School Programs

Educational programs are available for Pre-K through college classes Wednesday through Friday. We offer field oriented, experiential, small groups focused activities. School programs begin with a brief introduction on wetlands and the salt marsh habitat followed by a one, two or three hours hike. Depending on the program, students are given a lunch break before the dip-netting and mud lab activities. We can work with you to design a program that fits your classroom curriculum.For pricing, available dates, and/or additional information, please call us at (510) 670-7270.

Salty Stories
Summary
In this discovery program, the focus is on exploration and awareness of saltmarsh homes, animals, plants, and cycles, using the body and its senses.
Objectives
Students will:

explore saltmarsh waterways; discover land invertebrates; observe life in the marsh; role-play animal behavior.

Grade Level: Preschool- 1st
Subject Areas: Language Arts, Environmental Science, Life Science
Duration: 1 hour
Setting: Channel and on the trail
Skills: Observing, classifying, communicating, discussing, inferring

Saltmarsh Wonders
Summary
This program introduces students to what a saltmarsh is-- the diversity and abundance of plants and animals in saltwater wetlands. Characteristics of and interrelationships among saltmarsh inhabitants will be included.
Objectives
Students will:

discover plant adaptations to salt water; observe signs of animal life in the marsh; explore channel water to discover aquatic plants and animals; search for invertebrate animals who live in the marsh; observe saltmarsh wildlife

Grade Level: 2nd- 4th
Subject Areas: Environmental Science, Life Science, Language Arts
Duration: 2 hours
Setting: Channel and on the trail
Skills: Observing, classifying, recording (optional), communicating, discussing, inferring

Shoreline Discovery
Summary
This program introduces students to the natural history of a saltmarsh and the characterisistics which make plants, animals, and invertebrates of the shoreline unique. We develop the idea of how a salt marsh works, including adaptations, habitats, and plant/animal interrelationships.
Objectives
Students will:

classify marsh birds by feeding strategy; identify marsh fish and invertebrates; collect mud samples to observe and identify shoreline invertebrates; identify two important salt marsh plants; discuss some of the salt marsh / estuarine plant / animal interactions; record evidence of animal life along the trail.

Grade Level: 3rd- 12th
Subject Areas:Life sciences, Physical Sciences, Language Arts, Environmental Sciences, Art (optional)
Duration: 3 hours
Setting: 15 minute introduction, 1hr. 45 minutes in the field, 30 minutes dip-netting,and a 30 minutes mud lab
Skills:Observing, identifying, classifying, recording (optional), communicating, inferring, analyzing, discussing

Wetland Ecology
Summary
This program introduces the student to the physical, chemical and ecological characteristics of two wetland environments. Participants will learn about the interactions, adaptations, limitations, and strategies for survival by plants and animals in the estuarine habitat complex.
Objectives
Students will:

sample physical parameters of water (temperature, salinity, pH) and investigate their impact on organisms of the salt and freshwater marsh identify local resident and migratory birds to evaluate their niche, identify and learn the life history of three to five marsh plants sample and identify common marsh invertebrates collect soil samples for microscopic analysis of benthic flora and fauna.

Grade Level: 4th- 12th
Subject Area: Physical Science, Environmental Science, Life Science
Duration: 4 hours
Setting: 15 minute introduction, 2 hours 45 minutes in the field, 30 minutes dip-netting and a 30 minute mud lab.
Skills: Collecting, analyzing, identifying, observing, recording, communicating, inferring, classifying, discussing.

Salt Pond History Exploration
Summary
As a state designated historic landscape, the Oliver Brothers Salt Ponds are an underused destination. The Hayward Shoreline Interpretive Center and the adjacent salt ponds offer a historical site ideal for bringing fourth grade social science and environmental study to life. The salt ponds provide students a living “sense of place” where abstract facts about the bay industries from Ohlone life and trade to growth of gold-rush spawned industries become an engaging and interactive discovery.

Objectives
Student will:

• Identify the resources from nature which humans need to survive
  
• Provide examples of how the use of goods and ecosystem services by California Indians influenced the biological diversity of the Bay Area
• Analyze the effects of Gold Rush communities and mining on daily life, politics, and the health of the environment
• Discuss immigration to California between 1850 and 1900 including the conflicts and accords among the diverse groups.

Grade Level: 3rd – 12th
Subject Area: Life Science, Physical Science, Environmental Science, Social Studies, United States History
Duration: 4 hours
Setting: 15 minute introduction, 45 minute human timeline, 2 hour history walk, 15 minute hands-on boat design activity based on historic transportation shipping, and 15 minute salt activity.
Skills: Analyzing, identifying, observing, communicating, inferring, discussing.

Dip-Netting
Students are each given dip-nets and allowed to try to catch insects and other creatures living in the channel. After everyone has had a chance to catch channel critters, we discuss what we caught or didn't catch.

Mud Lab
In the mud-lab, the students are able to take the samples that they collected at the Bay and strain them into samples that they can look at under a dissecting microscope. For most students this is the first time they have ever seen plankton.

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