The Tending Nature STEM Curriculum Project was produced in partnership between The Autry Museum of the American West and PBS SoCal | KCET. Based on the KCET Tending Nature documentary series, the curriculum provides educators the opportunity to integrate Native peoples beyond the social studies classroom focusing on the series theme: nature tends to humans and humans (Native peoples) tend to nature.

The Next Generation Science Standards-aligned curriculum includes 2-5-minute video clips of a Tending Nature episode with accompanying science or environmental studies classroom lessons and additional interdisciplinary art and history activities.

The Tending Nature interactive curriculum provides opportunities for multi-modality learning. Students use 21st century skills to analyze, interpret, discuss and evaluate graphics, video clips, and readings and make connections across content. Additional activities allow students to extend their learning conducting experiments, exploring art, history, and more. The curriculum is designed as both stand alone or a lesson series with a step-by-step teacher guide and teaching tips.

The Tending Nature curriculum was developed in collaboration with local Tribes as well as government agencies and non-profit organizations and groups.

The first of these curriculum lessons based on the episode, Restoring the River. Click here for this curriculum.