This week we started working on our class play, "A Drop Around The World," which highlights the water cycle. All children should be learning their lines at home. Please see the Study Journals for more details.
This week we have been learning about soil. Soil is necessary for life on this planet. Plants need the minerals the soil provides. Soil comes from the weathering of rocks (inorganic material) and the decomposition of living things (organic matter). Soil consists of water, air, and fauna. The right amount of water and warmth allow the soil to develop into distinct layers. Soils are in the process of evolving.
The children have explored soil and clay, and different parts and layers of the soil so they can understand a typical well-developed soil profile as a standard against which they can compare soil profiles in the various biomes they will be studying.
Students explored the Carbon Cycle and the Nitrogen Cycle so that they can understand how energy can be recycled in the soil. The students learned the recipe for compost is air, water, carbon from dead leaves and egg shells, and nitrogen from green grass clippings and vegetables. They were then able to apply their knowledge as they participated in our classroom composting project. Some of you sent in egg shells which the students crushed to provide carbon for our compost. Our new garden is providing a wonderful place to learn abou the cycles of energy and our place in the food chain. We would be very grateful for donations of grass clippings and more egg shells as well as coffee grounds for our compost!
We harvested the first of our fall vegetables today! We had enough bib lettuce from our garden to make a wonderful salad for everyone to enjoy with lunch.
On Friday we had the Third Great Lesson, The Coming of Humans. Please look for information to come home which explain the lesson and provide vocabulary the students are using in the classroom. Take some time at home to access our school's World Book Online account to explore further about the Coming of Humans!
Last Friday during art the students made replicas of fossils using plaster. They made both mold and cast fossils and made a book to demonstrate their knowledge. During the Third Great Lesson, the students learned that one of the fundamental needs of humans is the need to express themselves artistically.
This week's art lesson included a study of cave paintings found in Lascaux, France. After viewing the cave on the Lascaux website, the students made replicas of cave paintings using charcoal.
Experience the cave at home!
http://www.lascaux.culture.fr/index.php?lng=en#/fr/02_00.xml
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