demonstrating how a watershed can be polluted by human activity.
On Friday, the students presented their projects at an all school gathering.
On Monday, we kicked off Earth Week with a visit from our local watershed ambassador, Jordan Foreman. He is the Americorp volunteer for Watershed Management Area 11. Jordan's presentation clearly demonstrated how pollution can find its way into our local lakes and streams. He encouraged the students to be good stewards of our watershed by cleaning up after pets and disposing of waste properly. Following the assembly, Jordan visited Grades 2 and 3 for a demonstration of the Enviroscape watershed model. The visit was part of their IB unit," Water is an essential, but limited, resource". The watershed model included a landscape of mountains, homes, farmland, roads, vehicles, a factory, and a mine. Water that was sprayed on the model quickly turned black as it mixed with the "pollution" that had been sprinkled at various sites. The rivulets of dirty water joined together to flow into a lake, demonstrating how a watershed can be polluted by human activity. Grades 2-5 worked on their Water- themed projects all week. On Friday, the students presented their projects at an all school gathering. Grade 2Grade 2 presented "All the Water in the World". The demonstration began with 5 gallons of water, which represented all the water on earth. It ended with one tablespoon of water, which represented the tiny amount of fresh water that is available for our use. Grade 3Grade 3 conducted water testing of the nearby Shipetaukin Creek. The tests included pH, temperature, turbidity, and amount of nitrates, phosphates, dissolved oxygen, and biological oxygen demand.The students presented their results at the assembly. Grade 4To coordinate with their IB unit, The Ocean's Ecosystem is Essential to the balance of Life, Grade 4 students researched the trash that is polluting our oceans. Their presentation on The Great Pacific Garbage Patch illustrated how devastating plastic waste is for the health of the ocean and our planet. Grade 5Grade 5 students presented their findings on the water footprint of various products, mostly food. A water footprint is the amount of water needed to grow, produce, package, and ship a product. At the low end, the water footprint of 2.2 lbs of tomatoes is 57 gallons. At the high end, the water footprint of 2.2 lbs of coffee is 4, 993 gallons!
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Toddler Class In January the toddlers experienced the different scents and textures of evergreen branches and sorted them into two piles, prickly or tickley. After deciding that the shape of evergreen trees is triangular, the students enjoyed pine tree sandwiches, covered with green tinted coconut and sprinkled with sunflower seeds. We explored the frozen woods one frigid, windy day, which gave us an appreciation for the reason many animals hibernate. To help our local birds survive the winter, the toddler class made pinecone bird feeders and bird seed cookies. For Valentine’s Day, the students made Hidden Kiss Cookies. They devoured freshly popped corn, grown in the PJS garden, after husking and shelling the ears. Finally, they experienced the differences between fake and real snow with sparkling baking soda clay and a tray of the real stuff. Preschool Class Following winter break, the preschool class experienced the different aromas and textures of evergreen branches and sorted them into two piles: prickly or tickly. After deciding that the shape of evergreen trees is triangular, the students enjoyed pine tree sandwiches, covered with green tinted coconut and sprinkled with sunflower seeds. To help our local birds survive the winter, the Pre-school class made Pinecone bird feeders and Garlands strung with popcorn, cranberries, dried fruit, and cereal. For Valentine’s Day, they made Hidden Kiss Cookies. They devoured freshly popped corn, grown in the PJS garden, after husking and shelling the ears. The students enjoyed playing with a clay made of baking soda and coconut lotion. Finally, they experienced the differences between fake and real snow with sparkling baking soda clay and a tray of the real stuff. KindergartenTo lead up to the classroom IB unit: People invent to solve problems, the kindergarten class began a unit on Simple Machines. The students were inspired by Rube Goldberg videos. They made their own inventions using pulleys, gears, and levers, and they wrote the steps that were required to make a spoon catapult. After experimenting with the properties of magnets, the students were challenged with creating an invention that used magnets. Next, the class conducted a seed sort. Students sorted a mixture of seeds into piles, sketched and counted the seeds, and finally, graphed the seeds. They looked at the different stages of the Water Cycle and experienced how water molecules are attracted to each other. The class learned about different types of clouds and what their appearance reveals about the weather. We took a walk to the woods to look for signs of life in winter and the students enjoyed crunching through the brittle ice that sparkled like diamonds. Currently in LTL class, the kindergarten class is learning about Life Cycles of Animals and metamorphosis, which provides an introduction to their spring IB Unit: Interdependence is essential to the web of life. Grade 1Leading up to the classroom IB unit: People invent to solve problems, the class began a unit on Simple Machines. The students were truly inspired by several Rube Goldberg videos. They made their own inventions