NEW for the 2020/2021 School Year: Environmental Volunteers now offers distance-learning programs available for grades K-5, both as a live/interactive program for synchronous learning, and either pre-recorded lessons or lesson packets for asynchronous learning. These are open to all teachers in any location. Each grade has at least one program available that supports NGSS, and teachers can select from both single/stand-alone programs or a full program series. For teachers located in San Mateo and Santa Clara County, some grades also have a small-group/physically-distant field trip option to a local park or open space.
Of course, Environmental Volunteers will continue to offer in-person and hands-on science programs for all grades K-6 in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties, whenever the situation with COVID-19 and county health ordinances allow. These programs consist of standards-based learning stations, focused on a specific subject area appropriate to your grade level (see below). Each program can be adapted to best support your students wherever they may be with the topic.
Program Overview
Environmental Volunteers’ School Programs are designed to support the science standards for each grade. If you are interested in scheduling a school program with us, please read the Programs By Grade Level section below to learn more about the subject areas and activities available for your grade. If you have questions about a specific program, please contact our School Programs Manager, at schoolprograms@environmentalvolunteers.org or 650-493-8000 ext 3.
NEW for 2020/2021: Virtual Synchronous Programs
Teachers in grades K-5 are invited to choose from a selection of live, interactive virtual science programs designed to support NGSS topics. There is at least one subject area available for every grade. Each program consists of a series of short (20-30 minute) interactive activities, led by trained and experienced volunteers. Students will be divided into small groups of 6-8 either via breakout groups or by scheduling groups back-to-back on the same day (depends on the specific school’s schedule requirements). Teachers can either select one (or more) of these activities as a stand-alone program, or the entire 3-5 activity series. Please note that each class will need to schedule their programs individually (i.e. we can’t run concurrent programs), but each grade team should select the same program options.
NEW for 2020/2021: Asynchronous Programs
Teachers in grades K-5 are invited to choose from a selection of pre-recorded science lessons or take-home activities designed to support NGSS topics. There is at least one subject area available for every grade. Each program consists of either 1) a series of short (20-30 minute) video lessons, led by trained and experienced volunteers or 2) packets of science activities that students can do from home. Teachers can either select one (or more) of these activities as a stand-alone program, or the entire 3-5 activity series, and can insert them into their weekly curriculum however works best for their class’s schedule.
Classroom Programs
Each class gets an individual program, which runs for 90 minutes, with a volunteer to student ratio of 1:8 or better. The program begins with a brief introduction. Students then rotate between 3-4 stations for 15-20 minutes each, and then engage in a 10-15 minute wrap-up. We have over 100 learning stations with interactive activities such as games, experiments, demonstrations, and encounters with animal specimens.
Important: Each classroom program should be scheduled individually as one contiguous block of 90 minutes and should not be interrupted by recess or other breaks.
Standard Field Trips
Our standard, full-class field trips are 2 hours long and have a volunteer-to-student ratio of 1:8 or better. Our trained volunteers guide your students on a nature hike to explore the plant communities of the area, look for evidence of animals passing by, and discover the stories told through the local geology. Field trips are generally scheduled between 9:30am-11:30am, although there is some flexibility as needed, and can accommodate up to two full classes. The school is responsible for arranging appropriate transportation, and must provide 1 adult chaperone for each group of students.
Please note: specific timing for the Fitzgerald Marine Reserve standard field trips are determined by the tides, and can range from 8:30am-2:30pm depending on the specific date.
NEW for 2020/2021: “Walkable” Field Trips
For schools who have returned to some in-person instruction, the Environmental Volunteers now offer the “Walkable Field Trips” program, designed to help students get to know our local city parks and open space areas. Small groups of students (within their bubble cohorts) will be guided by a trained volunteer during a 1.5-2 hour exploration of a local park. The small groups will be introduced to fun nature-based activities, and a chance to learn more about the plants and animals all around us. These field trips are designed to connect with any of the K-5 ecology-based classroom (or virtual) programs offered by the Environmental Volunteers, but can be scheduled as a stand-alone program. Schools will be asked to provide a field trip chaperone who can accompany each of the small groups. Walkable field trips can be scheduled anytime during the school day, though mornings are strongly recommended, and will repeat as often as necessary to accommodate all students in the grade.
Important note: To help protect the EV field trip leaders, students will be asked to wear masks for the duration of these field trips.
Common Core and Science Standards
Each of our programs support the Common Core and either the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS PROGRAM) or the California State Education Science Standards (EV CLASSIC). Several programs have the option of going on a field trip to a local nature preserve as a pre-or-post-classroom activity.
Programs By Grade Level
NEW for 2020/2021 School Year: Both In-Person and Distance-Learning Programs are available. More subject areas are being added all the time – check back soon!
Kindergarten Programs
Synchronous: Investigation
Asynchronous: Investigation w/Snoop
In-Person: Investigation w/Snoop
In-Person: All About Birds
1st Grade Programs
Synchronous: Structure and Function*
Asynchronous: Structure and Function*
In-Person: Structure and Function**
In-Person: Bird Traits (coming soon!)
2nd Grade Programs
Synchronous: Water on the Move*
Asynchronous: Water on the Move*
In-Person: Biodiversity**
In-Person: Water on the Move**
3rd Grade Programs
Synchronous: Adaptations (Baylands)*
In-Person: Adaptations (select either a Baylands, Foothills or Marine habitat theme)**
In-Person: Weather and Climate (coming soon!)
4th Grade Programs
Synchronous: Power Generation
Asynchronous: Power Generation
Asynchronous: Earthquake Geology Field Trip (coming soon!)
In-Person: Power Generation
In-Person: Earthquake Geology**
5th Grade Programs
Synchronous: Human Impacts
In-Person: Human Impacts
In-Person: Water Science and Conservation**
In-Person: Marine Ecology**
6th Grade Programs
In-Person: Earthquake Geology**
In-Person: Marine Ecology**
*Programs marked with an asterisk have a specific walkable field trip option available
**Programs marked with a double asterisk have a standard field trip option available