Toddlers
During September, the toddler class spent much of their LTL class time outdoors. They explored the woods, searched for frogs in the pond, and worked cooperatively to pick up sticks that had fallen on the labyrinth area. The toddlers were given milkweed pods that they soon discovered were full of fluffy seeds that blew away with the slightest breeze. They discovered the source of these magical seeds when they saw the wet meadow. The students made pizza, using tomatoes and basil from the garden. They chopped peaches, peppers, and tomatoes for Peach Salsa and enjoyed it with homemade tortilla chips. They also made applesauce and were thrilled to use the peeler/corer/slicer, a marvelous invention. As the weather grew a little cooler and the leaves began to change color, the toddlers enjoyed searching for as many different colored leaves as possible. They collected acorns that can be fed to the squirrels in the winter and they picked mini pumpkins in the garden. Leaves that the students collected were used to make a vibrant Leaf Relief/Wax Resist collage that is displayed outside the kitchen. For the Thanksgiving celebration, the students worked enthusiastically to make a batch of cornbread, using some of the wheat grown in the PJS garden.
Pre K
During the first LTL class in September, the Preschool class discovered three Eastern Black Swallowtail caterpillars on some parsley in the garden. The students were able to observe them in their classroom as they formed chrysalids. ( The chrysalids will be spending the winter in a sheltered area outdoors until next spring, when they will emerge.) The class had fun releasing milkweed seeds and chasing them across the field. They collected lots of acorns for use in their classroom and also as food for the squirrels in the winter. The students made a trip to the garden where they harvested colorful gourds. They also observed the different leaf shapes and looked for the trees that the leaves fell from.
This class of budding chefs was excited to be able to cook during four of the classes. They made pizza, using tomatoes and basil from the garden. The preschoolers were super excited to use the peeler/corer slicer to make applesauce. They chopped tomatoes, peaches, and peppers to make Peach Salsa, which they enjoyed with homemade tortilla chips. Finally, for the Thanksgiving celebration, they made Pumpkin Cornbread, using some of the wheat grown in the PJS garden.
This class of budding chefs was excited to be able to cook during four of the classes. They made pizza, using tomatoes and basil from the garden. The preschoolers were super excited to use the peeler/corer slicer to make applesauce. They chopped tomatoes, peaches, and peppers to make Peach Salsa, which they enjoyed with homemade tortilla chips. Finally, for the Thanksgiving celebration, they made Pumpkin Cornbread, using some of the wheat grown in the PJS garden.
K/1
The kindergarten/Grade 1 students began the year with a review of the lifecycle of the Monarch butterfly. They were given multiple pictures of the lifestages and challenged with putting them in order. The students had no problem with this assignment! Next, we looked at different habitats and played a game in which pictures of animals were placed in their correct habitats. Students cleaned up the garden and planted the wheat and rye. The students explored the concept of "animal communities". They read books about animal architects and were inspired to try building some of the animal communities. First, they gathered materials outdoors Then in groups they built a beaver lodge, a field mouse nest, a termite tower, and an ant farm. They were proud of their structures and they learned a lot about how animals work together to build communities. Three weeks after the grains were planted, the students visited the garden again and were excited to see how much the seeds had sprouted and grown. The class spent time outdoors, using their five senses to describe Fall. Students learned about the different trees on the school grounds before playing"Capture the Leaf". They were challenged with finding various nature items during a scavenger hunt. The K/1 groups used the Smartboard to learn about habitat requirements and then they played a game of "Habitat Rummy" to enforce what they had just learned. The students were put to work, threshing and winnowing the wheat and rye that was harvested in the summer. Then they baked loaves of Italian bread for the Thanksgiving celebration, using the grains they had cleaned. They had fun learning how to handle the sticky dough and how to braid it into impressive looking breads!
Grades 2/3
Grades 2/3 were excited to see all the monarch chrysalids that formed from Flutter's caterpillars. The students were able to experience the emergence of the butterflies and their release. They look forward to this experience each year and this year's plethora of Monarchs did not disappoint. The class took several nature walks around the campus, exploring the woods and meadows. The students harvested potatoes and popcorn from the garden.
LTL connected with the classroom IB unit One human can impact the world. To prepare for their field trip, the students took photos of plants that grow on the school grounds and that also might grow at a marsh. They made a photo album of them and then used the Smartboard to research the attributes and uses of these plants.Then they took a field trip to the Abbot Marshlands to meet Dr Mary Leck, a person who has impacted the world through her support of the Marsh. The students were so proud when they recognized the plants they had been studying. Following the field trip, the students in Grade 3 researched an animal that might live in a marsh and they created watercolor illustrations of their animal. The students in Grade 2 constructed models of some of the plants in the marsh and worked together to write fact sheets about them.
Grades 2/3 were so inspired by the trip to the Marsh that they wrote a play about it in PAP. The students chose their roles and practiced the play over a period of two weeks. The play was attended by Dr Mary Leck who was impressed by the performance and flattered that she made such an impression. The students will long remember the message of the play, that one human can impact the world.
