Dear Families, Happy Sunday! We hope you have had a lovely weekend despite the soggy weather. We enjoyed seeing all of you at the Goal Setting this past week. Please look for a summation of our discussion as it will be a point of reference for you while reading your child's grade report. This past week, the children continued to explore our Central Idea, "One Human Can Impact the World" by visiting the Talpehaking Nature Center in Hamilton, NJ. The children wondered as they interviewed the founder of the Friends of the Abbott Marshlands, Dr. Mary Leck. Inspired by their questions about her journey, Dr. Leck shared that it was her discovery that "Plants are cool!" which led her to her major in Botony in college. While teaching at Rider University, an opportunity to develop a day-long high school field research program arose, thus allowing her to oversee the development of PROBE that reached many high school AP biology and environmental science students. Over the years, Dr. Leck realized that, "If you find something at comes up, ya just follow it!" and took every opportunity to promote the marsh, to make people more aware of its importance in our community. Inspired by her knowledge and love of plants, the students investigated a wild rice stalk... It smells like a lemon! ~ Dhurv It smells like sugar. ~ Oliver It looks like a snowflake! (The top of the stalk) ~ Sarea |
Wonderings... Rarest Plant? The Scarlet Tooth Cup! Has not been seen in over 100 years but it was found here! Types of animals? toads, turtles, fish, spiders, snakes | What inspired Dr. Leck to change the marsh? Through her study, there were also many archaeological studies. "Both kinds of studies have put the Abbott Marshlands on the ‘map’, and people around the world know about these tidal freshwater wetlands…and the Indians who lived here. All these studies provide the background for programs at the Tulphekaking Nature Center. There are many connections with who came before." ~ Dr. Mary Leck |
Reflections of the Abbott Marsh:
I noticed graffiti on the drain and living trees ~ Sarea
I noticed a birds nest on top of a tree. ~ Dhurv
I noticed a snake. It's name was Sweetie. ~ Oscar
I noticed lots of wild berries. ~ Mannal
I noticed lots of leaves on the water that looked like birds. ~ Kyle
I noticed a lot of animals like frogs, turtle and an eel with it's head cut off. ~ Jack
Wishing you and yours a wonderful Sunday!
Warmly,
Anne & Asela
I noticed graffiti on the drain and living trees ~ Sarea
I noticed a birds nest on top of a tree. ~ Dhurv
I noticed a snake. It's name was Sweetie. ~ Oscar
I noticed lots of wild berries. ~ Mannal
I noticed lots of leaves on the water that looked like birds. ~ Kyle
I noticed a lot of animals like frogs, turtle and an eel with it's head cut off. ~ Jack
Wishing you and yours a wonderful Sunday!
Warmly,
Anne & Asela