using pulleys, gears, and levers. After experimenting with the properties of magnets, the students were challenged with creating an invention that used magnets. They wrote the steps that were required to make a simple spoon catapult. Then they followed directions to construct a more complex catapault that flung marshmallows across the room! Next, the students took a look at water and the Water Cycle. They experienced how water molecules are attracted to each other and they learned about different types of clouds and what their appearance in the sky reveals about the weather. We took a walk to the woods to look for signs of life in winter and the students enjoyed crunching the brittle ice beneath their feet. Currently, in LTL class, Grade 1 is learning about Life Cycles of Animals and metamorphosis which provides an introduction to their spring IB Unit: Interdependence is essential to the web of life. Grade 2Grade 2 continued their unit on Mechanical Energy. The class conducted ramp trials, using toy cars, to test how the elevation of a ramp affects the distance the car travels. They also tested how friction affects the distance traveled by changing the surface of the ramp. The various birds that hang out at the bird feeders on our school campus initiated the next unit of study. The students made miniature illustrations of local birds using shrink plastic material. They assembled imaginary birds using random beaks, feet, body shapes, etc. Then they labeled their imaginary bird with the beak and feet adaptations that would enable their bird to survive. Next, Grade 2 Began a unit on Earth Science to coordinate with the classroom IB Unit of Inquiry,” The Earth's surface is constantly reshaping itself and changing the landscape.” The students learned about the super continent Pangea, tectonic plates, and how they move to transform the surface of the earth. They experienced how caves form with an experiment that involved vinegar and seashells and they watched stalactites form from a supersaturated solution of Epsom salts. The students completed a cave project, complete with windows that can be opened to view the various features of a limestone cave. Grade 3During this time period Grade 3 continued their unit on Mechanical Energy. The students conducted ramp trials, using toy cars, to test how the elevation of a ramp affects the distance the car travels. They also tested how friction affects the distance traveled by changing the surface of the ramp. Grade 3 constructed Coffee Can Racers that clearly demonstrated potential and kinetic energy. Then they used these racers to calculate their speed when tested on carpet and then on a tile floor. Solar Energy was also explored using solar panels to propel a racer car, to spin a propeller, and to light a bulb. Next, Grade 3 Began a unit on Earth Science to coordinate with the classroom IB Unit of Inquiry,” The Earth's surface is constantly reshaping itself and changing the landscape.” The students learned about the supercontinent Pangaea, tectonic plates, and how the plates move to transform the surface of the earth. They experienced how caves form with an experiment that involved vinegar and seashells and they watched stalactites form from a super saturated solution of Epsom salts. The students completed a cave project, complete with windows that can be opened to view the various features of a limestone cave. Grade 4 For the remainder of the second term, the class worked on a unit of inquiry on the Ocean to complement the classroom IB unit. The students first learned about plate tectonics and how they create both landforms and sea floor features. Next they completed a diagram of the sea floor, which illustrated how tectonic plate movement creates underwater ridges, trenches, guyots, and islands. The students used sonar readings to graph a profile of the Atlantic Ocean sea floor at 39 degrees N latitude, from Cape May, NJ to Cape Roca, Portugal. This profile was combined with work completed in Art class to create a colorful mural of sea life. The class learned about the inhabitants of various ocean environments such as the Deep, Coral Seas, the Open Ocean, and Frozen Seas. Students researched an assigned marine animal and completed a project that included a written report and a visual aid. The Ocean unit spanned eight weeks and was quite comprehensive. Next, Grade 4 will begin a unit on the atmosphere, weather, and climate change. Grade 5 During this time span the fifth grade class learned about microscopes and how to use them. The students used their newly acquired knowledge to investigate cells. They made slides of plant cells, using epidermal layers of onion bulbs, and they made slides of animal cells using epithelial cells swabbed from inside their mouth. Students learned the different organelles of plant and animal cells and what the role of each organelle is in the cell. They made miniature models of cells using shrink plastic. The grand finale of this unit was the Edible (or not) Cell Project. Currently, Grade 5 is studying the Organization of Living Things and will be moving on to organs and organ systems.
Students in the fifth grade have been assigned an Edible (or not) Cell Project. Students have been given a detailed description of the project and an accompanying rubric .The cell project should be a manageable size 12"x12" or smaller.( The 6"x6" maximum size limit listed on the information sheet was deemed to be too small by the students.) Examples of edible cell projects can be "googled". The Project is due Tuesday, March 3. Late submissions will lose two points per day.
