The study of biodiversity is complex, yet the term biodiversity is self-explanatory. “Bio” refers to things that are (or were) alive and “diversity” simply means variety. 7th graders protect biodiversity in their own classroom, when CWC leads the Protecting Biodiversity, Watershed Rangers curriculum where students spend four weeks studying and documenting different types of life found in the San Lorenzo River watershed.
On week one, students secure their science journals to clipboards and leave the classroom to document species around campus. As best they can, the 7th graders jot down species common names if known (crow, dandelion), or write and sketch their observations for unknown/mystery species (tiny pink flower, white butterfly). Back in the classroom, students explore local field guides and the incredible mobile app and website iNaturalist. They put a name to their mystery species, complete a science illustration, and learn that there are over 8,400 observed species in Santa Cruz County, all of which depend on healthy watersheds! (A serious shout out to iNaturalist – If you’re at all interested in nature, start using it today. Identify local species from your photos and add them to a globally interconnected science database. It‘s like nature–themed Pokémon Go!, gotta catch ‘em all!)
A brush rabbit illustrated by a 7th grader at San Lorenzo Valley Middle School
The lesson series progresses with a field trip to the San Lorenzo River, where students continue their outdoor learning by using dipnets, binoculars, and field guides to investigate riparian biodiversity. In the classroom, they study Indigenous practices of our local Uypi, Sayanta, and Achistaca tribes that maintained ecosystem balance for over 10,000 years. Students also learn about the impacts of biodiversity loss– Climate change, pollution in our water and air, habitat loss due to development, and the spread of invasive foreign species like French broom and ice plant all greatly contribute to ecosystem damage.
Indigenous communities have used fire as a tool to sustainably manage native landscapes for over 10,000 years. Pictured is a cultural burn in Pinnacles National Park led by the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band. Photo Credit: Rick Flores
We need a healthy, biodiverse ecosystem for our life support on earth. We depend on nature for the food we eat (selectively bred from and pollinated by wild species), the shelters we build, many of the medicines we take, and the inventions we create. On the final week of Protecting Biodiversity, students create public service announcements, brochures, and comic strips to teach the community that we all have an opportunity to help out! Some of the students’ favorite recommendations: Grow a pollinator friendly native plant garden, conserve water, only use a car when you can’t walk or bike, and install a rain garden to catch runoff.
Students are given this empty slate to design their own biodiversity landscape. What would you add? Native plants, owl nesting boxes, maybe a rain garden?
Whether you’re a kid or adult, land owner or apartment renter, there’s something you can do to help protect our local biodiversity. With the support of hundreds of 7th graders in our community, our watershed has the potential to thrive!
Special thanks to the Santa Cruz County Green Schools Program for funding the development and implementation of this curriculum.