About DIRT
DIRT is a community and school-based program engaging middle and high school students in the science of tidal marsh and upland restoration in the San Francisco Bay. This program combines service learning and science technology into one program. Students will contribute directly to Bay restoration while also engaging in technology-based assessments of soil and location. This soil science data on pH, salinity, soil moisture, and GPS coordinates will be collected by students in the field during DIRT field trips using handheld SPARK dataloggers. Back in the classroom students analyze soil data and login to our Virtual Marsh to upload their findings on this innovative citizen science platform.
The DIRT program requirements: minimum 15 and maximum 35 students, grade levels: 9-12, one teacher
GET DIRTY
Two-Three Field Trips
Seasonal field trips allow students to collect data on salinity, pH, soil moisture and other attributes across different seasons while contributing directly to Save the Bay’s Community-Based Restoration efforts. Check out our map of local restoration sites and help recruit more DIRT schools by posting our flyer.
Optional Class Visits
(one pre-trip & one post-trip)
These classroom lessons are designed to give students background on Bay history and ecology, soil science and the SPARK Data Tool.
Classroom Data Analysis
Teachers will have the option to receive data that can be used during in-class instruction, providing students with a meaningful link between the field and classroom lessons. Students will also be able to see their data’s geographic location in Save the Bay’s Virtual Marsh and on open source programs like Google Earth.
Youth Leadership Summit
This a chance for students to showcase and present their community action projects CAP, network with other students and employers, as well as learn out about environmental career opportunities.
Bring Some DIRT into your Class
The following lessons are from Earth Partnership for School's Curriculum and have been adapted for California by Save The Bay educators.
Please select two or more of these lessons to integrate into your classroom to support your students understanding of soil dynamics and data collection.
The following lessons are from Earth Partnership for School's Curriculum and have been adapted for California by Save The Bay educators.
Topography: Measuring Slope
Soil Texture Feel Test
Infiltration Tests: Exploring the Flow of Water Through Soils
Soil Profile Investigations
Soil Studies: Living vs.
Nonliving Examination
Images
Notes From The Field
“This is real engagement. One of the most valuable lessons I see my students taking away from this experience is that we can use science to save the Bay.”
-- Milt Friedman, High School Science teacher
Alameda Community Learning Center
Please Contact Us
The Restoration Education Staff at Save The Bay looks forward to hearing from you. We are very proud of our DIRT program, eager to answer your questions, and excited to work with you to ensure that students throughout the Bay Area have the opportunity to protect and restore the San Francisco Bay! Please give us a call anytime at 510-463-8613.