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Curriculum

Ocean Connectors provides lessons, hands-on activities, and field trips to students throughout San Diego County and Nayarit, Mexico. We believe that experiential learning is the first step in developing a love for our oceans.

Full Grade Level Programming

Ocean Connectors provides scaffolded programs for every student in every grade in National School District. These age appropriate lessons build upon each other and allow students to explore concepts, learn about migratory marine animals, and understand their role in local ecology.

TK/Kinder S is for Stewardship

Program Summary

Our students in Transitional Kindergarten (TK) and Kindergarten (K) will participate in our “‘S’ is for Stewardship” program and make career connections to marine biologists and veterinarians to learn how to be stewards for marine life and their habitats.

Stewardship Themes

Key themes of knowledge which help our students become impactful coastal citizens.

  • The 3 R’s (reduce, reuse and recycle)
  • Composting
  • Waste management

Academic Standards

  • Visual and Performing Arts
  • Reading
  • Human Impacts on Earth Systems
  • Asking Questions and Defining Problems

1st Grade The Power of Kelp

Program Summary

Our students in 1st grade will participate in “The Power of Kelp” program and use giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera) and green seaweed (Chlorophyta macroalgae) as a case study to learn about the importance of giant kelp’s role in marine ecosystems and in our everyday lives.

Stewardship Themes

  • Waste management
  • Habitat conservation
  • Marine life health

Academic Standards

  • Reading
  • Structure and Function
  • Mathematics
  • Patterns

2nd Grade From Mountain to Sea

Program Summary

Our students in 2nd grade will participate in our “From Mountain to Sea” program and connect to different kinds of landforms and landscapes that tie into their local environment and explore its changes and needs of protection. 

Stewardship Themes

  • Climate change resilience
  • Preventing overfishing
  • Habitat conservation

Academic Standards

  • Earth Materials and Systems
  • The Roles of Water in Earth’s Surface Processes
  • Stability and Change
  • Arts

3rd Grade Creek to Coast

Program Summary

Our students use the North American monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) as a case study for pollinators to learn about the importance of protecting local habitats and open space in order to support healthy ecosystems in which plants can reproduce.

Stewardship Themes

Key themes of knowledge which help our students become impactful coastal citizens.

  • Water conservation
  • Native plant pollination
  • Watershed health

Field Trip

Our students visit local wetlands to participate in watershed education and native plant revegetation.

Academic Standards

  • Life Science
  • Reading
  • History
  • Social Science

4th Grade Sea Turtle Discovery

Program Summary

Our students use the Eastern Pacific green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas agassizii) as a case study to learn about the interconnectedness of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems and the importance of recycling and reducing plastic pollution to benefit the health of the marine environment.

Stewardship Themes

Key themes of knowledge which help our students become impactful coastal citizens..

  • Recycling
  • Waste Management
  • Avoiding Single-Use Plastic

Field Trip

Our students visit local aquariums and sea turtle feeding and nesting sites to observe sea turtles and other native wildlife.

Academic Standards

  • Engineering Design
  • Life Science
  • Speaking & Listening
  • Writing

5th Grade Whale Exploration

Program Summary

Our students use the California gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus) as a case study to learn about the vast migrations of marine mammals and the importance of putting thought and careful consideration into seafood choices to protect marine resources for the future.

Stewardship Themes

Key themes of knowledge which help our students become impactful coastal citizens..

  • Sustainable seafood
  • Bycatch reduction
  • Responsible shipping

Field Trip

Our students attend whale watching excursions to observe migrating whales and learn from a diverse group of maritime experts.

Academic Standards

  • Earth & Human Activity
  • Math
  • Physical Science
  • Reading

6th Grade Bird & Habitat Study

Program Summary

Our students use the Western osprey (Pandion haliaetus) as a case study to learn about the vulnerability of coastal habitats due to climate change and overdevelopment and the importance of preventing habitat destruction for wildlife and humans.

Stewardship Themes

Key themes of knowledge which help our students become impactful coastal citizens..

  • Habitat conservation
  • Sustainable development
  • Climate change resilience

Field Trip

Our students participate in bird watching and habitat restoration at coastal natural areas under mentorship from park rangers and ecology experts.

Academic Standards

  • Engineering Design
  • English Language Arts
  • Human Impacts on Earth Systems
  • Math

7th Grade Shark Investigation Unit

Program Summary

Our students use the bigeye thresher (Alopias superciliosus) as a case study to learn about marine ecology and the critical role that sharks play in maintaining biodiversity and the health of our oceans, as well as to dispel fear of sharks.

Stewardship Themes

Key themes of knowledge which help our students become impactful coastal citizens..

  • Fisheries management
  • Ecosystem services
  • Preventing overfishing and finning

Field Trip

Our students visit local aquariums and marine science learning centers to observe sharks and interact with professional aquarists.

Academic Standards

  • Biodiversity and Humans
  • Ecosystems
  • Human Impacts on Earth Systems
  • Math

Knowledge Exchange

Children are most influenced by the opinions, actions, and values of other children. Thus a fundamental teaching aide is creating a constructive dialogue between children about environmental issues. We foster this meaningful dialogue by using migratory marine life to connect youth living over 1,000 miles apart on the Pacific migratory corridor through the Ocean Connectors Knowledge Exchange.

Impact

Ocean Connectors enhances student knowledge of marine science, environmental literacy, and conservation using case-study migratory species and related stewardship themes.

100
ecotourists since 2016
3000+
plants since 2011
0%
ocean science knowledge gains
250lbs
trash collected since 2015
0K
students since 2007
0%
consistently high teacher scores

Have Ocean Connectors Provide Lessons or Activities for your group!

Expand your knowledge of coastal conservation and marine biology by having Ocean Connectors provide hands-on activities and lessons for all ages!

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