An Immersive Environmental Science Experience

Posted March 25, 2022

In Environmental Science Grant Program, PVF News

PVF’s Environmental Science Resource Grant Program, made possible with funding from the Lampert Byrd Foundation and the Maxwell-Hanrahan Foundation, provides $500 grants to teachers to supplement and enhance classroom environmental science curriculum.

Michelle Fitts, 8th Grade Science Teacher and Science Olympiad Coach at East Bay Innovation Academy in Oakland, received an Environmental Science Resource Grant during the current 2021-2022 school year, and used the funds to take 39 Science Olympiad students to the California Academy of Sciences. Below is a report back from Ms. Fitts on their experience:

“With this grant, I purchased tickets for 39 students in grades 8-12 and 3 adult coaches to visit the science academy for the day. These students are part of our competitive Science Olympiad team. During their visit, the students explored exhibits that helped them prepare for events including:

● Green Generation: focus on general ecological principles, human impact, and solutions for reversing trends
● Rocks and Minerals: focus on identification and explaining geological processes including the rock cycle.
● Dynamic Planet: focus on oceanography and freshwater geology, environmental concepts and climate change
● Environmental Chemistry: focus on fresh water, The Clean Water Act and various testing processes
● Solar System: focusing on the formation of the many objects in space.

As you can see from the attached photos, the students had an amazing time exploring many different areas of science including the solar system at the planetarium, ecosystems in the rainforest and aquarium and reducing climate change on the living roof.

Thank you for making this immersive experience and celebration of learning possible for our students!”