Welcome to Project Crystal! During this virtual program, you and your students are invited to help UC Irvine, Crystal Cove State Park, and Crystal Cove Conservancy study the best way to help seedlings grow. Project Crystal participants will learn about the real-life challenges we face in protecting Moro Canyon as they investigate scientific questions, design a model, set up an experiment, analyze data, and finally create a recommendation for Crystal Cove State Park.
How to Join
If you are a new teacher and would like to run Project Crystal through your own online learning platform, please complete this survey and let us know!
Program Overview
Project Crystal is designed to address Next Generation Science Standards for fifth grade, includes concepts such as plant ecology, the water cycle, and how we can use science ideas to protect our wild places.
The online distance learning version of the program is divided into twelve sessions, which consist of 60-90 minutes of investigations, including an optional Explore at Home extension. The twelve sessions include:
- Session 1: Introduction to Moro Canyon
- Session 2: Changing Landscapes in Moro Canyon
- Session 3: Introduction to Our Research Project
- Session 4: Designing a Model
- Session 5: Building Background Information on Plants & Water
- Session 6: Building Background Information on Photosynthesis
- Session 7: Building Background Information on the Water Cycle
- Session 8: Making a Hypothesis
- Session 9: Designing the Experiment & Collecting Data
- Session 10: Analyzing and Graphing Data
- Session 11: Constructing an Explanation
- Session 12: Sharing Our Findings
Within each session, you can expect to find the following sections:
- Introduction: A short Google Slides presentation with 4-5 slides, with a video introducing the session topic, a outline of the session’s activities, learning objectives, and materials needed.
- Investigation: Short activities ranging from 30-60 minutes in length, exploring the main topic of the session. Each Investigation also includes an accompanying Science Notebook page, which can be set up as a Google Document.
- Dig Deeper: Includes additional background reading, videos, and other media to learn more about a particular topic.
- Explore at Home Extension: This section includes standalone activities that students can take part in at home to relate what they’re learning about with Crystal Cove State Park to their own home or neighborhood. As much as possible, we’ve tried to include options for students who may not be able to access the outside.
- Discussion: A reflection prompt that students can respond to, helping to connect their investigations with the broader research topic. If you are hosting files on Google Classroom, we suggest setting these up as a Question post so that students can post their thoughts publicly and respond to others in your class. You can also set up a Flipgrid or other online platform.
We are currently working on translating more documents and videos into Spanish, which will be uploaded as they are available!
Please feel free to use and adapt any materials that you find here. You are welcome to use any parts of the lessons, whether as stand-alone activities or as part of the full curriculum. However, we do ask that you credit Crystal Cove Conservancy as you adapt and share them.
If you have any questions or need anything in a different format, please reach out to Kaitlin by emailing kaitlin@crystalcove.org!
Resources for Returning Teachers
- Welcome Video for Returning Students
- Resources to Share with Parents:
Resources for New Teachers
- Welcome Video for New Students
- Resources to Share with Parents:
Session 1: Welcome to Moro Canyon
Teacher Overview for Session 1
- Introduction: Crystal Cove State Park’s Moro Canyon
- Investigation: What plants and animals live in Moro Canyon?
- Explore at Home Extension: What plants and animals are around your home?
- Discussion Question: Do you think that Moro Canyon is a place worth protecting? Why or why not?
Session 2: Moro Canyon’s Changing Landscape
Teacher Overview for Session 2
- Introduction: Changing Landscapes in Moro Canyon
- Investigation: How has the landscape changed?
- Dig Deeper
- Explore at Home Extension: What human impacts can you find in your neighborhood?
- Discussion Question: How can we restore degraded areas in Moro Canyon?
Session 3: Introduction to Our Research Project
Teacher Overview for Session 3
- Introduction: Meet Dr. Sarah Kimball!
- Investigation: What is our research question?
- Explore at Home Extension: How are people helping plants grow in your neighborhood?
- Discussion Question: What are your initial ideas? Which type of mulch will be more effective at helping our seedlings grow?
Session 4: Designing a Model
Teacher Overview for Session 4
- Introduction: Meet Lana Nguyen!
- Brainstorming: What affects the growth of seedlings?
- Investigation Option 1: Make a Paper Model
- Investigation Option 2: Make a Computer Model
- Explore at Home Extension: Go on a photo scavenger hunt!
- Discussion Question: Based on your model, will seedlings grow more in areas with mulch or without mulch?
Session 5: Thinking About Plants & Water
Teacher Overview for Session 5
- Introduction: How Do Plants Use Water?
- Investigation: What Happens if Plants Don’t Get Enough Water?
- Dig Deeper
- Plants & Water Background Reading
- Science Notebook: Background Reading
- Supplementary Videos [1] [2] [3]
- Explore at Home Extension: Transpiration Investigation
- Discussion Question: How do these new ideas about plants and water connect to our research question? Is there anything you want to add or change in your model?
Session 6: Thinking About Photosynthesis
Teacher Overview for Session 6
- Introduction: What Happens During Photosynthesis?
- Investigation: What is Photosynthesis?
- Dig Deeper
- Science Notebook Page: Photosynthesis
- Supplementary Videos [1] [2]
- Explore at Home Extension: Leaf Rubbings
- Discussion: How do these new ideas about photosynthesis connect to our research question?
Session 7: Thinking About the Water Cycle
Teacher Overview for Session 7
- Introduction: How Does Water Move Through Moro Canyon?
- Investigation: What happens during the Water Cycle?
- Dig Deeper
- Rainfall in Moro Canyon Slideshow
- Science Notebook: Rainfall in Moro Canyon
- Supplementary Videos [1] [2]
- Explore at Home Extension: Soil Percolation Investigation
- Discussion: How do these new ideas about the water cycle connect to our research question?
Session 8: Revising Our Model & Making a Hypothesis
Teacher Overview for Session 8
- Introduction: Making a Hypothesis
- Investigation Part 1: Revising Your Model
- Investigation Part 2: Making a Hypothesis
- Discussion: What is your hypothesis?
Session 9: Designing the Study & Collecting Data
Teacher Overview for Session 9
- Introduction: Designing & Collecting Data
- Investigation Part 1: Designing the Study
- Investigation Part 2: Recording Data
- Recording Data Slideshow
- Project Crystal Seedling Field Guide
- Project Crystal Data Collection Form on Google Forms
- Project Crystal Data Collection Form on Google Docs
- Discussion: What do you predict you’ll find in the data?
Session 10: Analyzing & Graphing Data
Teacher Overview for Session 10
- Introduction: Analyzing & Graphing Data
- Investigation: Analyzing Our Data
- Dig Deeper (Optional): Checking for Statistical Significance
- Discussion: Did your graph support your hypothesis?
Session 11: Constructing a Recommendation
Teacher Overview for Session 11
- Introduction: Making a Recommendation to Crystal Cove State Park
- Investigation: Designing Our Recommendation
- Dig Deeper (Optional): Critiquing Our Recommendation
- Discussion: What is your recommendation for Crystal Cove State Park?
Session 12: Sharing Our Findings
Teacher Overview for Session 12
- Introduction: Sharing Our Findings
- Investigation: Designing Your Presentation
- Thank You Slideshow
- Discussion: What did you learn?