Kindergarten: Kindergartners embarked on an exciting journey through our Project Lead the Way unit, delving into the complexities of the human body. The classroom was buzzing with curiosity and enthusiasm as students explored different parts of the body such as the muscles, lungs, heart and brain. Students conducted many projects and labs involving the human body. Our young scientists were eager to engage as they participated in a lab activity called ¨Why So Many Bones?¨ During this lab, students learned about the number of bones in their hands. They use a pegboard to help them understand how these bones work together to give us movement and dexterity. It was a fun and educational experience that sparked their curiosity.
1st Grade: 1st Grade scientists explored different environments: the Arctic, the African Savanna, the Sahara Desert, the Pacific Ocean, and the Amazon Rainforest. Students investigated organisms that live in each of these environments and explored the variety of adaptations that each of these organisms possess. In addition, first grade scientists participated in the Earth Day activities and explored the Animal Adaptations unit.
2nd Grade: Students were introduced to a design problem involving three fictional characters planting a wildflower garden at their school. They needed to address the challenge of dispersing wildflower seeds efficiently after clearing the area with existing plants. The students discovered that Velcro® was inspired by burrs sticking to George de Mestral's dog, showcasing how seeds can be spread by animals. Students brainstormed various ways animals could disperse seeds and explored seed germination, plant growth, and the form and function of seeds. They observed the characteristics of living things, compared different habitats, and learned about habitat biodiversity. Students predicted the consequences of limited plant and animal species in a habitat and understood the interdependence of organisms for survival. They grasped the significance of biodiversity in a habitat.
3rd Grade: Third graders covered many topics in science during the fourth marking period. Over the past few weeks, third graders have been immersed with hands-on learning experiences. Third graders embarked on exhilarating hands-on labs exploring fossils, and let me tell you, they had an absolute blast! Using a combination of creativity and scientific inquiry, our budding scientists delved into the ancient past by creating their own fossil footprints. Armed with chopsticks, clay, and rulers, they meticulously crafted and compared the strides of various fossils. Through this experience, our students not only gained a deeper understanding of fossils and paleontology but also honed their critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Once the fossils unit concluded, third graders embarked on an exciting new unit about Weather and Patterns. This week students have been learning about different types of weather, how it is measured and how meteorologists research weather in their area. Each lab group is researching a city and state to study its weather patterns. They are gathering data to create and present their very own weather reports to the class.
4th Grade: Students in the 4th grade engaged in various activities related to Earth's surface and marine life. Students explored how water, weathering, erosion, and deposition impact the Earth's surface. They named four Humpback Whales – Biscuit, Raincloud, Spotters, and Pickle. The Whale ID program concluded with a presentation featuring a life-size inflatable Right Whale named Delilah. Delilah, a North Atlantic right whale replica, showcased the size of real whales and educated students on the importance of these creatures. Students learned about renewable and non-renewable resources, compared population density with resource locations, and discussed the impact of human resource consumption on the environment. Students also tracked their resource usage, brainstormed ways to reduce consumption, and designed upcycled products to promote sustainability. They created a resource usage chart for home and school to monitor and reflect on their consumption habits.
5th Grade: Students got to learn about an exciting and interesting unit on the Infection Detection and Immune System. Students used their creative talents to create body outlines including structures, cells, and substances that work to make up the Immune System. Students got to speak about communicable vs. noncommunicable diseases. In addition, students worked on a fun project where they created their own body diagram with all the important structures of the Immune System and what the jobs of them are! Last but not least, students learned about Earth Day. Furthermore, students also had an opportunity to create their own experiments by conducting two bacteria related experiments within the PLTW unit this month. They had a chance to be creative and create their own experiment design! After learning what the Scientific Inquiry Process is, they used it to create the experiment! They asked a question, made a prediction, listed the procedures for investigation, and explained what the possible outcome could be.
