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PROGRAMS FOR SCHOOLS, pre-K to 8th Grade The Common Ground campus, located at the base of West Rock Ridge State Park in New Haven, CT, is home to Common Ground High School as well as a non-profit urban farm and environmental education center offering unique opportunities for visitors of all ages. Our 20-acre site features a working organic farm that includes friendly farm animals, production and educational gardens as well as a serene forest with hiking trails, wildlife and diverse natural habitats. Our school programs take advantage of seasons and cycles on the farm and in the forest to provide hands-on learning experiences that are aligned with state content and inquiry standards. Our programs are designed to allow kids time to grow and explore outside the classroom through problem solving, exploration and creative play. Programs can be adapted to meet the developmental needs of students at any age - unless otherwise noted, each program is available for pre-K through 8th grade. Our trips are aligned with CT curricular standards. Please see below each description for a full listing of the corresponding units and state standards for each trip. Fall & Spring Programs September – November, April – June Fall and spring programs are available for up to 48 students. Seasonal Farm Tour Come join us for a farm tour and witness the exciting changes that happen each season. Students can meet the goats and sheep, spend time in the chicken yard and try different foods from the garden. The springtime brings maple sugaring season and the addition of new chicks and piglets. In the fall, we are harvesting the garden, picking apples and preparing for winter. We encourage classes to visit many times throughout the year. K: Seasonal Changes (K.3 Weather conditions vary daily and seasonally)
Dirt to Pizza 2: Nutrition (2.2 Plants change their forms as part of their lifecycle, 2.4 Human beings, like all other living things, have special nutritional needs for survival) 3: Plants (3.2 — Organisms can survive and reproduce only in environments that meet their basic needs.) 4: Land and Water (4.2 — All organisms depend on the living and nonliving features of the environment for survival.) 6: Ecosystems (6.2 An ecosystem is composed of all the populations that are living in a certain space and the physical factors with which they interact.) Decomposers Decomposers are a critical part of any food chain. Students will learn about decomposition through an investigation of our compost pile and worm bin. Students will meet red wiggler worms, check the temperature of the compost pile and learn how to start composting at home or at school. 2: Nutrition (2.2 Plants change their forms as part of their lifecycle, 2.4 Human beings, like all other living things, have special nutritional needs for survival) 3: Plants (3.2 — Organisms can survive and reproduce only in environments that meet their basic needs.) 4: Land and Water (4.2 — All organisms depend on the living and nonliving features of the environment for survival.) 7: Food Production (7.4 Technology allows us to improve food production and preservation, thus improving our ability to meet the nutritional needs of growing populations) Eggs, Chicks and Chickens Recommended in the spring Students will learn all about the journey from egg to chick to chicken through observation, demonstration and hands-on investigation. They will spend time observing and interacting with the chickens in the yard, examining the parts of an egg and learning about the relationship between chickens and humans. K: Living/non-living (K.2 Many different kinds of living things inhabit the Earth.) 1: Organisms (1.1 Living things have different structures and behaviors that allow them to meet their basic needs, 1.2 Organisms change in form and behavior as part of their life cycles.
1: Organisms (1.1 Living things have different structures and behaviors that allow them to meet their basic needs, Organisms change in form and behavior as part of their life cycles.) 2: Soils (2.3 Plants change their forms as part of their life cycles, 2.3.a. Soils can be described by their color, texture and capacity to retain water, 2.3.b. Soils support the growth of many kinds of plants, including those in our food supply.)
4: Ecosystems: Habitats (6.2 An ecosystem is composed of all the populations that are living in a certain space and the physical factors with which they interact. 6: Ecosystems (6.2 An ecosystem is composed of all the populations that are living in a certain space and the physical factors with which they interact.) Our Forest Recommended for grades 3 and up Our hardwood forests offer many clues to understanding the natural and cultural history of the region. Students will learn to identify trees, inventory the different species and discuss the role of forests in the lives of animals and humans. We will also look closely at the history of the forests surrounding the Common Ground campus by dating trees, looking for evidence of blow-downs and finding human relics such as cellar holes and old trails. 2: Lifecycles (2.2 — Plants change their forms as part of their life cycles.) Winter Programs December – March Winter programs are limited to 30 students or fewer due to limited indoor classroom space. Animal Tracking Students will waddle like a skunk, hop like a squirrel and walk as straight as a bobcat while learning to identify the tracks and walking patterns of many local species. Through games, simulation, and exploration students will discover the cold-weather survival adaptations of Connecticut wildlife and embark on a snowy hike into West Rock Park where they will identify, measure and record tracks that they see.
