Salmonberry to Sagebrush: An Exploration of Oregon’s Native Plants is an ecoregionally-based curriculum divided into three grade appropriate guides (K-5, 6-8, 9-12). The curriculum is being developed by the Ecological Education program at IAE with generous funding from the Bureau of Land Management to benefit Oregon's K-12 teachers and informal learning communities.

*Spring 2010 Curriculum Update*

-Teacher piloting of the high school curriculum will begin in spring 2010. Classroom teachers interested in evaluating one or more of the lessons are encouraged to contact us at the email link below.  

-K-8 piloting opportunities will become available starting fall of 2010.

-The completed curriculum will be available through teacher workshops (TBA).

Elementary School Table of Contents
Coming soon

Middle School Table of Contents
Coming soon

High School Table of Contents
Available here

Curriculum Guiding Principles

Lessons build on the learning needs of the students as well as the resources of local communities.

• Place-based:  The local community is the starting point for teaching concepts in science and culture; students learn about where they live
• Hands-on: Students actively use all of their senses to explore nature, stewardship, and science
• Inquiry-based: Students learn science by asking and answering questions as a guide to discovering the world around them
• Experiential: Students don't just learn, they DO 
• Service-learning: Learning activities directly benefit community, motivating students by giving extrinsic value to their work
• Aligned with Oregon State Education Standards
• Fosters community partnerships: Students forge relationships with peers and professionals by taking part in their community
• Interdisciplinary: Curriculum pieces integrate across disciplines teaching about native plants through science, math, social studies, art, and literacy 
• Developed within the framework of the North American Association of Environmental Educators (NAAEE) Guidelines for Excellence: Fairness and accuracy, depth, emphasis on skills building, action orientation, instructional soundness, and usability

For more information contact Jody Einerson.