California Vernal Pools
a collection of information and resources

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Vernal pools are the perfect outdoor classroom. Vernal pools are miniature watersheds. They have nearly closed ecosystems with huge food webs. And they are on a spatial scale that kids can understand. Plus where else can you play with slimy critters and see thousands of wildflowers? 

Vernal Pool Links for Kids

• Mather Kids Web -- A fifth grade curriculum by Sacramento Splash
   
• Wild By Nature -- Environmental Education for Youth (has a great vernal pools page)
   
• What is a Vernal Pool? - Magic, Inc.

Vernal Pool Links for Teachers

• Life in Our Watershed: Investigating Vernal Pools -- A fifth grade curriculum  by Sacramento Splash
   
• Tiny Creatures: Fairy Shrimp in Vernal Pools -- Video program and curriculum guide for grades 4-7 out of Oregon
    
• Vernal Pools Curriculum of the San Diego Unified School District -- Geared toward high school biology or ecology courses by Diana Bentley
   
• See also Outside California for many useful school projects about vernal pools. Just be sure to check that the activity is suitable for California vernal pools.

VernalPools.Org - dedicated to saving California's vernal pool landscapes