participants so we can continue to develop successful outcomes for all!
ACE Teachers-- below you will see the objectives for each of the strands. We have a full gallery of materials and lesson plans for our BioSITE teachers, so we want to design a three day expereince that will best serve your students needs. We also are workign on a tool to help you see how each strand connects to State Standards and Environmental Education Principles and Concepts. Look for that to be posted under important docs..soon.

Watersheds:
Students will learn the features of a watershed and the specific landmarks of our Guadalupe River watershed.
Students will learn how organisms in our watershed are interconnected.
Students will become aware of the specific issues and concerns in our watershed and how they can make a positive difference in the health of our watershed.

Being a Naturalist:
Students will learn how a field scientist conducts investigations in the field.
Students will practice the skills of observation and data collection to gain a better appreciation of the diversity of living things.
Students will study the interconnections of the flora and fauna of riparian communities and be introduced to current environmental issues.

Scientists and Research:
Students will be engaged in scientific studies of their local natural history and how changes over time have been influenced by development.
Students will practice data collection, field surveys, and team research.
Students will learn skills and methods of analyzing field data and practice interpreting their work to form good questions and further learning.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Good News! There WILL be a STEP (Salmon and Trout Education Program) Training this January!!
We just got the official go-ahead so let me know ASAP if you are interested in this fantastic workshop. This program supports our BioSITE year in many many ways and your students will be able to directly apply lessons learned to current watershed issues and concerns.
Salmon and Trout Education Program
http://www.mbstp.org/.
Interested teachers should contact sderby@cdm.org

It's not too early to start thinking about student projects that you would like to display at Children's Discovery Museum this April.
We would greatly appreciate the chance to showcase reflections, artwork, or journaling from your BioSITE students. Let's start now to plan something special!
River of Words
http://www.riverofwords.org/
Interested teachers should contact sderby@cdm.org.

Mark the date! GROWING UP WILD WORKSHOP
@ Childrens's Discovery Museum: January 21, 2100
Please forward this important information to all who may be interested in this great opportunity.
Growing Up Wild
http://www.projectwild.org/growingupwild.htm
Interested teachers should contact badden@cdm.org.

BUILDING COMMUNITY

John Muir Exhibit at Oakland Museum
A Walk in the Wild: Continuing John Muir's Journey
August 6, 2011 - January 22, 2012
Docent tours of the exhibition are offered every Saturday at 3 p.m.
Explore the legacy of John Muir's life and how he continues to influence our relationship with the natural world in the first-ever museum exhibition of its kind.
info @ http://museumca.org/muir

Watershed Exhibit at Los Altos History Museum
Shaped By Water
October 8, 2011 - April 22, 2012
Water shaped the history of Santa Clara Valley, and how we use it will shape our future. Come experience and learn about our unique connection to our precious and finite water - past, present, and future.
info @ http://www.losaltoshistory.org/water_events.html

11/19/11
November Green Day at Children’s Discovery Museum
12/26-30/11
December Giving Back Days at Children’s Discovery Museum

BUILDING COMMUNITY

Here are some upcoming events that you might be interested in….just contact us if you want to find out more!

Bay Area Science Festival
100 Days. 100 Events.
October 29th – Nov 6th
Unleash your inner Scientist! www.bayareascience.org/festival


November Green Day at Children’s Discovery Museum
Good Food and Good Compost
Come to CDM to learn more about how to grow your own and use the rich compost right from your kitchen waste! www.cdm.org


December Giving Back Days at Children’s Discovery Museum
Are you interested in giving back to your community? Do you know of an organization that helps families work together to give back to those in need? Let us know your ideas!!
From December 26th – December 30th Children’s Discovery Museum will be hosting an array of engaging activities to help visitors and families provide needed materials for community programs all around our county. Some organizations that have been a part of this effort in the past are: Project Linus, Half the Sky, Families First, and Veggielution. Come be a part of the giving back! www.cdm.org

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

River of Words
http://www.riverofwords.org/
Interested teachers should contact sderby@cdm.org to stay updated on classroom visits, special materials, and to participate in the River of Words artwork/poetry project to be on display at CDM for this years’ BioSITE Open House in April.

