Hello.  I am Dan Wyrick, also known as Teacher Dan.

I’m privileged to share my passions and teaching background with you in order to help you get a feel for who you are working with.  My commitment is to provide quality teaching tools for educators, home school parents, and youth.  I want children to be inquisitive and inspired by science.  I want them to experience the passion of discovering for themselves the concept of learning.  I provide tools and resources to awaken students to this type of educational experience.  This is what I breathe, eat and sleep.  This is my life.

My passion and excitement for science and learning originates from growing up exploring the creeks and meadows of the foothills of the Sierra Nevada in California.  My curiosity propelled me to excel at sciences in both elementary and high school. These beginnings led me to a lifelong pursuit of knowledge and an intense need to share that knowledge with young inquisitive minds!

Science must be interesting, practical
and is best learned through
hands-on experiences!

I received my B.A. in Biology in 1977 from Pacific Union College in Angwin, California, and my M.A. in Biology in 1984 at the same institution.  I have gathered the following credentials:

• California Clear Multiple Subject Teaching Credential
• California Clear Single Subject Teaching Credential; Authorized field:  Life Science
• North American Division of Seventh-Day Adventists Professional Credential; Authorized Field:  Elementary, Secondary Biology

I truly understand the classroom environment and the need to stimulate developing minds not only passionately but with learning information that can be used in daily living.  I have over 30 years of experience as a classroom teacher in grades 5-8.

My passion for excellence led me to be invited to be the editor of the LIFE Science/Health Textbook Series.  These textbooks are in current publication and use by thousands of students across the U.S. and Canada. 

Other publications include:

Can You Dig It?  student syllabus, 1999 (revised 2003)
Sierra Discovery, student syllabus, 1999 (revised 2003)
Sierra Explorations, student syllabus, 2003
Delta Explorations, student syllabus, 2003
Ocean Explorations, student syllabus, 2000 (revised 2003)
Can you Sea It?, student syllabus, 1999 (revised 2003)
Creation Illustrated Magazine
Field Paleontology/Sierra Ecology curriculum materials, Grade 8, 1996 (revised 1997)
Marine Biology/Coastal Ecology curriculum and materials, Grade 6, 1988 (revised 1994)
Origins of the Earth, teacher guide, Grades 5-8, 1987
Co-author of Every Friday, a science lab manual, Grades 5-9, 1986
Aquatic Biology Curriculum outline and materials, Grades 6-8, 1985
Marine Biology Curriculum outline and materials, Grades5-10, 1984


I am an Adjunct Professor of Education at Pacific Union College, Angwin, CA, and currently teach Science for Young Children education classes for teachers that emphasize a constructivist approach to teaching science.

As the Science Instructor at Gold Rush Charter School in Sonora, California, I provide instruction in general science, life science, physical science, earth science, biology and integrated science to students in grades 4-12.  The primary goal of each of the courses is to first provide students a wide variety of experiences in the science process and to second provide a setting where students "do science" rather than just learn about science.

Additionally, I am the owner and presenter of Nature by Design outdoor education programs.  These one-of-a-kind outdoor science programs have been developed to educate, stimulate and motivate young minds in a fun, exciting environment. These four-days programs take students into a variety of environments, including coastal California, the California Delta, the Sierra Nevada, and the Great Basin of Nevada.

You can visit my outdoor education work at www.NatureByDesignLearning.com     

I invite you to join me on this fascinating journey of discovery and learning to share this knowledge with the young minds of today.

Dan Wyrick

TeacherDanWyrick@gmail.com

P.S.  In the very near future I will be conducting three-day intensive workshops for teachers to learn how to earn extra income conducting Science Sundays and Summer Science Day Camps for students.