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Teacher Kickoff

2026-2027

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IN-SCHOOL PROGRAM STAFF

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LOOKING BACK AT LAST YEAR

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  • Over 5,000 students participated in our In-School Programs from the Hoover Cluster
    • Serving grades Kinder through 12th

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  • Over 700 students participated in our After School Camp

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PROGRAM STRUCTURE

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Grades

Exploration

Make a Difference

Kinder – 2nd

Living Lab

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Depart from School: 9:30am

Return to School: 1:00pm

Classroom

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1 hour Lesson

3rd – 5th

Coastal Sites

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Depart from School: 9:45am

Return to School: 1:00pm

Living Lab

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Depart from School: 9:30am

Return to School: 1:00pm

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PREVIEW OF THIS YEAR: IN-SCHOOL

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Note: A combo class will participate with the majority grade level. (i.e. 16 first grade + 8 2nd grade = go with 1st grade).

Grade

Time Frame

Habitat of Study

Field Trip Location

Kinder

April - May

Tide pools

Living Lab

1

January - February

Kelp Forest*

Living Lab

2

September

Wetlands

Living Lab

3

April - May

Tide pools

La Jolla Tide pools

4

January - February

Kelp Forest*

La Jolla Cove*

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September

Wetlands

SD Bay National Wildlife Refuge

*Possibility that the focus may change to Sandy Beach and location to Crown Point Park.

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PROGRAM REMINDERS & UPDATES

  • Student Waivers
    • Emphasis on student waiver submission
    • Important for our grant submissions, liability, etc.

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  • Integrating Math & Science together
    • Incorporating math into all programs (at least into one activity / rotation)
    • Research has shown that low math confidence and achievement are among the most common barriers preventing students from pursuing science in college and beyond.
    • We piloted this integration in our out-of-school programs and it has shown meaningful improvements in students' math self-efficacy and long-term achievement.

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  • We are prioritizing growth mindset alongside content.
    • Research shows that a growth mindset and sense of self-efficacy are critical to student achievement in both math and science (Seo et al., 2019).

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LOGISTICS: TEACHER PORTAL

oceandiscoveryinstitute.org/teachers

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Access to:

    • Waivers
    • Schedules
    • Preview of Lessons
    • Resources – extension activities

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NEXT STEPS

  1. Attend prep meetings with more details closer to your dates
  2. Review your schedule and put in your calendar & let us know about any conflicts
  3. Help us promote after-school camps

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PREVIEW OF AFTER-SCHOOL CAMP

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  • Host 24 weeks of after school programming

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  • Mon – Friday 3:00 – 6:00pm or 3:30 – 6:30pm (late dismissal schools)

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  • We will recruit from each school once or twice a year (30 students/week) with transportation
    • Plan to host 10% of each school’s students

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  • Each school will be provided a folder of information (i.e. applications, contact number, flyers etc.) for the front office at the beginning of the school year.

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    • Dates will be communicated next month!

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AFTERSCHOOL & SUMMER CAMP PROGRAM STAFF

Jo Vance

Program Manager

jvance@oceandi.org

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Call or Text:

619-889-4657

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THANK YOU!

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2nd and 5th Grade Prep

Fall 2026

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PROGRAM STRUCTURE

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*Includes Travel Time

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Grades

Exploration

Make a Difference

2nd

Ocean Discovery Living Lab

(9:30am – 1:00pm)*

Classroom

(1 hour Lesson)

5th

USFWS Sweetwater Marsh

(9:45am – 1:00pm)*

Living Lab

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(9:30am – 1:00pm)*

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2ND EXPLORE AT LIVING LAB

  • Learning Objectives
    • Students will be able to:
      • UDPATE
  • Three rotations
    • UPDATE

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  • Students may bring backpacks to the Living Lab but not needed.

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Include updated timing schedule of 2nd grade rotations.

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MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE CLASSROOM: 2ND GRADE

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  • Students will create 3D models of wetland plants or animals
  • Students will make a pledge to protect the wetlands

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EXPLORE – WETLAND FIELD TRIPS

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5th Grade: Wildlife Refuge

Each class will remain together as a group.

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5TH EXPLORE AT LIVING COAST DISCOVERY CENTER

  • Learning Objectives
    • Students will:
      • Explore & identify at least 2 animals & plants that live in wetlands
      • Investigate the importance of the wetlands to animals (food, wildlife housing, nurseries)
  • Two rotations
    • Gathering evidence of animals on the trails
    • Plant restoration

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  • Class will remain together as a group (won’t be split)
  • Students WILL carry Ocean Discovery backpacks!

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MAKE A DIFFERENCE AT LIVING LAB: 5TH GRADE

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MAY NEED TO UPDATE

  • Students plant native seeds and zip line them across the courtyard for wetland restoration
    • Plants can be taken home with students or left at the Living Lab
  • Students innovate & engineer solutions to clean wetlands
  • Students have a conversation with a scientist

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NEXT STEPS

  • Print, disperse your school permission slips & Ocean Discovery waivers by the first day of program.

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  • Communicate student needs – IEPs, behavioral managements, medications, physical limitations, language translations, etc.

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  • Recruit chaperones as needed for your class
    • We reserve 3 adult spaces per class on the bus.
    • Communicate to Ocean Discovery staff if more is needed.

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  • Order student lunches as needed

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  • Show students Field Trip Orientation videos before attending

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  • Support fellows with classroom management & address student behavior as needed

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MORE DETAILS & REMINDERS

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  • Student reminders:
    • Bring a water bottle on the field trips
    • Wear comfortable shoes for walking
    • Wear nametags
    • No backpacks on the coastal field trips (5th grade will be give ODI backpacks)

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  • Join in!
    • Please join in on the activities and exploration with your students.

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LOGISTICS: TEACHER PORTAL

Oceandiscoveryinstitute.org/teachers

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Access to:

  • Waivers
  • Schedules
  • Preview of Lessons
  • Resources – extension activities

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THANK YOU!