​​​​Welcome to Inside the Outdoors at Santiago Oaks! 

Third Grade 
NGSS PE Supported:​ 3-LS4-3​

Why are some plants and animals thriving at Santiago Oaks Regional Park,​ while others are not? In this two-hour field program at Santiago Oaks Regional Park, third-grade students investigate how organisms like the darkling beetle, California kingsnake, and Coast Live Oak tree are adapted to survive in their environment and evaluate their ability to survive well, somewhat well, or not at all at the park. Through hands-on investigations students will analyze human impact and wildfire adaptations, learning how environmental changes affect survival​.

Activity Stations include: 

• ​Darkling Beetle Investigation​ - Students meet a live darkling beetle and consider what it might need to survive. They then take part in a short hike to make observations about how well the beetle would be able to survive at Santiago Oaks Regional Park based on the available food, water, and shelter, as well as its ability to camouflage from predators.
  
  
• ​Human Impact Game​ - Students create a model through a game that simulates the effects of fire and development on wildlife at Santiago Oaks Regional Park. 
  
  
• California Kingsnake Investigation​​ - Students meet a live California kingsnake and consider what it might need to survive. They then take part in a short hike to make observations about how well the kingsnake would be able to survive at Santiago Oaks Regional Park based on the available food, water, and shelter, as well as its ability to camouflage from predators.​​
  
  
• ​Coast Live Oak Trees & Wildfire Investigation​​ - Students discuss what a coast live oak tree needs to survive at Santiago Oaks Regional Park and reflect on the threat that wildfire poses to trees. They then explore five stations to investigate how well oak trees are adapted to deal with fire.​​​

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