Santiago Oaks

Inside the Outdoors® at Santiago Oaks Regional Park is located in the hills of Orange just east of the 55 freeway. The students will explore the riparian, coastal sage scrub and oak woodland ecosystems while discovering the local plants and animals. The fire cycle of the local ecosystems is explored in the recently burned area of the park.

Curriculum enrichment for grades K - 4:
California Science Content Standards
Life Science, Investigation and Experimentation
2nd Grade: 2a, 2b, 2c 2d, 2f, 3a, 3b, 3d, 3e
3rd Grade: 3a, 3d, 5d

Second and third graders will learn about local geology and ecology in the following learning stations:

Animal Station
Students will learn about the life cycle of mammals, reptiles, and insects. Live animals will assist the Naturalist in teaching about the different life cycles and characteristics that are inherited and learned from their parents.

Exploration Hike
Throughout the hike, students will look for clues of plant and animal life. Scat, tracks, and other evidence will help students learn about predators and prey.

Plants
Students will learn the parts of plants and the plant life cycle. They will identify fruits and seeds of native and non-native plants.

Geology
Students will explore rocks and soil along the riparian ecosystem. They will learn about fossils, the rock cycle, and minerals used in their everyday life.