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Stewardship of Yosemite National Park
Students devise a plan that would be true to John Muir's spirit of stewardship toward Yosemite. They analyze a core map to determine the original plan and usage of the park and compare the original plan to a current park map.
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Photography and the National Park Service
During the 1800s the United States was expanding westward; land was there for the taking. Kids explore how some early photographers used their photography to influenced the US Congress to save areas like Mirror Lake. They...
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You Can Depend On me
Discover the natural beauty of California. With a conservation bent, this activity delves into some of the attributes that make this state unique. Learners discuss Yosemite and the forest habitat. They focus on the things plants and...
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From Yosemite to Joshua Tree
Fourth graders discover diversity of plant and animal life in California's parks and compare findings to identify what makes park areas unique. Students then publish their discoveries in picture books of their own design.
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Images of the Parks
Students explore U.S. geography by completing a research project about the National Parks. In this scenery image analysis lesson, students identify the different national parks in our country and observe paintings and images by famous...
Library of Congress
The Conservation Movement at a Crossroads: The Hetch Hetchy Controversy
Should wilderness areas be preserved or managed? Class members examine primary source documents, including lecture notes, articles, essays and congressional records to better understand the Hetch Hetchy controversy that created a split...
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Learning Landscapes
Fifth graders analyze a landscape depicting Yosemite during the time of the Wild West. They compare their perceptions of the West from film and television to this representation. They observe the use of scale and color to depict size and...
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Natural or Cultural?: The Features of Yosemite Park
Young scholars analyze a 1936 national park map of Yosemite to distinguish the natural features from the cultural features.
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Create a Brochure
Students explore the animals, plants and features of Yosemite in order to create a brochure. They, in groups, are assigned different areas of the park to create brochures for. They access websites imbedded in this plan.
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John Muir in Yosemite
Students explore different ways to value the environment and participate in a simulation of a historical debate to protect Yosemite as a National Park. They are assigned various roles in the debate in which they must research and present...
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Pre-Trip Readiness
Students demonstrate an understanding of one of the forces, floods, affecting Yosemite. After watching a video of a 1997 flood of the valley, students go to a website imbedded in this plan and answer questions.
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Build a Journal
Students prepare for field journaling at Yosemite Institute. They create and decorate their Institute journal giving them both a place to journal and ownership of it.
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Born to be Wild
Learners watch an episode depicting the human vs. polar bear conflict in Churchill, Canada. They conduct online research and analyze the information. They interpret the facts and use storytelling techniques and role playing to convey...
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Geology of Yosemite
Students are shown slides of Yosemite and explore how the valley was formed by performing an experiment. Instructions on how to set up the lab are included. They can be assessed orally or by writing a report on the outcome of the lab.
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Saving the Big Trees
Students use a core map to obtain information about the Big Trees for measuring and graphing. In addition, students judge whether the Big Trees should be preserved or conserved.
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Mapping It Out: A Post-Trip Lesson
Students make a rough map of Yosemite and add elevations to the map. They are encouraged to bring photos from the trip and add them to their map.
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Whose Water Is It?
Students role-play as San Francisco residents in 1908 who support or oppose the building of a dam in Yosemite National Park. They create posters and write letters to representatives defending their positions.
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Creating Journals
Students take a virtual tour of Yosemite and selects photographs to use in their journal.
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Illustrated Senses Poem
Students choose a natural object found in Yosemite and writes a poem using their senses.
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Environment: John Muir Day
Students observe John Muir Day by visiting Websites containing fact sheets, excepted writings, as well as songs, pictures, and educational sources. They use April 21 as a day to reflect on Muir's accomplishment and environmental legacy....
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Natural Beauty
Students read and investigate the accomplishments of John Muir. They gather information about one of the United States National Parks founded by John Muir. They create a tri-fold brochure about John Muir and a National Park he founded.
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Life Science Terms
Learners work with the teacher as they go through the vocabulary. At the end of the lesson they are asked to define the terms without their notes.
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Postcard to Self
Students, during their free time near the end of their journey they are, reflect on their trip.
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Designing the Wilderness - The Hetch-Hetchy Reservoir
Young scholars study the controversy over building the Hetch Hetchy Dam and determine their points of view regarding the use of public lands.