Gualala River, Photo by Phil Wendt

California Coastal Voices

Exploring and Communicating Coastal Science, Engineering, and Policy in Middle and High School


California Coastal Voices is a free, project-based learning tool designed to address California's Next Generation Science, Common Core, and History-Social Science standards. Consisting of six units or "projects" that introduce students to coastal conflicts, challenges, and scientific and policy issues, the emphasis is on problem solving and communication. The projects are especially useful for teachers of environmental science or those who seek to integrate Earth science into biology, chemistry, or physics classes. Several of the projects work well in government and seminar classes as well.

California Coastal Voices can be downloaded as a PDF in its entirety or by project. For use in the electronic classroom, student readings and templates can be downloaded separately. Some student handouts are available as Word documents for teacher customization under the relevant project and activity in the Resource Links section.


 

Extensive links and resources have been compiled and prepared for use with California Coastal Voices projects, including discipline-specific thematic slides shows. Many of the resources are referenced within the projects and are necessary for their completion. Others may be useful as stand-alone classroom materials and presentations. Any California secondary teacher will find something here to help their students explore our coast and ocean while addressing educational standards.


Coastal Voices Resource Links

Access resources by project:

Thematic slide shows for use in the classroom

California coastal park brochures

California coastal trail video segments

California career videos

Pedagogical resources and additional background for teachers