Welcome to Project Crystal Code! During this program, you are invited to help UC Irvine, Crystal Cove State Park, and Crystal Cove Conservancy study the best way to restore Moro Canyon.
Project Crystal Code participants will learn about the real-life challenges we face in protecting Moro Canyon and how we can use technology to address them as you investigate scientific questions, design a computer model, explore how to code an environmental sensor, analyze data, and finally create a recommendation for Crystal Cove State Park.
The program, designed to address Next Generation Science Standards for middle school, addresses concepts such as decomposition, modeling, coding, and how we can use science ideas to protect our wild places. It is divided into ten sessions, which consist of 45-60 minutes of investigations.
Please visit our field trip page for information on booking an in-person trip.
If you have any questions about the program, feel free to contact Brent Castanon, Education Coordinator, by emailing brent@crystalcove.org.
Project Crystal Code Curriculum
Teacher & Educator Resources
Session 1: Welcome to Moro Canyon!
- Session 1 Lesson Guide (PDF)
- Session 1 Slideshow
- Exploring Moro Canyon Thinglink
- Session 1 Field Notebook template
Session 2: Introduction to Our Experiment
Session 3: Designing a Model
- Session 3 Lesson Guide (PDF)
- Session 3 Slideshow – Making a Model with Padlet
- Session 3 Slideshow – Making a Model with SageModeler
- Session 3 Field Notebook Template
Session 4: Making a Hypothesis
Session 5: Building Circuits
Session 6: Learning to Code
- Session 6 Lesson Guide (PDF)
- Session 6 Slideshow
- Session 6 Extension Slideshow: Downloading Code to a Micro:Bit
- Session 6 Extension Slideshow: Rock, Paper, Scissors
- Session 6 Field Notebook Template
- Session 6 Micro:Bit MakeCode Directions
Session 7: Coding a Soil Moisture Meter
- Session 7 Lesson Guide (PDF)
- Session 7 Slideshow
- Session 7 Field Notebook Template
- Session 7 Micro:Bit MakeCode Directions
Session 8: Collecting Data
Book a field trip to Crystal Cove State Park by contacting brent@crystalcove.org
If you would like to practice collecting data with your students before coming out on a field trip, check out our practicing collecting data slideshow!
If you would prefer to do a virtual field trip instead, check out our virtual data collection lesson guide and virtual data collection slideshow!
Session 9: Analyzing Data
- Session 9 Lesson Guide (PDF)
- Session 9 Slideshow – Analyzing Data with Google Sheets
- Session 9 Slideshow – Analyzing Data with SageModeler
- Session 9 Field Notebook Template
Session 10: Sharing Our Findings
- Session 10 Lesson Guide (PDF)
- Session 10 Slideshow
- Session 10 Field Notebook Template
- Session 10 Presentation Template
Have any other questions? Please contact Brent Castanon at brent@crystalcove.org for more information!