<![CDATA[Living Classroom-Garden Based Education - What\'s Growing On?]]>Tue, 14 Apr 2026 13:55:10 -0700Weebly<![CDATA[5 To Dos For Your Garden in Early Spring]]>Sat, 26 Feb 2022 17:44:15 GMThttps://www.living-classroom.org/whats-growing-on/5-to-dos-for-your-garden-in-early-spring
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February and March are a great time to do these five gardening activities in Northern California:
  1. Harvest asparagus, cabbage, cauliflower, citrus, kale, pea shoots, radishes, snow peas, spinach, and winter squash. 
  2. Plant cool-season seedlings of artichokes, arugula, beets, broccoli, carrots, fava beans, kale, lettuce, peas, radishes, and swiss chard. 
  3. Start an herb garden with basil, chives, dill, lavender, lemon verbena, rosemary, and thyme to use fresh or dry and store to prepare dishes filled with flavor! 
  4. Start tomato seeds indoors for planting in late April or early May. 
  5. Check that your irrigation system is working properly, which is easier to do while the plants are small, to prepare for the hotter months. ​
]]><![CDATA[Living Classroom's "Life Cycle of a Tomato" Lesson According to Second Grade Students]]>Tue, 05 Oct 2021 22:07:12 GMThttps://www.living-classroom.org/whats-growing-on/living-classrooms-life-cycle-of-a-tomato-lesson-according-to-second-grade-studentsToday we will talk about what we have done in Living Classroom. First we will give you a brief history of tomatoes which were also our main topic for the first and second classes. We first talked about where tomatoes were first found. We learned that tomatoes were first found in Chile, South America. A while later they were transported to Mexico, then Southeast Asia , and finally England.

The first known tomato recipe was published in Naples, Italy. At this time eating tomatoes had caught on in France, Spain, and Italy. Thomas Jefferson wrote about people growing tomatoes in colonies, we know that some people were eating tomatoes in the U.S.A by then. Nowadays, tomatoes are a very popular fruit in the world.  1.5 billion tons of tomatoes are grown and sold in the world.  

The Most Popular States That Grow Tomatoes Are : 

  1. China 
  2. India
  3. U.S.A
  4. Turkey
  5. Egypt
  6. Iran
  7. Italy
  8. Brazil
  9. Spain
  10. Uzbekistan 

In the first lesson we had a map and a tomato journal. On the map, we drew tomatoes to show where they traveled.      
                                  
We also got to cut open a tomato and scooped out the seeds. In the tomato journal, we used words to describe how the seeds felt. We thought it was gooey, slimy, slippery, and lots more. The second lesson was after a few weeks. So we investigated the seeds week by week. Almost every cup had mold and yeast in it. We could  only see the mold, not the yeast.  We got into groups. If the cup had your name and your partner’s name on it . So, we got into groups of four and we first opened the cup and scooped all the mold out . Then, we gently drained the water from the cups. Next, after draining the water we rinsed the seeds three times . Finally, we gathered all the seeds and saved them to plant in the spring. So with all that work covered that is what we have been doing in our past 2 Living Classroom lessons.

]]><![CDATA[A legacy lives on through the Kendra Chan Conservation Fellowship]]>Fri, 10 Sep 2021 22:02:40 GMThttps://www.living-classroom.org/whats-growing-on/a-legacy-lives-on-through-the-kendra-chan-conservation-fellowship
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​The Kendra Chan Conservation Fellowship, a first-of-its kind annual program, honors the late wildlife biologist Kendra Chan (Living Classroom Founder Vicki Moore's daughter) by giving budding scientists an opportunity to learn about the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s mission and help endangered species.  The fellowship is a two-year commitment and is available to students with a demonstrated interest, education, and/or experience in conservation, and who are enrolled or accepted for enrollment as a rising senior or senior in an undergraduate program.  Click here to learn more about the Kendra Chan Conservation Fellowship and the amazing research that it supports.

