Apples Everywhere

It's apple picking time!  Our first grade class is busy learning about the science behind apples!  Stay tuned for pictures!

It's Been a While...We've Been Busy!

Third grade scientists spent some time learning about "Out of this World" science.  They used their creativity, critical thinking skills, and team spirit to create some contraptions that mimicked the Mars Pathfinder.  They were given simple supplies (i.e. balloons, cardboard boxes, newspaper, string, tape, etc.) and they got busy!  Finally, they placed an egg in their vessel and dropped from the top of the playground. 

I think the best part of this exercise was that there was not one creation that looked the same as another.  Their creativity amazes me!

 

These first grade friends were busy learning about the solar system as well.  They focused on the moon, sun, and planetary distances.  We learned about propulsion, planetary size, and just how many squares of toilet paper each planet is away from the sun.  A great visual for them! 

As we welcomed spring, we also welcomed rainbows!  We mixed science experiments with art activities to surround ourselves with the bounty of colors that a rainbow displays for us.

 

During Quest this nine weeks, my second grade students have joined me on a journey about weather.  We've learned about the atmosphere, the water cycle, seasons, and clouds.  Students made these nifty cloud identifiers.  I had to take one home for my three year old scientist to try out too!

 

We have close to ten kindergartener CA students now, and they are an amazing group to work with!  We're celebrating spring by learning more about insects.  Whether it is the habitat of a praying mantis, the recycling job that a beetle completes, or the amazing tasks that a honey bee is able to accomplish, we are hooked on bugs!  Students simulated the job of a honey bee this week, and even had a honey taste test!

Thank goodness for one sunny day this week because we took advantage of it!  First grade students were hunting for symmetry in nature.  They gathered items, we took pictures, and then analyzed.  We used our computer to try and "slice" our photographed items in half.  All in all we learned that there is little symmetry in the world.  It's reassuring that you don't have to be perfect to be beautiful!

Pennies, TeePees, Wonders, & Finally Sunshine

The joy of teaching an enrichment class is that you get to learn with your students.  I sit in awe as they create, ponder, question, and discover.  The last few weeks have been full of exploration and fun!  

My kindergarten students learned how to clean pennies in honor of Abraham Lincoln and Presidents' Day.  We tried different solutions, made hypothesis, and observations.  We found that vinegar and salt makes our pennies really shiny!

Our first grade class has been engrossed in a pirate unit (that has taken on a life of itself!).  We've learned about density and buoyancy, map skills, creative writing, and more.  They even searched for buried treasures (chocolate chips!!).

Wednesdays are a real treat for myself and my third grade students.  We get to spend the whole day together.  Within that day we explore the world!  Currently we are learning about the Seven Wonders of the Natural World.  Above you see an art representation of Aurora Borealis.  After learning about this phenomenon, students used chalk pastels, watercolors, and salt to make these beautiful mountain ranges and sky scenes.

 We've spent a majority of the year learning about explorers.  We are concentrating on the Lewis and Clark expedition right now.  Students are working on independent projects that range from teepee construction, field guide production, cartography, and more.

 

Today we were lucky enough to sneak away from school to enjoy a field trip on this beautiful "winter" day.  We've suffered (I'm a native Floridan so I can say this) through such a cold and dreary winter, but today gave us a glimpse of the beauty that spring brings just around the corner.  We saw an amazing documentary about the urgency to protect our world's coral reefs, and then enjoyed a picnic under the beautiful blue sky.

A New Year!

 

Just like that it's 2014!  How time flies when you're having fun!  We started off the year with a recycling, re-purposing activity with my third grade students.  I chopped up all the beautiful Christmas cards we received, and the students used them to frame their 2014 Self Portraits.  They used similes and metaphors to describe themselves.  They were so clever and so well written!

Our 3rd grade class has also set out to span the globe to learn more about the Seven Wonders of the Natural World.  Week one we investigated erosion and the Grand Canyon.  Week two we dove deep into the Great Barrier Reef.  Students saw beautiful visuals, and learned interesting facts about this large and wonderous place.  

 

Week three we climbed to the top of Mount Everest following in the footsteps of Sir Edmund Hillary.  We compared explorers of yesteryear to explorers of today.  Interesting and thought provoking discussions broke out about what it truly means to be an explorer, and if we are fostering exploration in children.

 Our third Quest course started this week.  I'm leading a class called Sandwich Bag Science.  During our first session together student scientists made discoveries about air pressure and static electricity.

 

As you can see it was hair raising!

Our first grade class of scalawag scientists are setting sail on a pirate adventure.  Our unit involves science, math, social studies, research, and writing.