A Changing Land

Indigenous History, Ecology & Biodiversity

Join the Santa Monica Mountains Education Team for a three-part sequenced learning program! The program consists of distance-learning, in-person, and teacher-led curriculum-based activities that are aligned with fourth-grade academic standards. A Changing Land is focused on Indigenous history, ecology, and biological diversity. During their field trip, the students will experience the Chumash cultural site Satwiwa and explore a Coastal Sage ecosystem while investigating these questions:

• How has the landscape of Satwiwa changed over time?
• What is the ecological consequence of human interaction with the landscape?

 

From Classroom to Canyon: A Changing Land Learning Experience

A Changing Land offers the following three-part, sequenced experiential learning activities:

1.) Pre-visit (Distance-learning) A Changing Land: Students are introduced to the Santa Monica Mountains, the field trip location Satwiwa, field trip preparation, vocabulary terms, concepts, and the cultural and natural resources of the national park site they will visit!

2.) Satwiwa: A Changing Land

• A short hike through Satwiwa, investigating animals, plants, and the landscape with an emphasis on Chumash history and how humans have changed the land over time.
• Students engage in hands-on learning activities focused on the connection between the ocean and humans over time, including the Chumash traditional use of marine animals.
• Nature journaling activity where students investigate the form and function of native plants and the relationships between plants, animals, and humans over time.

3.) Post-field trip Teacher-led Activity in the Classroom (Lesson plan provided by the National Park Service)

• Through writing, drawing, and discussion, the students will reveal what they learned and found inspiring about the cultural and natural resources they experienced in the Santa Monica Mountains!

 

Schedule Your Class for A Changing Land (three-part program)

• Programs available on the following: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays (October – May).

Reserve your day on our Microsoft Bookings calendar.

IMPORTANT! PLEASE READ:

• Please book a session for each of the following categories using the Microsoft Bookings calendar:

1. Pre-visit (Distance-learning) A Changing Land
2. Satwiwa: A Changing Land (*This category is for the in-person field trip)

NOTE: If you have more than 65 students/chaperones, please book a second day.

• You will receive an email that says "Your booking is confirmed." This holds the dates for you but your program is not confirmed until you complete an Education Reservation Request Form and receive a confirmation from the ranger.

For more information, please email us at e-mail us

 

A park ranger demonstrates an abalone shell and illustration to a group of students.

NPS/Adriana Barrera

An education technician guides a group of 4th graders down a trail in the great outdoors.

NPS/Adriana Barrera

 

Curriculum Standards

4-LS1-2- Use a model to describe that animals receive different types of information through their senses, process the information in their brain, and respond to the information in different ways.

4-ESS3-2. Generate and compare multiple solutions to reduce the impacts of natural Earth processes on humans.

HSS- 4.1.3. Identify the state capital and describe the various regions of California, including how their characteristics and physical environments (e.g., water, landforms, vegetation, climate) affect human activity.

HSS-4.1.4 Identify the locations of the Pacific Ocean, rivers, valleys, and mountain passes and explain their effects on the growth of towns.

HSS-4.1.5 Use maps, charts, and pictures to describe how communities in California vary in land use, vegetation, wildlife, climate, population density, architecture, services, and transportation.

HSS-4.2 Students describe the social, political, cultural, and economic life and interactions among people of California from the pre-Columbian societies to the Spanish mission and Mexican rancho periods.

HSS-4.2.1 Discuss the major nations of California Indians, including their geographic distribution, economic activities, legends, and religious beliefs; and describe how they depended on, adapted to, and modified the physical environment by cultivation of land and use of sea resources.