Our City Forest - Planting Our Future Document

Trees and Our Watershed

Download Student Lesson Plans (English, Spanish & Vietnamese)
Download Student Worksheets (English, Spanish & Vietnamese)

Our City Forest’s newest lesson - Trees and Our Watershed - introduces students to their local watershed and its vital relationship with the trees in San José. After learning the many ways our urban forest protects human health and the environment, they’ll never look at trees the same.

What will students learn?
The Trees and Our Watershed lesson teaches:

Urban forest and watershed concepts

Local watershed identification & the water cycle

Benefits of city trees on human health, the watershed and the environment

Tree anatomy & life cycle

Water conservation & urban forest protection

Using hands-on demonstrations, youth will see firsthand how a single raindrop travels from a mountaintop all the way to the ocean. As they follow water’s movement, students learn the importance of city trees in slowing rainfall, filtering pollution, etc.

We believe conservation should start in the classroom at a young age! Our City Forest’s instructors will motivate students to conserve water, protect urban forests and be life-long environmental stewards.

Who can sign up?
Presentations are available for Kindergarten through 5th grade students in Santa Clara County. Teachers can request an in-class lesson or choose a larger assembly-style presentation for multiple classes.

The Trees and Our Watershed curriculum is age-appropriate with lessons and activities geared specifically to K-1st grade, 2nd-3rd grade and 4th-5th grade students. Presentations are available though June 2010.

Who gives the presentations?
Our City Forest’s experienced Youth Education Team members conduct each presentation.

What is the cost?
As with all of Our City Forest’s youth programs, presentations are 100% free! Trees and Our Watershed is funded by a generous grant from the City of San José’s Environmental Services department.

Are Spanish and Vietnamese materials available?
Native Spanish- and Vietnamese-speaking instructors and translated materials are available by request.

How do teachers schedule a presentation?
Simply download and fill-out the Instructor Questionnaire and return to Our City Forest by e-mail, fax or mail. A member of our Youth Education staff will contact you in 1-4 days about scheduling.

Questions? Please feel free to call or email (408) 998-7337 x7 or education@ourcityforest.org.

Help Spread The Word!
Know other teachers that would be interested in a free presentation? Download the pdf of the Trees and Our Watershed flyer.

Click here to learn about our other youth programs.

Download Trees and Our Watershed Lesson Plans

You can use these lesson plans to teach the importance of Trees and Our Watershed to your students.

Kindergarten and 1st Grade:

2nd and 3rd Grade:

4th and 5th Grade:

Download Trees and Our Watershed Worksheets

Already signed up for a presentation? You'll receive these fun worksheets and other age-appropriate handouts when our instructors visit your classroom. Versions in Spanish and Vietnamese are also included below.

Kindergarten and 1st Grade:

2nd and 3rd Grade:

4th and 5th Grade:

Thank you for your support!