Into the Redwood Forest

Teacher Workshop

Please keep in mind that this program requires all teachers new to the program to attend a teacher workshop prior to class participation. The Into the Redwood Forest teacher workshop will take place on Saturday, January 20th, 2024.

 

Please note that we are no longer accepting applications for this school year 2023-2024.

 

 

Grades 3 - 4

Overview

 

NPS Ranger, asking students, what do you see up there?

NPS Volunteer/ Debbie Piattelli

How can nature teach us about community?

Into the Redwood Forest Immerses your students in the magic of Muir Woods National Monument, one of the last remaining old-growth redwood forests in the Bay Area. Through both individual and small group work, students use plant identification cards and information about the Coast Miwok relationship to the woods to familiarize themselves with the habitats and history of the forest. At the woods, students investigate and pose information questions and questions for deeper meaning as they construct their own understanding of survival and adaptation the redwood forest.

Into the Redwood Forest uses the Understanding by Design framework and aligns with the K-12 Next Generation Science Standards and Common Core Standards. The program is framed by the essential question - " How can nature teach us about community?"

Program’s Framework and Curriculum Links:

Please click here for the Into the Redwood Forest Understanding By Design grid

Please click here for the Into the Redwood Forest curriculum

Please click here for the Into the Redwood Forest Hybrid curriculum

Program Structure

Into the Redwood Forest programs are structured in the following three-touch model:

1. Classroom Preparation - Teachers complete three pre-lessons supported by park-provided resources, emphasizing the use of scientific inquiry to explore observation, inference, environmental assessment, and social community well-being. Subsequently, students will analyze both their surroundings and the societal vitality of their communities. Please share details about preferred NPS staff visit in the Education Reservation Request Form.
2. Field Session - Field Session – During the park experience, students explore the remnants of an ancient forest at Muir Woods. Please share details about preferred field visit date in the Education Reservation Request Form.

3. Classroom Assessment - opportunities for students to demonstrate what they have learned through inquiry investigations. Please email or mail back student work to NPS staff.

 

How to Apply

Please fill out the Education Reservation Request Form to request a program for your class (1 per classroom). Failure to complete this form may result in the inability to participate in program. The sections on the form that are labeled required must be completed.

Classroom Preparation--in-person school visits will be offered on Wednesdays.
Hybrid/Virtual Programming: Will be on Wednesdays as well.

Field visit –In-person field sessions are only offered Tuesday, Thursday, and Fridays.
Program duration: 8:30am-2:30pm

Program Registration Instructions

1. Fully complete Section 1: Contact Information on the form.
2. Complete the section 2, Park Visit/Field Trip—grade, preferred date of visit, alternative dates, etc. Add TWO alternative field visit dates for your park visit. You do not need to fill out your contact information again, please go directly to the grade section.

Complete:

Grade	Number of Students	Number of Chaperones
Preferred Date of Visit (Please keep in mind the days of the week when program is offered)	Preferred Program Start Time	Alternative Date(s) (Be sure to include 2 alternative dates)
Anticipated Arrival Time (Skip this part)	Anticipated Departure Time	Mode of Transportation (Charter buses) A limited amount of bus scholarships are available to Title 1 schools with the highest free/ reduced lunch percentage. A Ranger will inform you if your class qualifies. Please let us know if your class will be arriving on a charter bus or vehicles. In this box, please let us know how many bus parking spots or vehicle parking spots you anticipate on the day of your field trip. *Please keep in mind school buses are not allowed down Muir Woods road due to road safety.

Please note: Only buses under 30ft may take Muir Woods Road between Panoramic Highway and the Muir Woods National Monument entrance. Buses over 30ft but smaller than 35ft are allowed into the park only via Highway 1 by taking Muir Woods Road (also known as Frank Valley Road) from the west. No vehicles longer than 35ft are allowed according to the regulation of the California Highway Patrol (CHP)

3. Skip Section 3

4. Complete the following for section 4, under Group Details – Virtual/Distance Learning Program (to schedule a virtual pre-lesson with a ranger).You do not need to complete contact information again, please go directly to the grade section.

Complete:

Grade (Skip this section)	Number of Students (Skip this section)
Preferred Date of Program (Please keep in mind that pre-visit lessons with NPS staff are only offered on Wednesdays – preferably the week of your scheduled field session)	Alternative Date(s) (please sure alternative dates are only on Tuesdays if we are all booked up for Wednesday)
Preferred Program Start Time (Pre-visit lessons are only offered between 9am-1:30pm)	Time Zone of Classroom (Skip this section – programs are only offered to local Bay Area students)

• After completing the Education Reservation Request Form, please email a signed copy to [e-mail].
• Please have the name of the requested program in the email Subject line.

Please Note--Due to a high volume of requests, it will take a couple of business days to be contacted by a ranger. Do NOT book in-person field trip sessions on late or early release school dates. Plan for an 8:30 AM pick-up and 2:30 PM drop-off. In order to book the correct bus size, please provide a true estimate of the students and adults, including chaperones that will be participating in the program.

 

Nature Guides

• Animal Guide
• Plant Guide

Visit the Save the Redwoods League website for more information about redwood forests.

 

 

Duration:

7 minutes, 49 seconds

A video introduction to the "Into the Redwood Forest" school program in English, Spanish, and Cantonese. Audio Described for visitors with vision disabilities.

 

Duration:

6 minutes, 45 seconds

A video introduction to the "Into the Redwood Forest" school program in English, Spanish, and Cantonese. Open Captioned for the Deaf.

 

Duration:

6 minutes, 45 seconds

A video introduction to the "Into the Redwood Forest" school program in English, Spanish, and Cantonese.