Education Program
Learning Laguna School Program
Would your students enjoy learning more about the wetlands environment here in Sonoma County?
The Learning Laguna school program offers school children in the 2nd - 5th grades a chance to learn more about wetlands and watershed science. The program is offered for six weeks in September and October, and for 8 weeks in April and May. The Learning Laguna curriculum covers California State science and language arts standards.
The program is two fold:
- A morning of activities in the classroom when the children learn about wetlands and are introduced to the Laguna.
- A f ield trip the following week to a nature preserve in the Laguna
Each class is accompanied by trained docents who work with students in small groups. Laguna Foundation docents are well trained in the science and lore of the Laguna.
Apply for Learning Laguna
Learning Laguna Details
We introduce your class to the Laguna with a slide show followed by a 60 minute series of four, really fun, educational, hands-on activities. The activities are designed to expose students to the value of wetlands, introduce ecological concepts and vocabulary, and to prepare them for their field experience. Our goal is to provide a science based curriculum as well as to awaken the children's senses to the wonders of nature.
Field trips in the Laguna take place in the Sebastopol Wetlands Preserve and the City of Santa Rosa's preserves on Delta Farm, Kelly Wetlands and Alpha Farm. Here is a map showing how to get there: Learning Laguna field trip sites.
When your class arrives for the morning field trip (usually one week after class visit) they get the opportunity to explore the wetlands up close. They will identify aquatic life using magnifiers, observe nesting birds, and learn about native plants, among other experiences. They become wildlife sleuths, discovering evidence of river otter, raccoons, owls and many other species of animals and plants. Students get a glimpse of Pomo culture when they make a woven tule necklace.
If this program sounds interesting to you, please explore the website for further information on the Laguna and the Laguna de Santa Rosa Foundation. For further information please contact the Laguna Foundation at 707-527-9277 x102 or email christine@lagunafoundation.org. We look forward to hearing from you soon!
To apply for the program now please fill-out and submit the Learning Laguna application form.
Learning Laguna Classroom Activities
90 minutes in the classroom
The object of our activities is to build an appreciation for the beauty, uniqueness and importance of the Laguna de Santa Rosa. The classroom activities prepare the students for their field experience by creating interest, excitement and knowledge about the Laguna. The activities introduce vocabulary and ecological concepts that the students will take into the field. The 15 minute activity centers are designed for 5-7 students. Each center has 1-2 docents running it. Students move through four centers within an hour.
Slide Show - 15 minutes
Purpose: To visually acquaint students with the different environments of the Laguna. To provide a visual overview of the Laguna during the four seasons of the year. To create enthusiasm about the Laguna and its inhabitants. To introduce vocabulary and ecological concepts.
Activity: Watch slide show, answer and ask questions about the slides.
(Slides are presented as an introductory whole-class activity) This activity gives the docents a chance to see what the students know or don't know about the Laguna.
Diversity of Life in the Laguna — Tracks
Purpose: Familiarize students with the variety of wildlife
that live in the Laguna watershed. Discuss differences
and characteristics of animal feet. Introduce
concepts of carnivore, herbivore, and omnivore.
Activity: Each student will make a book mark
using animal track stamps and ink.
Who am I?
Purpose: To encourage
students to identify characteristics of various
wildlife that live in the Laguna.
Activity: Each
student will take a turn with a photo of an unidentified
animal on their back. The student then asks "yes
or no" questions of other students to determine
the identity of the animal.
A Wetland Model
Purpose: To understand what
wetlands are, what makes them special, and their
function in relation to flooding, erosion and
purification of water.
Activity: Students will
hold up objects that represent wetland characteristics
as they listen to the description. They will
spray the models as if it was raining and observe
clean and muddy water moving through the model.
Bird Migration Game
Purpose: To introduce the
concept of migration, why it occurs and the importance
of food availability to migrating birds. To introduce
the importance of the Laguna to birds traveling
along the Pacific Flyway.
Activity: A board game
that emphasizes the variety of foods that birds
eat, natural environmental events that effect food
availability and a bird's ability to migrate.
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