Daniel Cisneros stood atop one of the highest peaks on Santa Rosa Island off the California coast, admiring the island oak and bishop pine trees, an ancient forest among the clouds brought back to life after years of human disturbance.

Cisneros, an ecology student at the University of California, Santa Barbara, is working with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Santa Barbara Botanic Garden to conduct a germination study for five rare plant species on the Channel Islands. The work will shed light on the role seed banking can play to help struggling plant populations.
Cisneros’ research is made possible by the Kendra Chan Conservation Fellowship, a first-of-its kind annual program that honors the late wildlife biologist Kendra Chan by giving budding scientists an opportunity to learn about the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s mission and help endangered species.

“I feel honored to be part of Kendra’s long-lasting legacy,” he says.

Chan, a wildlife biologist with the Service in Ventura, was passionate about endangered species and connecting people from all walks of life to science and the natural world.

A Southern California native, Cisneros says he feels a personal connection to the Channel Islands. “I see them every day from campus in Santa Barbara. I want to save plants in my own backyard.” Through the fellowship, he is collecting data on the federally endangered soft-leaved paintbrush which dwells in only two cliffside locations on Santa Rosa Island.

Chan also championed the importance of diversity in conservation, and Cisneros aims to carry on that legacy by engaging communities in collaborative conservation and environmental stewardship. “Our world has a variety of plants, animals, and fungi, all of which have their own differences, but are interconnected in so many ways,” says Cisneros. “We too, [as humans], occupy different niches in our society, and we all contribute to a healthier environment in general. We don’t have time to limit conservation to a select few anymore.”

Chris Diel is an assistant field supervisor with Service in Ventura. “Kendra was passionate and curious and ready to take on new challenges,” he says. “She was able to bring everyone together to achieve conservation goals — from academia to agencies to private landowners. She brought positivity and inspiration that those common outcomes were possible.”

Diel helped form a team from across the country to design a unique fellowship that combines the long-standing Service’s Directorate Fellowship Program with the Ecological Society of America’s leadership develop program.
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“After losing Kendra as a member of our team and our agency, we asked the question, how can we carry on and embody that potential that we saw, and the traits we observed in her, into the future?”

The fellowship is a two-year commitment and is available to students with a demonstrated interest, education, and/or experience in conservation, and who are enrolled or accepted for enrollment as a rising senior or senior in an undergraduate program. Successful fellows may be eligible for a permanent position with the Service after successfully completing their fellowship and degree requirements.

“This program has solidified my desire to go to graduate school to study botany more,” Cisneros says. “I would still like to be a biologist with USFWS — everyone is so passionate about what they do, and I want to contribute to that.” Cisneros will present his findings at the 2022 Ecological Society of America annual conference.

Kendra Chan joined the Service through the Directorate Fellowship Program in 2016 after graduating from the University of California, Davis. She served as a biologist with the Service in Ventura until 2019.

“Kendra was a remarkable human being. Her positive energy enriched the lives of those she touched through her love of nature, wildlife and the outdoors. She was a force for good and led a life that made the world around her a better place. She loved the ocean, from surfing and diving to tide pooling. Her passion, curiosity and enthusiasm for all living things — from tiny skeleton shrimp to the tidewater goby — were infectious. Not only was she a colleague, but a friend to us all. We miss her dearly and carry her energy with us in all the days ahead.”— Staff of the Ventura Fish and Wildlife Office

​

]]><![CDATA[A new paradigm for creating environmentally literate students and adults!]]>Tue, 01 Jun 2021 16:11:32 GMThttps://www.living-classroom.org/whats-growing-on/a-new-paradigm-for-creating-environmentally-literate-students-and-adultsThe best way to raise a new generation that will care about  - and act to protect nature - is to provide frequent experiences in the natural world.  Schoolyards are critical spaces for educating and inspiring the next generation of environmental stewards.  Adults can learn that they can play a role in providing habitats by their choices of how they landscape, and that they can be environmental stewards as well.
Living Classroom’s lessons teach students that they can make a tangible difference in the world.  As our children mature, they are informed by an ecological understanding and conscience.  Native habitat gardens and landscaping are a central piece of a wider vision to restore our relationship with the natural world. As adults, we have the power to bring nature to every child, every day, while improving our local ecosystems, learning environments and health. 
In the Living Classroom, nature is our teacher. We know that understanding the principles that sustain ecosystems requires basic ecological knowledge.  Many of the central principles of ecology are variations on a single fundamental pattern of organization: nature sustains life by creating and nurturing communities. Organisms cannot exist for very long in isolation. Animals, plants, and micro-organisms live in webs of mutual dependence.  