Salmon and Trout Education Program
http://www.mbstp.org/.
Interested teachers should contact sderby@cdm.org for the latest info on STEP 2012/ Trout in the Classroom programs.

Growing Up Wild
http://www.projectwild.org/growingupwild.htm
Interested teachers should contact badden@cdm.org .

BioSITE Teachers are the best

** Reminder**
RSVP today please,
BioSITE Teachers:
Teacher Training and Kick Off Open House
The 2011-2012 BioSITE Teacher Training/ Kick-Off Open House will take place on October 29th, here at CDM, from 9am – 3pm.
• From 9am- 12pm we will be helping all NEW teachers orient to the BioSITE curriculum and pedagogy, share in the work to establish program goals and clarify logistics, and then top it off with a thank-you lunch!

• From 1pm – 3pm we will facilitate a Kick Off Open House in CDM’s outdoor ampitheater. During this time we will share resource materials and showcase kits that are available for teacher check-out. We will have a check-out calendar available so you can sign up in person, or later online.

**All 2011-2012 participating teachers are invited to our thank-you luncheon on October 29th, from 12pm – 1pm. Please plan to attend so we can meet, share stories, and make connections across programs. We would appreciate an RSVP today. (to: sderby@cdm.org )
We need to know by Friday 10/21/2011 to order lunch

BioSITE 2011-2012

Programming:
As we move into the beautiful crisp days of fall, our BioSITE field programs are moving right along for Pioneer and Leland. Our high school mentors have once again amazed us with a strong committed start taking on this important job as role models and science mentors. Leland and Graystone students have completed their first field days and Pioneer students are beginning their second unit of study for the year.
This unit at Pioneer involves learning first-hand about the importance of riparian communities and native oaks. For the past four years, as part of our BioSITE Program at Pioneer, participants have collected, sorted, and planted acorns that sprout and are cared for by the Pioneer students working in the BioSITE native plant greenhouse. The final happy ending to this story is that the healthy young oaks are distributed and planted throughout San Jose by the re-greening efforts of the Our City Forest Program.
In addition to our successful BioSITE Friday field program at Leland, that is in its fifth year, we will also be engaging five other Biology classes at Leland as mentors to several of our ACE BioSITE classes. As part of the three day ACE program that focuses on a watershed tour experience for the participating elementary classes, this year these classes will be able to elect to attend one field day at Leland and have their students work in small groups along Alamitos Creek with the new Leland mentors.
Starting with the October 29th training here at CDM, we will begin to schedule all of the ACE field days for our 20 participating ACE elementary teachers. We are looking forward to the great experiences to be shared by all in what will be the amazing watershed tour of 2011-2012.
AND more news next month on our latest program starting at Independence High Teaching Academy!
Stay tuned!
To share our thanks and enthusiasm for the great efforts and support of BioSITE!...once again we would like to acknowledge….
Our river stewards for the 2011-2012 school year include:
ACE BioSITE Program:
Del Robel Elementary, Don Callejon Elementary, Miner Elementary, Oakridge Elementary, Sakamoto Elementary, Sinnott Elementary, Stipe School, and Taylor Elementary
BioSITE /Independence/City of San Jose Partnership:
Independence High School Teaching Academy, and participating Elementary Schools
Leland High School Program:
Leland High School and Graystone Elementary
Los Gatos Program:
Lost Gatos High School, Louise Van Meter and
Pioneer High School Program:
Pioneer High School, Allen @ Steinbeck, Almaden Elementary, and Reed Elementary


AND…..our BioSITE Lead Team
ACE BioSITE Program- Sandy Derby, Biret Adden, Patti Workover, Megan Lee
BioSITE/ Independence/City of San Jose- Sandy Derby, Carol Bolund, Jane Narveson-Brusin
Leland High School Program- Patti Workover
Los Gatos Program- Biret Adden, Amelia DeLaPaz
Pioneer High School Program- Biret Adden

