Pollinator Garden Program

This program is open to Ag in the Classroom groups, FFA Chapters, and 4-H clubs. Organizations are asked to locate a public place and secure permission to plant a pollinator garden prior to filling out an application. This could be in a park, near a school, along a well-traveled road, at the county fairgrounds, or any visible location. GROWMARK will provide enough seed to plant approximately a 700 square foot area, as well as educational signage to be placed around the garden. 

https://press.growmark.com/growmark-system-offering-pollinator-garden-program-vtxiq5

Application: https://form.jotform.com/230364394407153

Ology

Ology: The science website for kids from the American Museum of Natural History.

This website offers in-depth online activities and some hands-on projects for kids that teach about many areas of science. Activities are complex enough that adults can learn alongside students on this website from the American Natural History Museum located in New York City. They have a specific section for teachers looking for materials and activities for their classroom as well. 

https://www.amnh.org/explore/ology

Promise of Place

What is Place-Based Education?

Place-based education (PBE) immerses students in local heritage, cultures, landscapes, opportunities and experiences, using these as a foundation for the study of language arts, mathematics, social studies, science and other subjects across the curriculum. PBE emphasizes learning through participation in service projects for the local school and/or community.

Place-based learning compliments teachers integrating nature into the classroom. This website is a venerable starting point for incorporating the principles of place based learning into traditional teaching settings. 

https://promiseofplace.org/

Living Classroom Learning Lab

Living Classroom Learning Lab is a K-5 nature based curriculum. Each lesson in the LCLL curriculum uses an inquiry-based learning approach in asking the children a question which they try to answer throughout that lesson. As they investigate, the children’s “wonderings” can lead to further topics to explore in that or future lessons. The lessons culminate in a product each child creates which illustrates the child’s knowledge of the topic. Most products are in the language arts field, such as illustrated poetry, analogies and similes, informative paragraphs, brochures, journals, and posters . There are others, however, where the children will undertake a process to produce the end product. This happens as the children experience the life cycle of a seed “in” nature: from planting a seed in the classroom, to its growing into a mature plant in the garden, to the harvesting of the vegetable or flower, to gathering the new seeds that will begin the planting process all over again.

Lessons learned in The Living Classroom help children connect with nature, and help them understand why that connection is important. Children experience nature first hand in The Living Garden, getting real world lessons on plants, animals, soil, ecosystems, biodiversity, sustainability and more.

https://livingclassroomlearninglab.org/

Death Valley Super Bloom

Check out this lesson plan from our Alumni Bob Smith! He has created an art lesson around Death Valley’s Super Bloom.

Lesson Plan PDF
Lesson Plan Drive Link

iSEE Utah

Informal Science Education Enhancement (iSEE) is a collaboration among nonprofit informal science education organizations in Utah aiming to spark students' natural curiosity and sense of wonder by providing exciting opportunities to experience science. 

 iSEE programs serve K-12 teachers and students by providing programs that allow them to experience and practice science skills while gaining a deeper understanding of science concepts. 

 iSEE provides unique opportunities not typically available in the classroom and support the standards in the Utah State Science Curriculum. This includes free statewide outreach programs, free professional development, lesson plans and curriculum kits.

Organizations include Clark Planetarium, Discovery Gateway: The Children’s Museum of Utah, HawkWatch International, The Leonardo, Loveland Living Planet Aquarium, Natural History Museum of Utah, Red Butte Garden, Thanksgiving Point, and Utah’s Hogle Zoo.

http://www.iseeutah.org/

Bell Canyon Reservoir and Waterfall

One of the easiest access hikes that’s perfect for kids of all ages is the Bell’s Canyon Reservoir hike. Located at the bottom of Little Cottonwood Canyon, the trail head takes you up 3⁄4 of a mile to the Bell’s Canyon Reservoir. This is the perfect opportunity to get kids outside and learning in nature. It’s suggested to take a nature guide for kids so they can start learning the species of trees, plants, and animals they will see on the way. Once you’ve reached the reservoir, there is a path that goes all the way around the lake so you can explore and maybe even try to catch a fish, being mindful of the catch and release policy. If you have older kids with more energy, you can continue along the right side of the lake up to the Lower Bell’s Canyon Waterfall. This is one of the most beautiful waterfalls with easy access, but is recommended for older youth who can do more strenuous hikes.

https://utah.com/hiking/bells-canyon

Natural History Museum

Located in the foothills of Salt Lake City, the Natural History Museum is a beautiful hub to learn about Natural History in the state of Utah. The Natural History Museum is home to many diverse exhibits such as Paleontology, Archaeology, Entomology, Botany, and many more. As well as having educational and interesting exhibits, the Natural History Museum conducts research to learn more about the natural world, as well as continuing forward with energy efficient and environmentally friendly buildings and practices. After learning about the ancient history of the state of Utah, you can take a beautiful hike through the foothills to “The Living Room” right behind the Natural History Museum.

The Natural History Museum is a great location for a field trip, you can request a donation/ free admission for your classroom. The museum also offers summer camps and a variety of outreach programs including Museum on the Move (4th grade specific), traveling treasures, and youth teaching youth.

https://nhmu.utah.edu/

Teachers Field Trip Guide to Capitol Reef

This Field Trip Guide was gifted to NTTC volunteers from the National Park Service. Although a bit out of date, this guide has activities for K-6 that match up with core curriculum. Activities range in topics from flora, pioneer life, and geology to ecosystems, Native American cultures and conservation. These activities come with step-by-step instructions, some including worksheets. This is an excellent example resource that shows how to match core with experiential education. Selection of the following links will open the chapters of the field guide.