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Monarch Butterfly visits native school garden planted with native Milkweed
Living Classroom native habitat gardens include wildlife attracting features and provide the following important benefits:

  • Create habitat:   Our gardens create habitat islands that, collectively, serve to increase the biodiversity and biomass of insects, birds, small reptiles and small mammals.  
  • Access to nature daily for students and community members.
  • Sensory experiences as a contrast to our increasingly indoor and digital lives.
  • Sense of Place: native plants reflect the geography and ecology of the community.
  • Provide natural cooling: Trees and large shrubs provide shade for children and buildings, reducing sun exposure, urban heat island effects and interior cooling energy and costs.
Examples of native front yard and backyard plantings
These same benefits can be applied to the broader community with native plantings on private and public properties.

For information about how to get started in turning your front yard, backyard, or both, into a habitat for wildlife, please go to the following sources:

South Bay Green Gardens at https://www.southbaygreengardens.org/
California Native Plant Society:  https://gardenplanner.calscape.org/

Both of these sources provide design ideas, planting plans and lists of appropriate native plants based on the specifications of your yard, ie., sunny, shady, large, small, style (formal versus natural), and so forth.  Local nurseries that carry native plants are listed on the websites.  Appropriate irrigation supplies are also described.  If you live in Santa Clara County, Valley Water is now offering rebates for residential single-family homes, multi-family developments, and commercial properties of $2 per square foot when lawn is replaced by native or drought tolerant plants with water conserving irrigation.  
Go to: https://www.valleywater.org/saving-water/rebates-surveys/saving-water/rebates-surveys/landscape-rebates to learn more about the rebates.  Rebates are up to $3,000 for residential  and $50,000 for commercial or multi-family developments.
]]><![CDATA[Rethinking Our Landscape and Gardens as Habitats]]>Fri, 28 May 2021 15:31:01 GMThttps://www.living-classroom.org/whats-growing-on/rethinking-our-landscape-and-gardens-as-habitatsUnderstanding that our landscaping and gardens can and should serve as habitats is a paradigm shift that Living Classroom has been advocating for years.  We can all be involved in restoring our local ecology.  Living Classroom has been creating native habitat gardens on school campuses for ecology and ethnobotany lessons and the principles behind the plant selection and design of these school gardens apply to landscapes and gardens everywhere.  
Landscaping no longer should be strictly ornamental; rather, think of our gardens as being beautiful and habitat creating. With path-breaking books, research studies and reports on this topic, it’s clear that there is great potential to restore our local ecology through a constellation of biodiverse and native gardens and landscaping within our urban and suburban communities.  
School grounds are an important component to this ecological resilience movement as they comprise many acres scattered across our communities. Schools offer an amazing educational benefit for not only students, teachers and parents but also a broader neighborhood base that uses the school grounds on a regular basis.  
However, residential front and back yards, commercial and industrial landscaping, public parks and other private landholdings can all be landscaped with habitat providing native plants. These spaces  can also provide environmental health benefits such as urban carbon sequestration, capturing stormwater runoff, air quality improvement, and ecological resilience--all important components of green infrastructure in preparation for climate change.
In his books, Douglas Tallamy (Bringing Nature Home, Nature’s Best Hope, and The Living Landscape: Designing for Beauty and Biodiversity in the Home Garden) presents overwhelming scientific evidence of the impact that native vegetation has on helping to increase the species diversity and populations of native wildlife.  Planting mostly non-native trees, shrubs, perennial, annuals and groundcovers attracts only a small fraction of the wildlife as compared with native plant species.  Large reductions in the insect populations, for example, impact the food chain many layers up the chain including songbirds.  In order to save our songbird populations, we must ensure there are ample insects, including caterpillars, for them to feed to their young.
 In Bringing Nature Home, Tallamy states that by simply replacing most home lawns, which comprise between 32-40 million acres of land across the country, would collectively restore habitat over more acres than our National Park System.   As Tallamy states, we can create our own “Homegrown National Parks” by planting native plants in our yards.
Bonus Benefit:  Water Conservation!
If boosting wildlife diversity and populations isn’t enough, native gardens also conserve water.  Most Californians live in a Mediterranean climate, meaning that we have a very long stretch of six or more months of warm weather and no rain, then six or less months of cooler, rainier weather (except these last two years—we are now in a drought).  Native plants adapted to this Mediterranean climate need very little water during the dry months of the year and, once established, a small fraction of water, as compared with lawns and most non-native plants.  Some shade loving native plants require relatively more water as they are adapted to moist environments along creeks and the understory of trees. Native plants also adapt to the soil types in which they evolved, therefore chaparral and coastal sage scrub plants prefer “nutrient poor” soils as do desert plants which thrive in sandy soil.  