SEPTEMBER UPDATES---

BIOSITE 2011-2012
Programming:
Welcome back.. to our returning teachers! And welcome in.. to our new BioSITE teachers!!
We are looking forward to sharing a full year of discovery with you and your students- and hope by now you are already off to a great start. Our mission is to support your vision and we appreciate all of your hard work in building BioSITE into your classroom learning. Our partnerships are continuing to serve San Jose students and beyond- helping them to see how active scientific thinking enriches their lives and encourages them to build positive paths to the future.
We want to brag about our wonderfully dedicated and active group of river stewards-- teachers, students, and community members all working to connect and protect our communities and watersheds.
Our river stewards for the 2011-2012 school year include:ACE BioSITE Program:
Don Callejon Elementary, Miner Elementary, Oakridge Elementary, Sakamoto Elementary, Sinnott Elementary, Stipe School, and Taylor Elementary
BioSITE /Independence/City of San Jose Partnership:
Independence High School Teaching Academy, and participating Elementary Schools
Leland High School Program:
Leland High School and Graystone Elementary
Los Gatos Program:
Lost Gatos High School, Louise Van Meter and Blossom Hill School
Pioneer High School Program:
Pioneer High School, Allen @ Steinbeck, Almaden Elementary, and Reed Elementary


AND…..our BioSITE Lead Team is fully engaged, back in the saddle, and ready to make a great year happen! We have a strong team of dedicated environmental educators that are ready to engage your students in unique experience of inquiry, learning, and stewardship. Our program coordinators for the 2011-2012 year are:
ACE BioSITE Program- Sandy Derby, Biret Adden, Patti Workover, Megan Lee
BioSITE/ Independence/City of San Jose- Sandy Derby, Carol Bolund
Leland High School Program- Patti Workover
Los Gatos Program- Biret Adden
Pioneer High School Program- Biret Adden

BioSITE Teachers are the best

BIOSITE 2011-2012
BioSITE Teachers:
Teacher Training and Kick Off Open House The 2011-2012 BioSITE Teacher Training/ Kick-Off Open House will take place on October 29th, here at CDM, from 9am – 3pm.
• From 9am- 12pm we will be helping all NEW teachers orient to the BioSITE curriculum and pedagogy, share in the work to establish program goals and clarify logistics, and then top it off with a thank-you lunch!

• From 1pm – 3pm we will facilitate a Kick Off Open House in CDM’s outdoor ampitheater. During this time we will share resource materials and showcase kits that are available for teacher check-out. We will have a check-out calendar available so you can sign up in person, or later online.

All 2011-2012 participating teachers are invited to our thank-you luncheon on October 29th, from 12pm – 1pm. Please plan to attend so we can meet, share stories, and make connections across programs. We would appreciate an RSVP (to: sderby@cdm.org ) by September 1st.

Thank you to all or our wonderful BioSITE Teachers—and looking forward to a great year!


Children’s Discovery Museum’s Teacher Night at the Museum! September 15th, 5:30-7:30 pm, 180 Woz Way, San Jose
http://www.cdm.org
K-4 teachers are invited to eat, drink, play, enter to win a free field trip for their class and learn all
about how CDM can serve them!
RSVP to teachersclubevite@cdm.org or 408.298.5437 ext 259 by September 9th to attend this fun back to school event.

Inspired by your learning!

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
During the BioSITE year, we hope to introduce you to some amazing resources and professional development opportunities that will further your learning. We also will be inviting you to attend short courses at CDM that will deepen your understanding and use of the BioSITE curriculum content.
Please let us know if you have other ideas as to how we can help you bring your science teaching to life for your students!

