Rangers in the Classroom
Greetings Educators! Below are lessons that will introduce students in Kindergarten through 6th grades to the National Park Service, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, and the resources that make these parks special.
NOTE: All the lessons are in Adobe Acrobat PDF format. If you need a copy of the Acrobat Reader, download it free from Adobe.
Up, Up and Away
How can bats and birds be so different and seem so much alike? Through the story of Stellaluna, Kindergarten throught 2nd grade students will learn about the similarities and differences of bats and birds. Students will explore the world of bats and birds through observations, comparisons and hands-on activities.
Up, Up and Away lesson. (PDF format, 113kb) more...
The Bear Essentials
Students in 1st through 4th grades will investigate the American Black Bear's habitat, diet, and lifecycle. Hands-on activities will help students explore how human activity can affect bear behavior.
The Bear Essentials lesson for 1st and 2nd grades (PDF format, 146kb) more...
The Bear Essentials lesson for 3rd and 4th grades (PDF format, 108kb) more...
Meet Your National Parks!
This lesson will introduce students in 2nd through 4th grades to the various pieces of the national park puzzle. Through stories, puppets, examination of tree rings, cones, artifacts and more students will piece together the history and significance of national parks close to home and across the nation.
Meet Your National Parks lesson. (PDF format, 116kb) more...
How to Read a Skull Like an Open Book
Students in 3rd and 4th grade will become the scientists and use a variety of clues to determine what kind of skull they are examining. Students will discover food preferences and learn about the teeth and skulls of many animals through observation, problem solving, and deduction skills.
How to Read a Skull Like an Open Book lesson. (PDF format, 143kb) more...
Explore Your Watershed
Discover the connections between the watersheds of Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks and the valley floor. Third through fifth grade students will explore water through a hands-on tour of their watershed.
Expore Your Watershed lesson. (PDF format, 145kb) more...
Life in the Zone
Discover the amazing diversity of wildlife and habitats from the foothills to the alpine peaks of the Sierra Nevada. Students in 3rd-5th grades will exmine three different habitats/lifezones and the plants and animals that live within them.
Life in the Zone lesson. (PDF format, 137kb) more...
Guess Hoo's For Dinner
Owl pellet dissection is exciting for students of all ages. This predator/prey discovery program is complete with food web discussions and owl pellet (replica) dissection. Students in 4th & 5th grades will perform their own owl pellet dissection and identify prey using their new knowledge of skull and bone characteristics.
Guess Hoo's for Dinner lesson. (PDF format, 109kb) more...
Discover Your Changing Climate
Round and round the Earth goes, where change may happen nobody knows! This program will help students in 5th and 6th grades understand the changes occuring in the Earth's climate, its impacts on local ecosystems and help them discover ways to help.
Discover Your Changing Climate lesson. (PDF format, 127kb) more...
To purchase books mentioned in these lessons visit the Sequoia Natural History Association's on-line bookstore.
Teacher Zone
Connect your students to National Park Service sites across the country. more...
OTHER MATERIALS
Sequoia Seeds: a newspaper for kids
Read all about trees, animals, caves, fire, people of the past, and park rangers. (PDF format, 1053kb) more...
For more information on wildlife, plants, geology, and more in these parks...Nature and Science
Interested in early settlers, the military, Native Americans and more in these parks... History and Culture
Looking for information and activities on other National Park Service sites? Check the links below.
Web Rangers
Check out the information and activities in this national, web-based Junior Ranger program and learn about national parks all over the country. more...
