In and Around the Bay Area
With so many rich and diverse educational experiences available to us in the Bay Area, we work hard to integrate field trips for our students into each aspect of the elementary school curriculum. By stepping outside of the classroom, students are able to experience their learning in a new way. Hands-on interactions with their community and the world around them allows students to gain an understanding of and appreciation for the connections between what they are learning in school and the larger world.
Kindergarten
Habitats
The Kindergarten curriculum looks carefully at habitats. Students study their own habitats, at home and in school. This curriculum is reinforced as they travel to Canyon Trail Park where they engage in the study of a local pond habitat. Here they work closely with local naturalists to learn more about plants and animals native to this area and to better understand the restoration process of its ecosystem. Kindergartners also visit the Oakland Zoo, and study the habitats of Nunes Creek in Pinole and Tilden Park.
First Grade
Community
First grade field trips are designed with a study of community in mind. They begin this study with a visit to the post office. They also visit Berkeley Bowl and Knoll Organic Farm, spending time with local residents and farmers. Through these visits they learn about both agriculture and business as they prepare for the culmination of their study, building and running their own working Farmer’s Market. Making these connections within their community helps students to better understand their environment, where their food comes from, and the benefits of supporting local businesses.
Second Grade
Second Grade
Second graders focus their service learning on a study of birds in the Bay Area. They travel to Hawk Hill in the Marin Headlands to view raptor migration, visit the Wildcare Rescue Center in San Raphael and the Oakland Zoo, and take birds walks in Canyon Trail Park. Through visiting these locations, students gain both a valuable understanding of the challenges we face in protecting these animals and important insight into what they can do to help.
Second graders also spend time doing an in-depth study of China, visiting the Asian Art Museum and taking a walking tour of Chinatown. These trips allow students to connect with the history and culture of Chinese people living in the Bay Area and to make personal connections to the many struggles facing immigrants in our country.
Third Grade
American Indians and Sign Lanuguage
Third graders travel throughout the fall to several different locations, including the Museum of American Indians, Coyote Hills, and Olompali St. Historic Park, to enhance their study of American Indians. In visiting these diverse locations they are able to make personal connections to the history, lifestyle, and culture of American Indians living in the Bay Area.
Throughout the fall and into the spring, third graders study sign language. In conjunction with a partnership with the Center for Education of the Infant Deaf (CEID), students not only learn how use sign language, but also partner once a month with local hearing-impaired children in order to spend time together and to learn from each other.
Fourth Grade
California History
Fourth graders begin the year with a visit to the Chabot Space Center and the Oakland Museum. Following this, they spend their year focused primarily on a study of California history, starting with explorers and missions and a visit to the Sonoma Mission. They also take a detailed look at Fort Ross and the Russian influence in California in the early 1800’s. This study culminates with an overnight ‘living history’ trip to the fort where they are given the opportunity to live as they would have in the 1800’s. In the spring, 4th graders travel to Sacramento during their study of California government. Here, they have the opportunity to visit the capitol building and sit in on a legislative hearing, as well as visit the railroad museum. They also visit Ring Mountain in Marin County. The year concludes with the construction of a Tent Town for a Gold Rush celebration on the Tapscott campus.