]]><![CDATA[What Living Classroom Taught Me]]>Fri, 16 Apr 2021 22:43:14 GMThttps://www.living-classroom.org/whats-growing-on/what-living-classroom-taught-meEight years ago I taught my first Living Classroom lesson, “Life Cycle of a Tomato” for a class of 24 second
graders. I could hardly believe my new job was to take students outside (during the school day!) to teach
environmental education lessons. That first lesson was a blur--anxiously I stumbled through the vocabulary
words, corralled the students through several activities, and ensured the parent volunteers were set up with
the necessary materials to assist. The hour flew by as the students squashed tomatoes with glee for seed
saving. Before I knew it, they were in a line to head back into the classroom.
I asked the teacher how she thought the lesson went. She said, “I think you need to slow down.”
I exhaled. She was right--why was I rushing the students through this experience? I had the opportunity to
let this hour together outdoors be truly meaningful, to let kids explore, discover, and feel joy. Here’s a
chance to bring what they are learning in their science textbooks to life through engaging, real world
activities.

One of our students said it best, “I like this program (Living Classroom) because a kid can go outside and get
dirty. Most of all, a kid can do the real stuff.” As environmental educators we get the unique opportunity, and
responsibility, to slow down with students and point out the “real stuff.” We get to say, “Look! THIS is nature,
and it’s right outside your door. See this leafy green top? Yes, you can pull it! You really have to yank it! Wow!
Can you believe it? That’s how carrots grow! Isn’t it like magic?” It’s understanding that an heirloom gets
passed down from generation to generation, an item to treasure, and seeds can be heirlooms too. They will
produce colors and flavors beyond our imaginations. It’s discovering that milkweed plants grow right outside
the classroom window and we walk by it everyday. That plant holds the secret for keeping an entire butterfly
species in existence. It’s noticing how your entire heart lifts up as you watch that Monarch land on the
milkweed, like there is some kind of order to our world. It’s how we plant tiny seedlings, how they only
measure up a few inches tall on our rulers, but we will troop back after weeks turn into months and they are
still there, only now proud and bursting, ready to be harvested. It’s patiently watching seeds sprout into green
spades of grass, into beds of wheat, that we will lovingly harvest, thresh, and grind into flour, that we will
bake into bread to understand what it means to be a producer, to be someone who creates.