Please email me with any questions. [email protected] Toddler Class In October, the toddler class enjoyed throwing bags full of autumn leaves in the air and watching them drift to the floor-inside the classroom! They listened to a rendition of Autumn Leaves as sung by Nat King Cole as they created leaf collages using Mod Page to preserve the brilliant colors. For the Thanksgiving Celebration, the students baked Pumpkin Sunflower bread, using wheat that was grown in the PJS garden. They took a nature walk around the school grounds, looking for animal homes. We discovered that a groundhog had taken up residence under the garden shed and had dug quite a hole. We also discovered a network of vole trails and a cozy nest that they had constructed from dried grasses and cattail fluff. The Toddler class had fun with the unit on Light. First we read " I See Myself" and then conducted explorations into how you can see yourself. We used aluminum foil, mirrors, a dark room with no light, and flashlights. A black light introduced the students to ultraviolet light. Bowls of water glowed when fluorescent paint was mixed in, a glow in the dark volcano erupted, and the students squished and smushed Glowing Goo in the eerie black light. For a pre holiday treat, the class made pancakes, using wheat from the garden. They topped them with honey and sauteed apples. Yum! Pre K The Preschool bid goodbye to the autumn leaves with a nature walk around the school grounds.The students enjoyed jumping in piles of leaves and tossing them in the air. They listened to Nat King Cole sing Autumn Leaves as they created collages with the brilliantly colored leaves . For the Thanksgiving Celebration, the class baked Carrot Honey bread, using wheat grown in the PJS Garden. We spent three classes exploring Light to coordinate with the classroom IB unit "Light is essential to the life and well being of living things". First we read I Can See Myself and then conducted activities that explored how we can see ourselves. We used aluminum foil, mirrors, a room with no light, and flashlights. Students discovered how light can be broken into the colors of the rainbow with a prism, and how light can be bent when it travels through water. To determine if plants need light to grow, the Pre K class planted bean seeds, placing half of the pots in light and half in a closed box. The initial results were surprising! A black light introduced the students to ultraviolet light. Bowls of water glowed when fluorescent painted was added, a glow in the dark volcano erupted, and the students smushed and mixed Glowing Goo in the eerie black light. Finally, in response to numerous requests for Learning through Pancakes class, the preK class made pancakes, using wheat grown in the garden. They topped their pancakes with honey and sauteed apples. In Learning through Pancakes class, the students learned where the ingredients for the pancakes originated, how pancakes puff up when they cook, and that pancakes can be a healthy food. Kindergarten The Kindergarten class wrapped up the growing season with a harvest of the potatoes and a garden clean up. Then the students planted the rye that will be harvested next July. They learned how to thresh the grains, winnow , and grind them. The class took a nature walk, matching fallen leaves to their trees and looking for insects under decomposing logs. After reading The Giving Tree, students drew an illustration of their favorite part of the story. For the Thanksgiving Celebration, Kindergarten baked Pumpkin Corn Bread, using wheat grown in the PJS garden. They also made mozzarella cheese following their visit to Cherry Grove Farm. Next the class began a unit on The States of Matter. First the students packed together in a tight group, then they spread out a bit, finally they spread throughout the room to demonstrate how molecules are distributed in solids, liquids, and gasses. We "fried" ice to show how matter can change state. We mixed a solid and a liquid to make gas. The students conducted explorations with the states of matter, discovering that solids can have the same size and shape but different weights ( density); air has weight and mass; and liquids take the shape of the container they are in. A final activity used a mixture of peroxide, yeast, and soap that erupted into a mountain of warm squishy foam (an exothermic reaction). The students learned about " My Plate" which is a guide to healthy eating. They cut pictures from supermarket flyers and pasted them on the plate to show a healthy meal. They used the technology room to play "My Plate Blast Off " Game. Students had to choose healthy foods for their meals that didn't exceed the daily calorie count for their age group and included 60 minutes of activity in order to "blast off". Finally, they made a Healthy Popcorn snack. First we popped some samples of store bought popcorn and PJS grown popcorn and voted on the favorite. Students favored the popcorn from our garden,saying it had more flavor. Next we made some sunbutter by chopping sunflower seeds into a paste in a food processor. Then we mixed the sunbutter, soybutter , and some vanilla , heated it, and poured it over a big bowl of popped corn. It was delicious! Grade 1 Grade 1 wrapped up the growing season by harvesting the potatoes and composting the remaining garden plants. Then the students planted the wheat that will be harvested next July. They learned how to thresh the grains, shell Anasazi beans, and make applesauce using only one ingredient-apples! The class bid goodbye to the autumn leaves with a nature walk. They matched fallen leaves to the trees they fell from and looked for hibernating insects under logs. After reading The Giving Tree, students drew illustrations of their favorite part of the story. For the Thanksgiving Celebration, Grade 1 baked Ms D's Gluten and Dairy Free bread. Amaranth flour, coconut flour, and garbanzo flour were some of the ingredients. Following their visit to Cherry Grove Farm, the students made mozzarella cheese topped with sweet cherry tomatoes