The 2/3 group then threshed the wheat in preparation for the Thanksgiving bread baking. Before beginning the mixing of the bread dough, students had to read the recipe and shop for their ingredients at the "store" that was set up on a side table. They chose to make Sourdough French bread and Apple Cranberry Bread, which were enjoyed by all at the Thanksgiving celebration.
LTL connected with the classroom IB unit One human can impact the world. To prepare for their field trip, the students took photos of plants that grow on the school grounds and that also might grow at a marsh. They made a photo album of them and then used the Smartboard to research the attributes and uses of these plants.Then they took a field trip to the Abbot Marshlands to meet Dr Mary Leck, a person who has impacted the world through her support of the Marsh. The students were so proud when they recognized the plants they had been studying. Following the field trip, the students in Grade 3 researched an animal that might live in a marsh and they created watercolor illustrations of their animal. The students in Grade 2 constructed models of some of the plants in the marsh and worked together to write fact sheets about them.
Grades 2/3 were so inspired by the trip to the Marsh that they wrote a play about it in PAP. The students chose their roles and practiced the play over a period of two weeks. The play was attended by Dr Mary Leck who was impressed by the performance and flattered that she made such an impression. The students will long remember the message of the play, that one human can impact the world.
The 2/3 group then threshed the wheat in preparation for the Thanksgiving bread baking. Before beginning the mixing of the bread dough, students had to read the recipe and shop for their ingredients at the "store" that was set up on a side table. They chose to make Sourdough French bread and Apple Cranberry Bread, which were enjoyed by all at the Thanksgiving celebration.
Grade 4
When they returned to school in September, Grade 4 students were fascinated by the Chrysalis Tree. They watched it intently during classes for any signs of butterfly emergence and bid the butterflies "adios" when they were released to begin their journey to Mexico. The class dug potatoes from the garden, washed and cooked them, and enjoyed them with lots of butter. Next they began a unit of study on Weather and Atmosphere. They made flip books about the layers of the atmosphere and learned about the ozone and greenhouse gasses. The students conducted an experiment which demonstrated how the greenhouse effect can contribute to global warming. Then the class conducted a more complex experiment that used carbon dioxide to trap heat in the test containers. Next LTL collaborated with the classroom IB unit Human Body Systems. As an introduction to the unit, the students made mini booklets that included an illustration and brief description of each body system. They also made movable skeleton models. For Parent's Day, the students and their parents engaged in a series of exercises that demonstrated how a person's heart rate increases with a corresponding increase in physical effort. The class made models of the respiratory system which demonstrated how the diaphragm rises and falls as a person inhales and exhales. Finally, we reached the much anticipated day when students bake bread for the Thanksgiving celebration. This year Grade 4 made Pumpkin Apple Bread, using wheat that was grown in the PJS garden.
Grade 5
During the first trimester, Grade 5 explored the human brain in LTL to connect with the classroom unit of inquiry, Learning and the Brain. The students watched several videos about the brain and nervous system, including one about Albert Einstein's brain. They learned about the functions of the different areas of the brain. Then they made "brain hats" with fabric and iron on transfer paper and they reinforced their knowledge with "brain charades". For their summative assessment, the students labeled the parts of the brain on their hats with the corresponding functions. The hats were a big hit with the class!
Next, the fifth grade began the IB unit of Patterns in the World. Earlier in the term, the students were introduced to the Fibonacci sequence. They plotted out the Fibonacci numbers on graph paper and connected the points to create the spiral. Then they were challenged with finding an example of this pattern in nature, which they superimposed over the spiral. The students explored the school grounds, photographing other patterns in nature. They experienced the pattern of days, years, and seasons with the Earth, Moon, Sun interactive model that demonstrates how the tilt of the earth on its axis dictates seasonal changes. The students were excited to create patterns with Zometool kits which allow for creation of 3-D patterns. They used microscopes, binoculars, and magnifying lenses to view patterns near and far. Next the class looked at constellations as patterns of stars that can be seen in different seasons as the earth travels around the sun. The students used colorful autumn leaves in a chromatography activity that revealed the different pigments present in the leaves. Finally, for the Thanksgiving celebration, Grade 5 made Russian Black Bread, which included ingredients such as chocolate and espresso, as well as wheat and rye that was grown in the school garden.
Next, the fifth grade began the IB unit of Patterns in the World. Earlier in the term, the students were introduced to the Fibonacci sequence. They plotted out the Fibonacci numbers on graph paper and connected the points to create the spiral. Then they were challenged with finding an example of this pattern in nature, which they superimposed over the spiral. The students explored the school grounds, photographing other patterns in nature. They experienced the pattern of days, years, and seasons with the Earth, Moon, Sun interactive model that demonstrates how the tilt of the earth on its axis dictates seasonal changes. The students were excited to create patterns with Zometool kits which allow for creation of 3-D patterns. They used microscopes, binoculars, and magnifying lenses to view patterns near and far. Next the class looked at constellations as patterns of stars that can be seen in different seasons as the earth travels around the sun. The students used colorful autumn leaves in a chromatography activity that revealed the different pigments present in the leaves. Finally, for the Thanksgiving celebration, Grade 5 made Russian Black Bread, which included ingredients such as chocolate and espresso, as well as wheat and rye that was grown in the school garden.