Inside California Education Episode 504: Steelhead in the Classroom — Connecting Students to Nature
First graders at Dow’s Prairie Elementary School in McKinleyville learn about the life cycles and habitats of steelhead trout by raising them in the classroom before releasing them into a nearby river.
Funded through the California Department of Fish & Wildlife, the Humboldt County Office of Educations partners with the Blue Lake Rancheria of the Wiyot, Hupa and Yurok tribes to bring the program to more than 50 classrooms. Similar programs are offered throughout California and the Pacific Northwest.
Humboldt County’s program helps strengthen the connection between students, nature and the environment, and promotes environmental stewardship. Lesson plans and unique outdoor experiences can be customized for each grade level.
“It’s all about the connection for them [students] – making the connection to our wildlife and their role in our environment,” says Alia Craven, a teacher at Dow’s Prairie Elementary.
“Those connections really help kids become more environmentally literate – but also more conscious citizens of what’s around them,” adds Shannon Morago, STEM specialist for the Humboldt County Office of Education. “The program ties that together beautifully.”
TV Series: Inside California Education
Published Date: 11/09/2023
Season: 5
Episode: 504
Watch the full episode
Inside California Education Full Episode 504 Steelhead in the Classroom — Food Literacy Center — California Teacher of the Year — Student Voice and Agency 26:46
