Let’s Restore! Ecological Restoration Time Estimate 60 minutes; additional time is required for Take it to the Cienega!
Best Season Spring Fall Grade level 6-8
“You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you. What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.”– Jane Goodall
Overview In this lesson, students will learn about concepts of restoration and ecology and apply what they learn to assess the schoolyard, create a plan for a restoration project, and potentially carry out a mini-restoration demonstration project. Students will make observations, identify problems, and visualize solutions to restore the schoolyard or Blue Hole Cienega. They may also conduct a real restoration project in a small area of the schoolyard where they can put their ideas into action by sowing native seeds or planting potted plants.
Preparation •
Print copies of handouts and schoolyard maps.
Learning Targets
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1. Explain restoration and why it is necessary.
Obtain permission to plant seeds or container plants for a minirestoration project in the schoolyard.
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Acquire seeds and/or container plants. See resources for vendor ideas.
2. Observe damaged areas that are in need of restoration. 3. Create a restoration vision with clear goals (e.g. more wildflowers, less bare ground).
Teacher Hints
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Have students share their before and after map drawings in small groups or with the whole class to prompt discussion Make a list with photos of what plant species they may run into in the schoolyard that they can use in their restoration assessment; you can use various free plant identification apps to help create the list.
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