Living Classroom-Garden Based Education
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For Parents

For Parents

Welcome to our For Parents resource page! Here you will find our Green Time and Art in Nature video series. You can also find information about California Parks and resource activities and links from our partners at the bottom of this page. 

Green Time Video Series

Want to know more about bringing garden-based education to your own backyard? Look no further! Green Time episodes replace Screen Time giving parents lessons and activities to do with their children at home.

Best Nest

Are you curious about how and why birds build their nests? Find out and build one yourself! 

This activity comes from one of our 1st  grade lessons, but with adult supervision can be enjoyed by people ages 3-99!

From Seed to Pretzel

Newspaper Pot

Learn to be both a producer and a consumer as this video shows the process of turning wheat from seed to pretzel!

Click here for a printable copy of the pretzel recipe! 

This activity comes from one of our 2nd  grade lessons, but with adult supervision can be enjoyed by people ages 4-99!

In this episode of Green Time, you will learn to create your own newspaper pots to grow seeds that you have saved or purchased. 

Click here for a printable copy of a seed saving packet

This activity comes from one of our Kindergarten and 3rd  grade lessons, but with adult supervision can be enjoyed by people ages 3-99!

Colonial Uses of Plants

Symmetry in Fruit

How to Make Vinaigrette

In this episode of Green Time, you will learn how to dye cloth using natural resources.

Click here for a guide on how to create your own plant dye

This activity comes from one of our 5th  grade lessons, but with adult supervision can be enjoyed by people ages 3-99!
In this episode, we learn about bilateral and rotational symmetry while cutting fruit for fruit salad. Enjoy this delicious lesson with us!

This activity comes from one of our 4th  grade lessons, but with adult supervision can be enjoyed by people ages 4-99!

Learn about all of the nutrients our body needs to thrive and learn to make your own vinaigrette in the process. This lesson is an excerpt from Living Classroom's Energy Salad lesson.

Click here for our vinaigrette recipe

This activity comes from one of our 5th  grade lessons, but with adult supervision can be enjoyed by people ages 3-99!

Three Sisters Garden

In this episode of Green Time we will teach you to plant a traditional Native American 3 sisters garden. You will learn about how the three sisters are an example of companion planting

This activity comes from one of our 3rd  grade lessons, but with adult supervision can be enjoyed by people ages 3-99!.


How to Make Salsa

Soil Creations

Learn all about tomatoes and their life cycle then learn how to make a delicious salsa.

​Click here for our salsa recipe.

This activity comes from one of our 3rd  grade lessons, but with adult supervision can be enjoyed by people ages 3-99!
Get your hands dirty in this Soil Creations episode. Feel for sand, silt, clay, and organic matter as you play with soil from your yard then use this soil to create your own masterpiece!​

This activity comes from one of our 2nd  grade lessons, but with adult supervision can be enjoyed by people ages 2-99!

Garden of Senses

Eating the Whole Plant

Mudshakes

Use your five senses to explore your garden! What do you see, hear, touch, and smell in your garden?

Click here to download a journal guide

This activity comes from one of our Kindergarten  lessons, but with adult supervision can be enjoyed by people ages 2-99!
​This video shares the importance of each part of the plants and about the parts of the plants that can be eaten!

This activity comes from one of our Kindergarten and 1st  grade lessons, but with adult supervision can be enjoyed by people ages 2-99!
​In this episode of Green time we will be exploring the density of each type of soil by making mudshakes!

This activity comes from one of our 2nd grade lessons, but with adult supervision can be enjoyed by people ages 3-99!

Parts of a Flower

In this episode of Green Time we will learn about all of the parts of a flower by dissecting one together and exploring each part.

Click here for an illustration of the flower parts

This activity comes from one of our 2nd grade lessons, but with adult supervision can be enjoyed by people ages 3-99!

How to Plant a Seedling

​In this episode of Green Time, we will learn about how seedlings germinate and how to properly transplant these seedlings into your garden or container.

This activity is associated with many of our lessons and can be enjoyed by anyone age 2-99.

Animal Homes

In this episode of Green Time find out why and how animals build homes then go on a scavenger to find some! 

Click here for a downloadable guide for your scavenger hunt
​
This activity comes from one of our 1st  grade lessons, but with adult supervision can be enjoyed by people ages 2-99!

Bug Hotel

In this episode of Green Time you will learn about the FBI: Fungi, Bacteria, and Invertebrates. Invite the FBI to your yard by making a bug hotel!

This activity comes from one of our 2nd grade lessons, but with adult supervision can be enjoyed by people ages 3-99!
​

How to Make Compost

​In this video you will learn how to make compost with Chef Alexis! 

This activity comes from one of our 3rd grade lessons, but with adult supervision can be enjoyed by people ages 3-99.

How to Make Garden Tea

In this episode of Green Time, you will learn how to make a tea and a teabag.  

​This activity comes from one of our 1st grade lessons but, with adult supervision, can be enjoyed by people ages 4-99!

Building a Worm Habitat

In this episode of Green Time you will learn about those amazing decomposers, worms!