from the PJS garden. Next the class began a unit on The States of Matter. First the students packed together in a group, then they spread out a bit, finally they spread throughout the room to demonstrate how the atoms are distributed in solids, liquids, and gasses. We "fried" ice to show how matter can change state. We mixed a solid and a liquid to make a gas. The students conducted explorations with the states of matter, discovering that solids can have the same size and shape but can have a different weight (density); liquids take the shape of the container that they are in; and air has weight and mass. A final activity involved the combination of yeast, peroxide, and soap which produced a mountain of warm, squishy foam. The class learned about healthy eating with "My Plate" which is a guide to a nutritious daily diet. They drew pictures on their plate to show a healthy meal. They played" My Plate Blast Off Game" in the technology room. Students were required to choose healthy foods for three meals and a snack that didn't exceed the daily calorie count for their age group. They also had to include 60 minutes of activity. Students who were successful were awarded certificates for their wise choices. Finally, for a pre-holiday treat, Grade 1 made healthy Popcorn Balls, using honey, peanut butter, vanilla, and air-popped popcorn. Grade 2Grade 2 began a unit on Sound to complement the classroom IB POI "Sound is a tool for communication and creative expression". First the class made Sound Maps. Outside they found a spot to individually sit for three minutes, while they observed the sounds all around them. Then they placed an "X" in the middle of a sheet of paper to indicate their location on the map. They drew illustrations or symbols of the sounds at the appropriate position and distance from their observation spot. Students then shared their observations as recorded from the different locations. In the LTL classroom students rotated through a Sound Lab that consisted of 10 stations. Each station was equipped with instructions and materials for the sound activity The activities demonstrated how sound is a form of energy that travels in waves known as compressional waves, sound is caused by vibrations, and vibrations travel at different speeds through different mediums. Students were required to complete a Sound Waves activity sheet at each station. Finally the students used a variety of "homemade" musical instruments to experiment with the properties of sound. Next Grade 2 began a unit on Motion, another form of energy. They learned about potential and kinetic energy. The book Sheep in a Jeep was used to illustrate different forms of forces and motion. Students made up sentences that described the forces and motion in the book using a selection of words. The class played "Forces and Motion" charades. Each student was given a card that included an illustration of a person using energy to perform a motion and classmates had to guess what the person on the card was doing. Students will be conducting explorations of forces and energy in the coming weeks. Grade 3 Grade 3 completed their projects on the Endangered Birds of the U.S. Each student wrote a report on the bird he or she was studying that included information about the characteristics and habitat of the bird and the reason(s) the bird is endangered. They each sewed a beautiful felt model of their bird. For the Thanksgiving Celebration, Grade 3 baked Harvest Pumpkin Apple bread, using wheat grown in the PJS garden. A unit on Sound followed, to complement the classroom IB POI "Sound is a tool for communication and creative expression". The students rotated through a Sound Lab that consisted of 10 stations. Each station was equipped with instructions and materials for the activity. These activities demonstrated how sound is a form of energy that travels in waves known as compressional waves, sound is caused by vibrations, and vibrations travel through different mediums at different speeds. Finally the students used "homemade" instruments to experiment with the different properties of sound. Next Grade 3 began a unit on Energy, Forces, and Motion. The students read the book Sheep in a Jeep which illustrates many forces and motion. They constructed Coffee Can Racers that clearly demonstrated potential and kinetic energy. Next the class conducted Ramp Trials with Hot Wheels cars. The variable for the first trial was ramp height. Students will also be exploring the effects of friction on speed and distance when they add different surface textures to the ramps. Grade 4 Grade 4 completed a unit on Bridges. The students researched information about loads, forces, building materials, and types of bridges. Each student compiled the information into a "flip book". Then they used their knowledge to make their own bridges using craft sticks. For the Thanksgiving Celebration, Grade 4 baked Cranberry Brown bread, using wheat and rye grown in the PJS garden. Next the class began a unit of inquiry on the Ocean to complement the classroom IB unit. The students first learned about plate tectonics and how they create both land forms and sea floor features. Next they completed a diagram of the sea floor, which illustrated how tectonic plate movement creates underwater ridges, trenches, guyots, and islands. Finally, they used sonar readings to graph a profile of the Atlantic Ocean sea floor at 34 degrees N latitude, from Cape May , NJ to Cape Roca, Portugal. Students were assigned a Marine Animal project which is due on January 14, 2015. Grade 5 Before they bid "adieu" to the autumn leaves, Grade 5 learned why and how leaves change color in autumn. The students completed a chromatography activity which revealed the pigments that are masked by chlorophyll and the colors that form in response to autumnal events. They finished the Plant unit by looking at Plant Processes (photosynthesis, respiration, and transpiration) and Tropisms. For the Thanksgiving Celebration, Grade 5 made Russian Black bread, using wheat and rye grown in the PJS garden.