Kindergarten 1st Grade 2nd Grade 3rd Grade 4th Grade 5th & 6th Grade

Canyon Country Discovery Center

Located in Monticello, UT, Canyon Country Discovery Center offers experiential, place-based programs that engage students (K-12) and teachers with the local Colorado Plateau environment, community, and resources. The Canyon Country Discover Center’s website provides a great resource for activities and in-class instruction on a variety of topics.

The Canyon Country Discovery Center also provides training for teachers in K-8th grade schools across the Colorado Plateau (parts of UT, NM, CO, AZ), which includes school-year mentoring, a Science resource Center, a five-day Summer or Fall Institute, a three-day San Juan river trip, and an annual teachers’ conference in March. A fee of $5,000 per school per year is requested, but not required.  They also offer a two-hour, interactive workshop for teachers in Colorado Plateau schools and on our campus, and can be customized to teachers’ classroom needs.

https://ccdiscovery.org/index.php

Junior Ranger Program

“Explore, Learn, and Protect!”

— NPS Junior Rangers

Learn more about the National Park Service, and the natural and cultural resources our parks preserve. The Junior Ranger program includes programs, booklets, and interactive web activities that give youth the opportunity to learn about US history, science, nature, stewardship and the importance of educating others as a junior ranger. 

Remember, you can email or write letters to any NPS site for infomation from a real ranger!

https://www.nps.gov/kids/jrRangers.cfm

Project Wild

Bring the classroom outside!

Project WILD is a wildlife-focused conservation education program for K-12 educators and their students.

They are one of the most widely-used conservation and environmental education programs among educators of students in kindergarten through high school. There are many resources and activities that are offered through this organization!

“Fostering responsible action towards wildlife and natural resources.”

— Project Wild

https://www.nps.gov/kids/jrRangers.cfm

Project Learning Tree

PLT provides a wealth of up-to-date resources, support, and ideas for teachers and other educators. They also offer grants to schools and youth organizations for service-learning projects. Plus,their extraordinary network of State Coordinators and certified workshop facilitators provide local assistance and community connections. 
 

“MAKE LEARNING FUN!
Use the environment to engage children in learning – both outside and indoors. Engage students in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) as they learn about the impact invasive species have on ecosystems and biodiversity.”

— PLT

https://www.plt.org/

Canyonlands Field Institute Fundraising Tips for Teachers

Based out of Moab, UT the Canyonlands Field Institute hosts hundreds of school groups around the country. Their multi-day excursions are geared toward junior high through college aged students, while there day trips are appropriate for any age. These hands-on excursions occur on land and water!

Check out there programs and funding tips! The website has more information below. 

Countdown to Hatch!

Hatch a live chick!

For Grades K-6

Build suspense and get a sneak peek at embryo development inside a fertile egg with this colorful embryology kit. The kit contains 21 plastic eggs. Inside of each egg is a laminated picture and detailed developmental description of the chick growing inside. One egg should be opened on each day of the 21-day chick hatching cycle to give students an exciting look at the mysterious process that happens inside the egg.

This kit can be used on its own but also makes a great complement to a classroom hatching project. Runs approximately $8 per set.

Field Trip Grants

Do you need some funds to get out and go on field trips? Grants can make that educational travel accessible and possible. Several foundations recognize the importance school trips through field trip grants such as Target, ING Unsung Heroes, SYTA Youth Foundation Road Scholarship, Big Yellow School Bus, Kohl’s Cares Field Trip Program.

Think outside of the classroom and apply for a grant!

Utah Geological Survey (UGS): Earth Science Resources

The Utah Geological Survey (UGS) provides many resources for teacher and students. The agencies and organizations within the UGS provides these things for teachers:

• Workshops

• Teaching kits

• Activities for grades 4th, 5th and 8th

• Slide sets

• PowerPoints for grades 4th-8th

• Maps, materials and other information for K-12

• Field trips (for teachers and children of all ages)

• In class speakers

There's a lot of cool resources on this page, navigate, explore and find out for yourself! Bring to light Utah's unique geology with interesting ways to teach it and have fun hands on activities that your students will not forget. 

Utah State University (USU) Physics Day

USU Physics Day at Lagoon is a an educational activity that gives High School and Middle School students the chance to explore the reality of physics in a fun way! What a way to excite your students about physics! This unique opportunity provides students with the chance to take concepts outside the classroom and into their memories forever.

This website is designed for teachers and students. It contains all the information they need to attend and enjoy the many activities and contests sponsored by Utah State University, Idaho National Laboratory, and others.

This year's Physics Day at Lagoon is on Friday May 12, 2017.

Utah Botanical Center and Utah House

Utah Botanical Center and Utah House is a comprehensive field trip program for elementary and secondary school students! There are many unique, hands-on field trips are available for each grade level. Programs are 1.5-2 hours long and begin at 9:30 am (available on Tuesday-Friday between April and mid-October). 

They can accept a maximum of 100 students and two adults per class. The cost for the field trips are $3.00 per student; chaperones and teachers are free! 

To schedule a field trip to the Utah Botanical Center and Utah House, Contact Jayne Mulford at 435-919-1265.

The Living Planet Aquarium

Do your kids love animals, water and hands on activities? Then the Loveland Living Planet Aquarium is the perfect fit for you. They offer three awesome, free, outreach programs that correlates with the Utah State Core Curriculum by grade level. 

The Rainforest Van Program is available for 2nd grade, the Utah Waters Van Programs is available for 4th grade, and the ecosystems van is available to 6th grade public/charter Utah Students. This is a great and purposeful program to help enrich your students! Take advantage of it! 

The Living Planet Aquarium also offers free professional development workshops throughout the year.

To inquire about an outreach program, please contact their education department at (801)-355-FISH (3474) or email outreach@thelivingplanet.com.