Through Living Classroom I have met phenomenal teachers who have taught me how to engage students in
our curriculum. World class gardeners have taught me the importance of native plants and habitats. I will hold
all of this close in my next adventure, but what I will cherish most is the thousands of bright and curious
children who have helped me learn the importance of slowing down and appreciating the wonders that exist
in a seed, a leaf, or a beetle’s wing.
​
Last week I taught my last lesson as a member of the Living Classroom staff, and it was “Life Cycle of a
Tomato.” The students and I took our time exploring the “real stuff” as we shared our favorite ways to eat
tomatoes, sketched out the plant’s life cycle with all of the glorious details, and explored varieties of
heirlooms. During my time at Living Classroom I hope to have planted a seed that will grow future
environmental stewards through the lessons we have created, the volunteers we have engaged, and what
the students discovered as they explored nature on their own schoolyards. Full circle, indeed!]]><![CDATA[5 outdoor gardening activities you can do with kids]]>Wed, 31 Mar 2021 17:53:57 GMThttps://www.living-classroom.org/whats-growing-on/5-outdoor-gardening-activities-you-can-do-with-kidsLooking for some fun activities to do with your little ones this spring break? Spring is the perfect time to be outdoors and experiencing the new growth happening all around. There are many ways to encourage exploration and creativity all while learning about our environment! Here are a few example activities from the Living Classroom lesson archive. 

  1. Newspaper Pots
In this activity children will create newspaper pots using a strip of newspaper, an aluminum can, some masking tape and a sharpie. You roll the newspaper around the aluminum can folding the paper at the bottom and then taping it closed to create a pot. Add soil, plant a seed in the center and water! Time for gestation depends on the instructions at the back of your seed packet. 

For more detailed instructions and for information on seed saving, please see our Newspaper Pot video. 

  1. Nature Creatures
Go for a nature walk and be sure to collect all six parts of a plant. Roots, stems, leaves, flowers, fruit, and seeds. Grab a clean sheet of paper and move the parts around to make eyes, ears, a nose, a mouth, and hair or make an animal including whiskers and a body. Be creative and have fun! When you’re happy with your creation tape the plant parts to the paper. 

For more detailed instructions please see our Nature Creatures video. 

  1. Quiet Leaf Tracing    
This is a great mindfulness activity to give yourself a brain break or a calming activity to do with your children. You will need blank paper, crayons or markers, and a few leaves. Get outside and go for a walk. Collect leaves along the way on your walk and try to see if you can collect different types of leaves.. If you cannot, a few of the same types of leaves will be fine for this activity. On a clean sheet of paper, place your leaves in a pattern on your paper and carefully trace around the edge of the leaves. Move the leaves to another pattern on the page and trace again. Do this until you have filled the entire paper. Don’t worry if you’ve gone outside the lines. Have fun and enjoy tracing!

For more detailed instructions please see our Quiet Leaf Tracing video.

  1. Make a Bug Hotel
Encourage creepy crawly critters to visit your yard by building them a bug hotel. You will need a small box, and many sticks, rocks, leaves, or other organic materials you can find outside. You can also use paper towel rolls or egg cartons or other paper waste products. Find a shady spot to place your bug hotel because bugs can often be found under rocks and in dark shaded areas. Start building your bug hotel by adding your materials one row at a time adding a few spots that will help you to be able to see inside. Check the hotel daily to see which critters have moved in!

For more detailed information on bugs, specifically decomposers, check out our Bug Hotel video.

  1. Plant a Seedling
The sun is out and the soil is beginning to warm up and it is a great time to get a small garden started. Planting seedlings is an easy way to start for the inexperienced gardener and children. You will need a small outdoor space or garden bed with fresh potting soil to get started. If you have a balcony or small patio you may consider container gardening. Be sure that the area gets plenty of sun so your seedlings will thrive! You will need to plant seedlings that are great for spring. In the San Jose, California area some examples include cantaloupe, cucumbers, pumpkin, rosemary, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, watermelon, and zucchini. To get specific seedling advice for your location check the Farmer’s Almanac website. 

Using a trowel, dig a small hole in your container or garden area about the size of a fist. Add a little water to the bottom of the hole. Gently pull the seedling from the pot gently taking care not to harm the root ball. Place the seedling into the hole and cover with soil. Water generously. 

To get detailed information on how to properly plant seedlings please see our Plant a Seedling video.]]>