Schools in Sun Valley are participating in the Watershed Explorer program, which not only teaches students about the watershed they live and go to school in, but also helps them explore the problems - such as flooding - that exist there. Students learn to think critically about the issues and, through hands-on inquiry, discover the facts for themselves. Then they explore solutions, including water conservation, that they can implement to contribute to the health of their community.
The Watershed Explorer Program:
Classroom Presentation by TreePeople Educators:
Using an interactive model of Sun Valley, students become aware of the urban forest, the watershed that their community is part of and the effects of human behavior on both. Then, solutions for a healthier, greener community are explored.
Student Field Guide: Campus/Home Watershed Investigations
Click here to download a copy of the Watershed Explorers Field Guide for grades 4-5.
(The Adobe Acrobat Reader is required to view this document. To download the free Reader, click here.)
Teachers are provided with grade-appropriate "Field Guides" for each student to conduct an investigation of the campus watershed. The activity is inquiry-based and correlated to specific Open Court Reading stories.
To complete the Field Guide, students conduct a home watershed investigation with the help of their parents. Parent instructions in English and Spanish are included.
TreePeople Surprise: Individual Buttons
Once the investigations are complete, students draw a portrait of themselves on the back page of the Field Guide. To congratulate students on a job well done, buttons are produced from this artwork and returned to the classroom by the TreePeople educators.
Service Learning
Supported by LAUSD, the Sun Valley Watershed Project is a perfect opportunity for Service Learning. Service Learning is an instructional strategy that combines academics in the classroom with service in the community.
Workshops are provided for teachers. These are conducted through the school's Professional Development or as a tailor-made seminar whereby TreePeople provides salary points and substitute hours, if necessary.
TreePeople provides support for teachers conducting service learning projects including materials, buses, references and more.
Classes that conduct service projects on campus or in the community receive awards that include a free Eco-tour at TreePeople's park headquarters.
For more information, or to receive copies of our Watershed Explorers Teacher's Guide or Field Guides, please contact Chris Imhoff at TreePeople:
