Tyson field

Tule Ponds at Tyson Lagoon Wetland Center 2012

Click here to read a poem by Mrs. Lew's 2nd Grade class on their visit to Tule Ponds

We have 100 free classes for schools in Alameda County. Please state your name, school, district, grade, how many children, and preferred date and time (9-11; 12-2)(schedule is flexible if school is traveling). These trips are paid for by Alameda County Flood Control and Water Conservation District. Math Science Nucleus manages the facility for this county agency. If you are out of Alameda County or we no longer have any free trips available, you can still schedule a trip for $200.00.

NEW: 1.5 hr classes are now available ($150 for 25 and under; $175 for 25-32)

The field trip is a memorable experience for students and teachers alike. Unlike most reserves students are able to touch and experience an urban wildlife. The area is dissected by traces of the Hayward Fault and is one of the oldest natural lakes in the East Bay (over 4000 years old). This facility is only open to school groups with occasional public tours. The wetland is only 100 feet east of the Fremont BART station. The classroom has 4 lab areas, for a true hands-on science experience.

grade	Title	Ca Science Correlation	Lesson Plan	Booklet (pdf)
First	Plant and Animal Environments	click	click	click
Second	Plant and Animal Changes Look at life cycle of different animals and plants	click	click	click
Third	Exploring Wetlands Defining and looking at the animals and plants that live in the wetland	click	click	click
Fourth	Changes through Time Tule Ponds have seen changes from the Ice Age to Ohlone Indians to the Present	click	click	click
Fifth	Stormwater and Wetland Chemistry The elements and compounds found in the stormwater can pollute and cause damage to wildlife and plants.	click	click	click
Sixth	Earthquakes and Ecology The Hayward Fault created Tyson Lagoon and the microorganisms that are in the lake control which larger animals will be found.	click	click	click

Call Math/Science Nucleus (510) 790-6284 or email msn@msnucleus.org to schedule a date. Email us a few dates and we will get back with you as soon as possible. Each field trip is a 2 hour docent led tour with different activities for each grade level. We sometimes emphasize different content areas if requested by teacher

PLEASE EMAIL US THE INFORMATION WITH SEVERAL DATES AND WE WILL CONTACT YOU ABOUT AVAILABILITY (msn@msnucleus.org)

Lesson plans were in part funded by grants from East Bay Foundation and Alameda County Flood Control and Water Conservation District.

NEW CLASSES NOW OFFERED

Owl Pellets Students will learn about how owls are part of the food chain. They will look at the contents of owl pellets and make a display that will include parts of the rodents that the owls eat (i.e. femur, skull). Recommended grades: 1-4.

Chemistry— Learning about pH Students will learn about how the bonding of water allows other compounds to be “set free” in water. By experimenting with different liquids with indicator solutions, they will learn how changing color can demonstrate how basic or acid the solution is. The periodic table will be reviewed to make sure students know about elements, compounds, Recommended grades: 4-6

The Ohlone Way with Nature Students will learn about the Native American Indians that lived in this area. They will see how they used the local resources of tules, trees, shrubs, and rocks to live in an area that had everything. Recommended grades: 3-6

Math and Nature This interactive field trips looks at natural items and their relationship with math. Students will learn new adjectives as they describe different plants and animals. Observation of nature using math opens a child’s mind to a new dimension they will never forget Recommended grades: K-2 (springtime or early fall best times)

Schools may have lunch at Tule Ponds at no extra cost. However, teachers must supervise children and use our recycling containers and be responsible for clean-up.

Want to keep informed on school field trips and teacher workshops held in the San Francisco Bay area, just put your email in the above mailing list. You can remove yourself at any time. This helps our non-profit get information to you without the cost of postage. We do not sell nor share our lists with any other organization.

NOTE: After booking we require a minimum of 3 week cancellation notice or subject to $50.00 penalty unless due to weather. We are reimbursed the cost of the field trip from the county only if we provide the service. We can not guarantee that cancellations can be rescheduled.

If it rains? This facility is a flood control area, and during rains we can still visit the ponds. We will have umbrellas to walk a shorter version of the trail. We have appropriate hands on activities inside. If the rains are very hard, we will reschedule if we have available dates with no penalty.

If not from Alameda County or we are over the 100 free: Price: $200 for 2 hour class.
Classes limited to 32 students (exceptions for larger classes are sometimes made if scheduled as an event)
For more information on Tule Ponds at Tyson Lagoon click here.

DIRECTIONS: 1999 Walnut Ave, Fremont (click here for map, driving, and BART information)

Reminder: Please tell us if you want to receive an email reminder about 4 weeks prior to field trip.

Images of Tule Ponds Field Trip

By Mrs. Lew’s 2^nd Grade Class (March, 2009) James Madison Elementary School, San Leandro

We enjoyed the Tule Ponds nature walk
And listening to your interesting talk.

So many plants we saw and touched
Like sycamore leaves, tule, and such.

We smelled freshly picked bay leaves
Lavender bush and California poppies.

Adventurous ones who were unafraid
Tasted sour grass by such a blade.

We didn’t know that the willow tree
Was the natural headache remedy

A milkweed seed pod went “pop” with ease
Seeds floated like a parachute on the breeze.

In the greenhouse like growing seeds
We felt the mist and warmth it needs

The animal life was so amazing to see
Painted lady butterflies and honey bees

When you lifted a log to see what breeds
We saw bloodworms, roly-poly and centipedes.

The skunk den, raccoon bones and crayfish claw
Were animal evidence that we saw.

We found milkweed beetles, mosquito fish,
Yellow-eyed bullfrogs that go splish

Walking quietly with sharp ears, we heard
Ducks, coots, blue jays and a red-winged blackbird.

You showed us new things, like an osprey,
Catkins, and a home made of tule.

The irrigation tunnels were cool to explore,
We’ve never yelled in one before!

We learned so much and enjoyed our stay
Tule Ponds field trips was awesome day!