This week we continued our studies of the flora of the North American biome. We classified coniferous and deciduous trees. We explored the different parts of a tree and their function. We observed the vein structure of leaves and compared the different vein patterns of different leaves. A most interesting lesson involved the collection and the exploration of different parts of a twig and their function. Finally we distinguished the different parts of the crossection of a tree and learned about the way a tree grows from the cuttings of one of our student's Christmas tree. Nomenclature for parts of a tree includes roots, branches, leaves, trunk; for the crossection of a tree, crossection, diameter, cambium, outer bark, growth rings, sapwood, and heartwood; for a twig, immature leaves, bud scales, lenticles, leaf scars, lateral buds, terminal scar, terminal bud, twig; for a leaf, blade, margin, veinlet, petiole, veins.
In Art we studied color and experimented with making secondary colors from the primary colors on the color wheel. We did leaf rubbings and worked with water color.
Our garden has been growing beautifully this fall. On Thursday we enjoyed the bounty of our garden by harvesting our kale and roasting it at 300 degrees for 20 minutes with olive oil and sea salt to make tasty kale chips which were enjoyed by all.
Friday, December 9, 2011
Monday, December 5, 2011
November 28-December 2
This week we continued our study of North America. The children learned about the layers of the forest and studied the classification of coniferous and deciduous trees.
All of the children were able to participate in their first fundraiser for the Heifer Project. The children decided to serve cider at the Bay Colony Greens Sale outside Jordan Hall on Thursday. They made a poster to promote their charity and served cider to patrons of the sale while discussing the Heifer Project. The children made $98.00 and are well on their way to their goal of $250.
We wrapped up the week by experiencing the temperate forest in our own First Landing State Park. We learned to respect nature by walking silently through the High Dune and Bald Cypress Trails. The silence allowed the children to see and hear things in the forest they otherwise may have missed. The children explored the different layers of the forest. They found seedlings and saplings and explored the canopy. They found seeds, fruits, nuts and pine cones and roots. They found evergreen conifers and deciduous plants. They found plants that provided shelter and food for animals. They explored the forest floor and found rotting things, topsoil, subsoil, and found that the ground in some areas was saturated. They found evidence of animals and discussed how the animals might eat, get their food, find shelter, protect themselves, reproduce, adapt to the environment. they noticed the temperature and sunlight and wind and weather in the forest. They imagined what it would be like to live in the temperate forest for a week. What would they need to survive! We will be spending more Fridays in First Landing throughout the year!
Saturday morning a group of students met on the Boardwalk at 37th street to cheer for participants of the Surf-N-Santa 10miler. They sang carols and enjoyed hot cider and time with their friends. It was neat to see how their singing positively impacted the runners! They earned $100 from J&A racing for their work as crowd support which they are contributing to the Heifer Project.
All of the children were able to participate in their first fundraiser for the Heifer Project. The children decided to serve cider at the Bay Colony Greens Sale outside Jordan Hall on Thursday. They made a poster to promote their charity and served cider to patrons of the sale while discussing the Heifer Project. The children made $98.00 and are well on their way to their goal of $250.
We wrapped up the week by experiencing the temperate forest in our own First Landing State Park. We learned to respect nature by walking silently through the High Dune and Bald Cypress Trails. The silence allowed the children to see and hear things in the forest they otherwise may have missed. The children explored the different layers of the forest. They found seedlings and saplings and explored the canopy. They found seeds, fruits, nuts and pine cones and roots. They found evergreen conifers and deciduous plants. They found plants that provided shelter and food for animals. They explored the forest floor and found rotting things, topsoil, subsoil, and found that the ground in some areas was saturated. They found evidence of animals and discussed how the animals might eat, get their food, find shelter, protect themselves, reproduce, adapt to the environment. they noticed the temperature and sunlight and wind and weather in the forest. They imagined what it would be like to live in the temperate forest for a week. What would they need to survive! We will be spending more Fridays in First Landing throughout the year!
Saturday morning a group of students met on the Boardwalk at 37th street to cheer for participants of the Surf-N-Santa 10miler. They sang carols and enjoyed hot cider and time with their friends. It was neat to see how their singing positively impacted the runners! They earned $100 from J&A racing for their work as crowd support which they are contributing to the Heifer Project.
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