River of Words
http://www.riverofwords.org/
River of Words trains teachers, park rangers, youth leaders, and other educators around the world to incorporate nature and the arts into their work with children and teens. The BioSITE Team is joining in this effort!! We have integrated the River of Words vision into our BioSITE evaluation plan so that your students can have a chance to express their river experiences in a way that will show the creative nature of a river guardian. These writings and works of art will be showcased during our Spring BioSITE Open House!

Salmon and Trout Education Program
MBSTP seeking support for the Salmon and Trout Education Program (STEP). This program has been running for 24 years and has inspired thousands of K-12 students to become enthusiastic supporters of steelhead restoration. The program uses a richly detailed curriculum that covers the importance of the salmonid spawning and rearing habitat, the life-cycle of steelhead, and stresses the critical nature of salmonid habitat restoration. Get involved and find out more @ http://www.mbstp.org/.


Growing Up Wild
http://www.projectwild.org/growingupwild.htm
Growing up Wild is an early childhood education program that builds on children’s sense of wonder about nature and invites them to explore wildlife and the world around them. Sound familiar? Do you know of a teacher at your school that may be interested in completing a Growing Up Wild Workshop?
We are planning a Growing Up Wild Workshop that will be offered to teachers January of 2012. Just RSVP to badden@cdm.org to get on the list and we will do the rest!

CREEC
Visit online at www.creec.org/region5 to find a searchable Resource Directory of
environmental education programs in your area, a current Events Calendar,
funding opportunities, and teacher Professional Development opportunities.

Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History’s Educator Open House
October 27, 4:00-6:00 pm
http://www.santacruzmuseums.org/
1305 East Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History welcomes educators to the Museum for an afternoon Open House toget to know their educational resources and programs. They will have their Education Kits, slideshows andspecimen available to explore, and docents on hand to talk about their school and field programs andinterpret the displays. Free for formal and informal educators. Afternoon snacks provided.

Bay Area Earth Science Institute (BAESI) Teacher Workshops
Workshop dates and descriptions below.
http://www.baesi.org/
BAESI workshops for teachers of grades 4-12 are free, address California science standards, and present a blend of earth science concepts and ready-to-use classroom activities for teaching them. Each workshop or field trip meets from 8:30 am - 4:30 pm and will take place in room 306 Duncan Hall on the San José State University (SJSU) campus unless otherwise noted. If you need SJSU credit, you may combine any two sessions to earn 1 unit of Geology 104 for $50. Questions? Contact Ellen Metzger at 408-924-5048 or ellen.metzger@sjsu.edu TO REGISTER go to www.baesi.org/ and click on Fall 2011 Workshop Schedule.

California Institute for Biodiversity’s Nature Journaling Workshop
October 8 & 15, San Francisco North Bay
http://www.johnmuirlaws.com/event/nature-journaling-sf-north-bay-teacher-workshop-part-2
Learn the skills necessary to have your student observing and recording the natural world through field
sketching and complementary English Language Development activities. Over consecutive Saturdays,
naturalist and artist Jack Laws will stress the importance of asking scientific question, observing the natural world and carefully sketching these observations.

Project WET: Santa Clara Valley Teacher Workshop
October 14, 2011
This FREE Project WET (Water Education for Teachers) training includes hand-on demonstrations of the
lessons and activities in the Project WET Curriculum and Activity Guide. Participants will become “immersed.”in the world of water and experience it firsthand. Upon completion, participants will receive the Project WETCurriculum and Activity Guide free and be able to supplement classroom science work with hands-on water activities. Contact Kathy Machado at (408) 265-2607 x2331 or kmachado@valleywater.org

Education and the Environment Initiative (EEI) Curriculum Update
CREEC Coordinators in every region of California have been working with the Office of Education and the
Environment (OEE) and CDE to support implementation of the EEI Curriculum. Over 14,000 students have experienced the curriculum in over 100 schools since January. Cal/EPA will create case studies when the school year ends to document the most effective implementation practices. The resulting guide will help all California school districts implement the landmark environment-based curriculum.
Currently, the OEE is happy to offer:
•Grade level DVD’s of the EEI Curriculum for teachers. Call 916 341-6769 to place your request.
•Letters of support for grant applications that support EEI Curriculum implementation
•An updated EEI Curriculum Catalog is now available on the “Learn More” page at http://www.CaliforniaEEI.org

Out and About in the Bay Area!

