Sandia Mountain Natural History Center
The Sandia Mountain Natural History Center (SMNHC) is owned by Albuquerque Public Schools (APS) and jointly run by the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science. It is located in Cedar Crest, near Albuquerque, and has provided environmental programming on-site since 1967.
Educators lead Ecology Field Programs for all 5th graders in APS, Rio Rancho Public Schools, and other area schools. Students come for a hike in the mountains, explore the components and connections of the ecosystem, and carry out hands-on activities aligned with Next Generation Science Standards. The SMNHC also offers a statewide outreach program to students across New Mexico, at state parks and other natural areas near them.
SMNHC educators host public events on and off-site, develop customized programs, lessons, and project-based learning opportunities, collaborate with several other organizations, conduct and participate in scientific research, and welcome new opportunities to work with and provide outdoor and environmental education resources for the teachers and students of New Mexico.
In 1971, the SMNHC was named a National Environmental Education Landmark by the National Park Service. It received an Environmental Excellence Award for Environmental Education in 1998. Most recently, the SMNHC was recognized as Outstanding Environmental Education Organization for 2019 by Environmental Education New Mexico.
Activities/Resources
Educating Ecosystems Explorers
Educating Ecosystems Explorers is a comprehensive endangered species curriculum with lessons for each of 5 New Mexico Species of Concern, designed for use with middle school students and aligned to Next Generation Science Standards.
Students investigate threats to the species and their habitats, use critical thinking to assess threats and current conditions, interpret data presented in a variety of formats, write management and recovery plans, and more.
This curriculum was developed by SMNHC educators in 2020 and funded by an education grant from the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish Share with Wildlife program.
Activity/Resource PDF: https://tempstemed.unm.edu/stemrc22/sites/default/files/webform/activity/SWW%20Educating%20Ecosystem%20Explorers%20Curriculum.pdf
Activity/Resource Website: https://tempstemed.unm.edu/stemrc22/sites/default/files/webform/activity/SWW%20Educating%20Ecosystem%20Explorers%20Curriculum.pdf
Mud Spring: From Water to Wildlife
Provide your middle school students the opportunity to learn all about a local spring and the wildlife that frequent it by watching "Mud Spring: From Water to Wildlife". Then have them work with real data of all wildlife visits to Mud and Paradise spring as they make predictions about data trends, graph the data, and interpret patterns.
These lessons are well-designed for use in the classroom, during distance learning, home schooling, and for at-home work.
An innovative blend of a comic book, technology-based and unplugged activities engages kids in making and breaking codes, symbolic systems awareness and cryptology careers.
Activity/Resource Website: https://www.aps.edu/sandia-mountain-natural-history-center/curriculum-activities/wildlife-visits-to-sandia-mountain-springs-less
Outdoor Environmental Education
Access our full collection of outdoor environmental education activities to download, print and use for educational purposes with your students, family, or other group!
Activity lesson plans are aligned with 5th grade science standards, and most can also be adapted for use with other age groups.
Activity/Resource Website: https://www.aps.edu/sandia-mountain-natural-history-center/curriculum-activities/outdoor-activities
Brand New APS Sandia Mountain Natural History Center
Visit the brand new APS Sandia Mountain Natural History Center website for more information about us, booking programs, and even more lessons and resources!
Activity/Resource Website: https://www.aps.edu/sandia-mountain-natural-history-center
Contact Information
Fiana Shapiro
Environmental Educator
fiana.shapiro@state.nm.us
