Over the years, Earthroots Ecoliteracy Program has transformed the Journey School of Capistrano Unified School District. Earthroots began working with Grade 2 in 2010 with a Life Cycles class that met for 10 weeks, 1 hour per week. Over the years, new grades were added until today, all TK-5 students participate in weekly sessions on their school campus with Earthroots. Each grade has unique lessons that build upon each other for a more eco-literate school community.
Schools may select one grade to begin, start all grades at once, or anything in between.

TK/K
What do plants and animals need to survive? K-PS2
Where do animals live and why do they live there? K-ESS3 How do human actions impact Earth? K-ESS3-3
Topics:
• Exploring Seeds: Sort, Harvest, Plant, Grow
• Oak Trees and Acorns
• Bird Language and Observation
• Animal Homes
• Vermicomposting
• Make Seed Balls
• Recycle, Reuse, Reduce, Rot

Grade 1
What are some ways plants and animals meet their needs so that they can survive and grow? 1-LS1 How are parents and their children (plants and animals) similar and
different? 1-LS3 What objects are in the sky and how do they seem to move? 1-ESS1

Topics:
• Nest Building
• Bird Language
• Gardening Unit – From Seed to Harvest
• Life Cycle of a Plant
• Life Cycle of a Worm
• Life Cycle of a Honeybee
• Sun, Moon, and Star Patterns
• Solar Oven Cooking

Grade 2
How does land change and what are some things that cause it to change? 2-ESS1 What are the different kinds of land and bodies of water? 2-ESS2 How are materials similar and different from one another and now do the
properties of the materials relate to their use? 2-PS1
What do plants need to grow? 2-LS2

Topics:
• Exploring Watersheds
• Create a Mulch Basin
• Water Harvesting Basics
• Become a Scat Detective
• Wonderful Weeds
• Leaf Features and Adaptations
• Gardening Unit

Grades 3-5 Ancestral Arts Series
History Social Science Content Standards 3.2, 4.2, 5.1
Topics:
• Make Yucca Cordage
• Explore Plant Medicine: Plantain, Yarrow, Sage
• Process and Cook Acorns
• Shelter Building
• Fire by Friction
• Bows and Arrows: Craft an Arrow out of Mulefat
• Make a Gourd Cup or Bowl
• Tracking
• Natural Painting

Grades 3-5: Gardening Series
Topics:
• Crop Selection and Garden Planning
• Planting Seeds and Starters
• Plant Propagation
• Soil Health
• Composting
• Transplanting
• Seed Saving
• Harvesting
• 3 Sisters Garden
• Value Added Garden Products
• Food Preservation, Cooking, and Sharing