BUILDING COMMUNITY
We are fortunate to live in an area where community is as diverse as our landscape and people of every community are dedicated to making this a great place to live! Hope you are able to get out there and enjoy this amazing and unique place! A couple of ideas to inspire you!!

Coastal Cleanup Day
WHAT IS COASTAL CLEANUP DAY?
California Coastal Cleanup Day, an annual beach and inland waterway cleanup, is the state's largest volunteer event. In 2010, over 82,500 volunteers removed more than 1.2 million pounds of trash and recyclables from our beaches, lakes, and waterways. When combined with the International Coastal Cleanup, organized by Ocean Conservancy and taking place on the same day, California Coastal Cleanup Day becomes part of one of the largest volunteer events in the world.
We are hoping to see BioSITE students at both our downtown clean-up site and at the Leland Alamitos clean-up site. Make a difference!! Contact sderby@cdm.org for more information.

Chalk 4 Peace
http://www.chalk4peace.org/
Come out to CDM on September 18 to be a part of this amazing community art project! RSVP to sderby@cdm.org for more information.

Los Gatos BioSITE a Success!

This year, BioSITE has been excited to pilot a new program at Los Gatos High School to bring hands-on environmental science to Los Gatos students. Los Gatos Creek has an interesting story to tell, and it has been exciting for high school mentors and elementary students alike to discover the river ecology of their own back yard!
Congratulations Amelia DeLaPaz, AP Environmental Science Instructor, for your hard work and dedication in bringing this program to your students. Thanks to support from the Administration and Science Department at LGHS, Mrs. DeLaPaz was able to engage all four APES classes, roughly 120 high school students, plus 220 elementary BioSITE participants in learning about the river.

This program would not be possible without the cooperation of our community partners who have gengerously granted the use of their space. We extend our appreciation to the following:

• Caltrans (California Department of Transportation)


• Town of Los Gatos


• Federal Realty/Old Town Los Gatos


• History Museum at Forbes Mill

Thank you again to all who have supported Los Gatos BioSITE. We are looking forward to a future of rich learning along the river!

Mammoth Discovery! Summer Institute for Teachers
Tuesday, June 21 and Wednesday, June 22
9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Materials fee: $75

Are you a teacher, or do you know a teacher who would like to receive a free Children’s Discovery Museum class field trip? We are looking for Kindergarten to fourth grade teachers who are interested in learning more about mammoths and who would like to help us develop Focus Field Trips for our new Mammoth Discovery! exhibit. Each participating teacher will receive a free field trip for their students during the 2011-12 school year and a paleontology classroom kit including fossils, teacher-tested activity ideas, resources, and links to the CA Content Standards.

The workshop will be available to the first 25 teachers (Grades K-4) who apply. Registration deadline is May 27. Call (408) 298-5437 ext. 261 or e-mail lupe@cdm.org for details; spaces are limited and filling up fast!

BioSITE Open House

It is time to think Spring! And Spring Break!! And BioSITE Open House!!!
Flyers, emails, annoucements just mean one thing-- talk to your students and encourage them to attend this event that is designed especially to honor them. We appreciate our River Guardians!! Come join in the celebration of their teaching and learning!
Where: Children's Discovery Museum
When: April 14, 15, 16
Time: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Who: Our BioSITE students and their families- FREE!!

Raindrops keep falling on my head..........

Here is a new resource you may want use in your classrooms........looks easy and would be a good connection to all this rain!

http://www.groundwateradventurers.org/

NSTA- March 10-13

The National Conference on Science Education is in San Francisco this year! From March 10 - 13th there will be some interesting speakers and workshops. Looks like some great topics, seminars, and short courses too. A one day visit- to our beautiful San Francisco- would be a great way to welcome in spring!