A Virtual Field Trip highlighting Stockton Community Parks

1.
Photosynthesis and the Outdoors
A Virtual Field Lesson highlighting the Stockton Community Parks
Stockton Community Park Address:
San Joaquin County Parks and Recreation
11793 N. Micke Grove Road
Lodi, CA 95240
Website​:​ ​https://sjparks.com Email:​ ​parks@sjgov.org
K-12 Standards:
● NextGen Science Standards: 5-PS3-1.
Use models to describe that energy in animals’ food (used for body repair, growth, motion,
and to maintain body warmth) was once energy from the sun.
● CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.5.5
Include multimedia components (e.g., graphics, sound) and visual displays in presentations
when appropriate to enhance the development of main ideas or themes.
● California Arts Standards for Visual Arts 5.VA:Cr2.3:
Identify, describe, and visually document places and/or objects of personal significance.
Learning Objectives:
● This lesson is designed as an introduction to the process of photosynthesis. Students will be
able to create a visual diagram explaining how photosynthesis works in a park near their
school or home. Students will understand the process of photosynthesis, excluding the
cellular process of chloroplastic energy conversion – which should be followed up on by the
educator.
Materials:
● LP PPT (attached)
● Photosynthesis Diagram (attached)
● Students will need paper and writing/drawing utensils

2. Vocabulary Covered in Lesson:
● Ecosystem
● Plant
● Photosynthesis
● Carbon dioxide
● Oxygen
● Water
● Glucose
● Oak Tree
● Park
Considerations for Learner Variability:
Some developmental considerations that need to be considered are:
● Variable access to resources outside the classroom
● Any IEPs or 504 documents affecting an individual students approach to learning
Appropriate scaffolding of the engagement activity should be allowed on a case-by-case basis for all
students.
Potential Barriers to Overcome:
● Language access – students should be allowed to express themselves in any language they
feel comfortable with
● Access to resources for arts activities, over Zoom – students should be allowed to use any
writing utensils at their disposal and there should be no requirement or special favoritism for
products with color.
● Lack of interest over Zoom – teachers should continuously ask students to think about the
world around them as they encourage identity development work, so as to increase the
relevance of the material.
● The possibility that some students have never been to a park before, or have limited
transportation access to green space
● Family-based religious beliefs that contradict science-based knowledge
Total Time : 60 minutes
Beginning of the Lesson:
Time Teacher Actions and Pre-Planned
Questions
Student Actions/Learning Activities
5 minutes Intro –
Academic Language has been
pre-written on a slide that can be shown
at the beginning of the lesson, or
potentially pre-assigned.
● Students are expected to write
down key academic
vocabulary, and respond to
questions either in written or
oral formats.

3. 10 minutes Hook: brainstorm activities.
Pt1. Direct students to brainstorm a list
of everything they need to survive.
Students should share their list and
through discussion be guided to narrow
down their list to air, water, food, and
shelter.
Pt2. Now, direct students to brainstorm a
list of things plants need to survive. Have
students share their list and discuss the
basic needs of plants. Help students
remember the needs of plants with this
acronym ​(LAWNS – Light, Air, Water,
Nutrients, and Space).​ Compare to
grocery stores and the sink.
● Students will work individually
or in groups to write down in
their notes what they need, and
what plants need, to survive. In
class discussion, students
should answer questions or
provide comments as they are
guided to understand the
fundamental needs of life
forms. Toward the end, they
should write down the LAWNS
acronym in their notes, with an
explanation.
During the Lesson:
5 minutes Content Delivery pt.1:
Teacher places pre-planned slides on
their remote-learning software’s
share-screen. Introduce what plants are,
what they need to grow, common plants
in Stockton (acorns), and where they
tend to grow (Micke Grove, Oak Grove,
Victory, Oak, or Van Buskirk Parks).
Introduce parks as places where people
can observe nature.
● Students are expected to take
active notes (in the style
dictated by the educator) and
ask questions, when necessary.
During the parks section, where
photos of parks are displayed,
students should indicate if they
have been to or driven past that
park.
3 minutes Reflection Discussion:
Direct students to brainstorm what
LAWNS look like for an oak tree in San
Joaquin County.
● In writing or in groups, students
should work to describe what
LAWNS are involved in the life
of an oak tree.
10 minutes Content Delivery pt2:
Teacher introduces concept of
photosynthesis to the students. Explain
that photosynthesis is a process where
plants combine carbon dioxide and water
and in the presence of sunlight, they are
able to produce water, oxygen, and sugar.
Using these terms, write the
photosynthesis word formula on the ppt.
● Students are expected to take
active notes (in the style
dictated by the educator) and
ask questions, when necessary.
Students should be sure to
write down the chemical
formula of photosynthesis.

4.
Explain that photosynthesis takes place
primarily in the leaves of the plant.
15 minutes Engagement:
Direct students to use art supplies and
writing utensils to develop a
map-diagram of a park or green space
they are familiar with, illustrating the
process of photosynthesis, with a one
sentence description of why they chose
that particular park or green space.
● Students will use art supplies
and writing utensils to draw a
diagram, which will use written
and visual elements to illustrate
how photosynthesis works at a
park they have experience with.
Closing the Lesson:
5 minutes Sharing & Discussion:
In a Socratic discussion, the teacher will
direct students to show their diagrams
and describe them to the class.
Depending on class size, this can vary
from an “all student” activity to selecting
students randomly, or by asking for
volunteers. Signpost this section with a
call for positive reinforcement comments
from the class. All posters must be
submitted as photos on the teacher’s
remote education software (google
classroom, etc).
● Student volunteers will be
asked to share their diagrams to
the class, focusing on which
parks they chose.
2 minutes Reflection: using a slide, direct students
to write in their notes (or discuss in
groups, if remote learning tools allow), a
response to this question:
“How am I different or similar to a plant?”
● Students write a response to
the question in the prompt. This
is also appropriate for a
think-pair-share activity with a
fellow student.

5. San Joaquin County Parks & San Joaquin County Historical
Society & Museum One Pager
Description:
San Joaquin County Parks and Recreation is a government agency dedicated to managing the parks of
San Joaquin County. SJC Parks manages several major parks in San Joaquin County, including Micke
Grove Park and Oak Regional Park, near Stockton, California, and Mossdale Landing Park, in Lathrop.
Housed at Micke Grove Park, the San Joaquin County Historical Society and Museum maintains the official
archives of San Joaquin County. Dedicated to preserving local history and educating the public on the rich
and diverse histories of our region, the park maintains 80,000 square feet of exhibit space and a four acre
educational nature trail.
Parks Attractions Summary:
San Joaquin County Parks and Recreation maintains parks across San Joaquin County home to dozens of
attractions. At Micke Grove Park, one can find the Micke Grove Zoo, San Joaquin County Historical Society
and Museum, and The Japanese Garden. At Oak Grove Regional Park, you can find the 10-acre Oak Grove
Lake, the Oak Grove Nature Center, and two nature trails. Other parks in San Joaquin County, such as Dos
Reis Park, Westgate Landing, Mossdale Crossing, Stillman Magee, and the Woodbridge Wilderness Area
include picnic areas, playgrounds, and hiking trails.
More Information:
Parks​: ​ ​https://sjparks.com
Museum: ​ ​https://sanjoaquinhistory.org
Contact:
County Parks
parks@sjgov.org
Museum
Phillip Merlo
education@sanjoaquinhistory.org
San Joaquin County Historical Museum
P.O. Box 30
Lodi, CA 95241
San Joaquin County Parks & Recreation
11793 N. Micke Grove Road
Lodi, CA 95240