This activity comes from one of our 3rd grade lessons, but with adult supervision can be enjoyed by people ages 3-99!

Saving Heirloom Tomato Seeds

​Learn how to save seeds from heirloom tomatoes and grow your favorite tomatoes year after year!  
​Clarification: Please note that it is actually a mixture of organisms (a variety of fungi and bacteria) that are responsible for decomposing the jelly membrane around the tomato seeds, not just yeast.

This activity comes from one of our 3rd grade lessons, but with adult supervision can be enjoyed by people ages 3-99!

How to Attract Monarchs

In this episode of Green Time we will learn all about how generations of Monarchs migrate across the US and the environmental factors which threaten the species.  

This activity comes from one of our 6th grade lessons, but with adult supervision can be enjoyed by people ages 3-99.

Cordage Bracelet Making

​​In this episode of Green Time, you will learn how to make a cordage bracelet.  This activity comes from one of our 4th grade lessons but, with adult supervision, can be enjoyed by people ages 4-99!

Art in Nature Series

In this four part series, we will create art with nature. In this activity we will collect natural materials on a walk which we will make art projects with. You will need to collect each part of a plant: root, stem, leaf, seed, flower, and fruit.

Nature Creatures

In this three part series, we will create art with nature. In this activity we will collect natural materials on a walk which we will make various creatures with. You will need to collect each part of a plant: root, stem, leaf, seed, flower, and fruit.

This activity is not associated with a particular lesson and can be enjoyed by anyone age 3-99.

Spelling With Nature

In this second video of the three part series, we will collect natural materials on a walk which we will write words with. You will need to collect each part of a plant: root, stem, leaf, seed, flower, and fruit. 

This activity is not associated with a particular lesson. and  can be enjoyed by anyone age 3-99.

Quiet Leaf Tracing


In this activity you will find three leaves to creatively trace and color. Allow yourself to use this activity as an opportunity to relax and meditate.

This activity is not associated with a particular lesson and can be enjoyed by anyone age 3-99.
California State Park Health Guidelines

​Many Parks and Open Spaces continue to be open and a necessary part of public health during the shelter in place order.  Please be advised that as of March 24, 2020 state park officials are taking measures to reduce the number of people coming to public parks which include some park closures. Get more information on park closures here. We must each do our part to protect the health and safety of ourselves and others. 

Do your part by following these guidelines:
  • Maintain a safe distance of 6 feet or more from others
  • Stay home if you or anyone else in your household are experiencing symptoms of illness
  • Do not congregate at parks or other public places
  • Take out your own trash when you are at the park
  • Choose less populated parks near your home
  • Visit open parks

Partner Resources

Activities

Backpocket Learning - easy to do, engaging activities for children which require few materials
​
Bay Nature  - provides a reading list and other nature activities which allow you to connect with nature from home

Bioblitz - scroll to the bottom to find printable fliers for the budding field guide

Big Green at Home - provides many gardening and cooking  activities to do with the kids at home

Biodiversity Bingo
- Thanks to Grassroots Ecology for this Activity! Use the Bingo Card to the right to find all types of Biodiversity in your own backyard! ​

Great Sunflower Project - this is a printable coloring page with a few pollinator fun facts

Green Schoolyards - art projects can be done in your own yard too

iNaturalist - document biodiversity around you, become a citizen scientist by uploading pictures and observations to this website
​

Lawrence Hall of Science - free field journaling curriculum, complete with student activities and printable materials

Mid-Peninsula Open Space  - activities and games to learn more about nature at home 

Project Learning Tree - provides a list of free project learning tree activities to do at home

POST - a printable coloring book of critters

RAFT - many free STEAM activities

Whole Kids Foundation -  worksheets and activities to encourage good nutrition

Resources

California State Parks - sign up for free PORTS online learning programs where students may access natural resources and cultural heritage from home 

California Environmental Literacy Initiative - this newsletter includes several resources for creating an environmentally literate world

Edible Schoolyard - this resource library contains lesson plans and materials that can be done at home

Explore - enjoy over a hundred different wildlife live streams

Garden Based Learning Distance Teaching Resource - a list of garden-based learning opportunities to do at home

Growing Vegetable Soup-Make this delicious and nutritious soup from winter vegetables! This recipe comes from our first grade Growing Vegetable Soup lesson

Grassroots Ecology - self-guided science lessons for elementary students

JellyCam - Monterey Bay Aquarium gives you an up-close view of this Open Sea exhibit

John Muir Laws - free curriculum on nature journaling

Lawnstarter - 5 easy to grow vegetables this summer

Our City Forest - Environmental sustainability and stewardship lesson plans for children from K-5 


POST - California Peninsula Mountain Lions Webinar- please note this is graphic 

Saved by Nature - virtual nature experiences

Schoolhouse Rock! Earth - Tiny Urban Zoo 

Why Save Water - by Los Altos Girl Scouts

Xerces - Invertebrate education including curriculum, scouting exercises, crafts, and monitoring guides

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