Mare Island

The wetlands at the San Pablo Bay National Wildlife Refuge on Mare Island in Vallejo are a unique environment. In addition to the numerous varieties of wildlife that this area supports, there are also two endangered species as well, the California Clapper Rail and the Salt Marsh Harvest Mouse. Field trips to this site are hands on pre-set activities run by the teacher, parents, and a docent from the wildlife refuge. In order to take advantage of this field trip it is necessary to attend a field trip orientation workshop. At the workshop teachers are provided with a comprehensive wetlands guide that explains the activities and contains everything a teacher needs for planning the field trip. Training workshops are given at different times throughout the year. The orientation and field trips are free of charge. For information call (707)562- 2473.

Standards: First grade standard 2 of the life sciences: This standard states, "Plants and animals meet their needs in different ways. As a basis for understanding this concept:
a. Students know different plants and animals inhabit different kinds of environments and have external features that help them thrive in different kinds of places.
b. Students know both plants and animals need water, animals need food, and plants need light.
c. Students know animals eat plants or other animals for food and may also use plants or even other animals for shelter and nesting.
d. Students know how to infer what animals eat from the shapes of their teeth (e.g., sharp teeth: eats meat; flat teeth: eats plants).
e. Students know roots are associated with the intake of water and soil nutrients and green leaves are associated with making food from sunlight.”

Second grade life sciences standard 2 states, "Plants and animals have predictable life cycles. As a basis for understanding this concept:
a. Students know that organisms reproduce offspring of their own kind and that the offspring resemble their parents and one another.
b. Students know the sequential stages of life cycles are different for different animals, such as butterflies, frogs, and mice.
c. Students know many characteristics of an organism are inherited from the parents. Some characteristics are caused or influenced by the environment.
d. Students know there is variation among individuals of one kind within a population.
e. Students know light, gravity, touch, or environmental stress can affect the germination, growth, and development of plants.
f. Students know flowers and fruits are associated with reproduction in plants."

Life sciences standards for third grade state,"3. Adaptations in physical structure or behavior may improve an organism's chance for survival. As a basis for understanding this concept:
a. Students know plants and animals have structures that serve different functions in growth, survival, and reproduction.
b. Students know examples of diverse life forms in different environments, such as oceans, deserts, tundra, forests, grasslands, and wetlands.
c. Students know living things cause changes in the environment in which they live: some of these changes are detrimental to the organism or other organisms, and some are beneficial."

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