5-ESS3-1

Maidu Bear Dances

The lesson centers California Native American perspectives, with a focus on the Maidu tribe, highlighting the ways Indigenous knowledge and ceremonies honor the natural world and guide responsible stewardship. In this lesson, students will explore the cultural significance of the Maidu Bear Dance and its deep connection to nature. Through learning about the Maidu People's respectful relationship with the land and animals, students will gain insight into how traditional cultural practices support environmental sustainability and conservation.

New Conversations about Grizzlies

3-LS4-3, 3-LS4-4, 4-ESS3-1, 5-ESS3-1, 5-PS3-1

The lesson highlights the importance of grizzly bear conservation while centering California Native American perspectives, including insights from the Gabrieleno/Tongva tribe, to deepen understanding of Indigenous relationships with the land and wildlife stewardship. In this lesson, students will investigate the ecological role of grizzly bears and how human activity has affected their habitats and survival.

Respect, Reciprocity, and Reverence

3-ESS3-1, 4-ESS3-1, 5-ESS3-1, 3-LS4-4, 4-LS1-1, 5-PS3-1

Through learning from California Native American perspectives, including voices from the Gabrieleno/Tongva tribe, students will explore how these values guide environmental stewardship and cultural practices. This lesson introduces students to core values within Indigenous knowledge systems, respect, reciprocity, and reverence, and their role in fostering sustainable relationships with the environment. The lesson encourages reflection on personal and collective responsibilities to the land and invites students to identify meaningful ways to honor and care for their local environment through everyday actions.

Setting the Foundation for Grizzlies to Return

3-LS4-4, 4-ESS3-1, 5-ESS3-1

In this lesson, students will explore the importance of habitat restoration and conservation through the lens of grizzly bear recovery efforts. The lesson centers Indigenous knowledge, featuring perspectives from California Native communities, including members of the Gabrieleno/Tongva tribe, to highlight traditional ecological understandings and relationships with wildlife.

Restoring Cache Creek and the Yurok Tribe

3-LS4-4, 4-ESS3-2, 5-ESS3-1, HSS 3.2, HSS 4.1, HSS 5.9

Students learn about the ecological and cultural restoration of Cache Creek. They study how the Yurok Tribe combines Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) with modern science to rehabilitate ecosystems. Students design their own restoration plans for a local waterway, integrating Indigenous knowledge and environmental problem-solving.

Saving Salmon and the Yurok Tribe

3-LS4-4, 4-ESS3-2, 5-ESS3-1, HSS 3.2, HSS 4.1, HSS 5.9

This lesson focuses on the cultural and ecological importance of salmon to the Yurok people. Students examine how environmental changes and human activities have affected salmon populations. Through multimedia and collaborative projects, students explore salmon life cycles, conservation strategies, and the Yurok Tribe’s role in restoration efforts.

Soaring with the California Condor

3-LS4-3, 4-LS1-1, 5-ESS3-1

Students learn about the California condor’s unique adaptations and ecological role. They explore how the Yurok Tribe is leading efforts to reintroduce the condor to its ancestral lands. Activities include group research on threats to condors, the creation of educational campaigns, and reflections on how traditional knowledge and science work together in conservation.

Exploring California’s Redwood Trees

3-LS4-3, 4-LS1-1, 5-ESS3-1

Focuses on the ecological role of redwood forests in supporting biodiversity and combating climate change. Students study different redwood features (e.g., height, root systems) and analyze their importance to the broader ecosystem. Groups create actionable conservation strategies and educate others through posters or brochures.

The Resilience of Redwood Trees

3-LS4-3, 4-LS1-1, 5-ESS3-1

Students investigate the unique adaptations that help redwood trees survive environmental challenges such as fire and drought. Each group researches a specific redwood characteristic (e.g., bark, sprouting roots) and connects it to the tree’s overall resilience. Students develop conservation plans and visual presentations to advocate for the protection of redwood forests.

Restoring the Presidio – A Journey Through History and Ecology

HSS 3.1, HSS 4.1, HSS 5.8, 3-LS4-4, 4-ESS2-2, 5-ESS3-1

Students explore the cultural and ecological restoration of the Presidio in San Francisco. They learn about the site's transformation from a military post to a national park through the lens of Indigenous knowledge and sustainability. Working in groups, students research specific areas of the Presidio and create advocacy campaigns to educate others about the importance of restoration.

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