4: Ecosystems: Habitats (6.2 An ecosystem is composed of all the populations that are living in a certain space and the physical factors with which they interact. Maple Sugaring Season typically runs late February through early March New England forests are rich with natural resources, the sweetest of which is our maple syrup! Students will identify a maple tree, collect and measure sap and learn how we boil the sap down into thick sweet syrup. Students will also learn the history of sugaring in New England, the biology of maple trees and taste test different kinds of syrup. K: Seasonal Changes (K.3 Weather conditions vary daily and seasonally) 3: Plants (3.2 — Organisms can survive and reproduce only in environments that meet their basic needs.) 4: Land and Water (4.2 — All organisms depend on the living and nonliving features of the environment for survival.) Recycling Students will learn about renewable and non-renewable resources and about what kids can do to help reduce overall waste production in their communities. This program is ideal for 3rd grade students studying recycling but is available to any group interested in conservation. Students will explore composting, brainstorm fun ways to reuse household materials and examine the amount of waste produced by a typical New Haven family. 3: Recycling (3.4 — Earth materials provide resources for all living things, but these resources are limited and should be conserved.) Sheep and Wool K: Properties (K.1 — Objects have properties that can be observed and used to describe similarities and differences, K.4 — Some objects are natural, while others have been designed and made by people to improve the quality of life.) 2: Properties of Matter, Materials (2.3 — Earth materials have varied physical properties, which make them useful in different ways.) 3: Recycling (3.4 — Earth materials provide resources for all living things, but these resources are limited and should be conserved.) Special Programs Offered in any season Junior Ecologists (Grades 4-8) Students will learn about our local ecosystems by conducting their own ecological research. They will practice research techniques used by scientists in the field such as plot analysis, population sampling, soil testing and transect monitoring. Teachers can choose to study trees, mammals, insects, aquatic life, soil, birds or cater the program to fit within a current life science unit. This program can be scheduled as a single visit or as many visits. 4-Ecosystems: Habitats (6.2 An ecosystem is composed of all the populations that are living in a certain space and the physical factors with which they interact. Forest Explorers (Grades K-4) This program allows kids to use their imaginations and explore the forests surrounding Common Ground. They will go on a hike, play imaginative games and build woodland shelters from materials they scavenge in the forest. Exploring wild places is very natural to children and many do not have access to natural spaces near home or school. This program will be fun, build community and challenge kids to use their senses and their imaginations. Seasons and Cycles (Grades 5-8) This seasonal program allows students a break from the routine of daily school work in order to bond with their classmates and with nature in the quiet setting of Common Ground. Students will participate in three sessions on the farm and in the forest during which they will experience the changing seasons, learn how they can help contribute to a healthier planet and participate in activities that build community and leadership. Students will make their own journals, play games and hike in West Rock Park. The final visit in the spring includes an overnight camp-out during which students can reflect on their year and celebrate what they have accomplished. Opportunities for customized programs and long-term field studies We can customize programs to meet specific needs of students, teachers and schools. Our campus offers endless opportunities for ongoing environmental research, citizen science, service-learning and place-based projects. We can adapt and expand any of our programs to allow for longer term studies that build connections to the environment and cultivate a stronger sense of place. If you have a program request, please contact Jill Keating at jkeating@nhep.com or call 203-389-4333 ext 1213. Field Trip Costs A limited number of field trips are available free or at a reduced cost to New Haven Public Schools. Please call to inquire further. One hour program for pre-K and Kindergarten available 9:30-10:30 or 10:45-11:45 Monday through Friday $100 (max 24 students), $200 (max 48 students) Two hour program for grades 1-8 available Monday through Friday 9:30 to 11:30 and 12:30 to 2:30 $150 (max 24 students), $300 (max 48 students) Full day visits available upon request. Program fee may be paid by check or cash on the day of the program. Please make out checks to the New Haven Ecology Project. We will re-schedule in the event of severe weather, however all programs are conducted mostly or entirely outside and students should be dressed for the weather and the season! Call Jill at 203-389-4333 ext 1212 or email jkeating@nhep.com For quickest response, email jkeating@nhep.com with the following information:
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