The silkworms finally emerged from their gossamer cocoons, mated, and laid eggs. A few of the cocoons were golden yellow, rather than white. We hope to raise more silkworms in the spring, when the mulberry leaves emerge. Some of the students expressed a curiosity about kimchi, a Korean dish that is often mentioned in the book Project Mulberry. So we made a batch of it using cabbage, garlic, ginger, radishes, and scallions. After allowing the mixture to ferment for one week, some culinary adventurous students tasted the dish. Their reactions were swift, some loving it and some declaring it the worst thing they had ever tasted. They will probably never forget how they made kimchi in fifth grade! Toddler Class The Toddler Class began the school year with an insect search. After examining many, many leaves the students discovered two Eastern Black Swallowtail caterpillars on the parsley in the herb garden. The students were able to observe them as they grew and changed into brown, papery chrysalids. We took a walk to the frog pond were we saw many tadpoles and finally netted a fat, slippery bullfrog. The toddlers had the opportunity to observe a caged squirrel in the classroom and discovered that he liked to eat many of the same foods that people like, such as apples, sunflower seeds, and peanuts. Before the leaves had a chance to change to their fall colors, the class made an autumn leaf mural by taping green leaves to a table, covering them with sheets of paper, then using colorful "cupcake" crayons to discover the shapes beneath. We made Healthy Haystack Cookies using honey rather than sugar, cocoa rather than chocolate chips, and coconut oil rather than butter. Finally the students learned how to husk and shell ears of popcorn that were harvested from the PJS Garden. Their reward was a bowl of freshly popped popcorn! Preschool Class The preschool class began the school year with an insect search. They examined many different plants before finding Eastern Black Swallowtail caterpillars on some parsley in the herb garden. The students took a walk to the Frog Pond where we netted for frogs and tadpoles which were brought back to the classroom for observation. The class learned about squirrels and had the opportunity to meet "Harvey" a caged, domesticated squirrel. Students added materials such as pine needles, sticks, and dried leaves to his cage to make a cozy "drey" or squirrel's nest. Before the leaves had a chance to change to their brilliant fall colors, the class made an autumn leaf mural. They taped green leaves to the table, covered them with sheets of paper, then used colorful 'cupcake' crayons to rub over the paper, discovering the shapes beneath. A watercolor wash completed their work of art. We made Healthy Haystack Cookies using rolled oats, honey, coconut oil, and cocoa. Finally, the students learned how to husk and shell ears of popcorn that were harvested from the PJS Garden. They learned that the tiny amount of water in each kernel is what causes it to pop when it is heated. Then they had the fun of watching it pop and, at last, getting to eat it. KindergartenThe Kindergarten class began the school year with a trip to the PJS Garden, where they harvested beans and tomatoes. They learned about the lifecycle and migration of the monarch butterfly and spent time outdoors, searching in vain for the once abundant monarch caterpillars. The students learned about four common habitats and the animals that live in each of them. They learned about the parts of insects, they netted for insects in the Upper Meadow, and then they observed and sketched them. The class looked at different leaf shapes and made bark rubbings. They learned about popcorn and tested it to see if it was ready to harvest. It did not pop because it still contained too much moisture but a raccoon raid on the PJS Garden hastened the corn harvest. A Rube Goldberg inspired video How Things Move got students thinking about how they could construct the contraptions in the movie. The Kindergarten read "Grungy Germ" and learned about the importance of thorough hand washing. Then they had the opportunity to use a special gel that glows under black light to see how well they had washed their hands. Many students were shocked to see how many "germs" remained on their hands. The class read A Tree Is Nice and completed an paper activity that included windows that could be opened to view the creatures that make the tree their home. Finally, they harvested the heirloom Anasazi bean pods that had been allowed to dry in the garden. Grade 1 Grade 1 harvested the tomatoes and green beans growing in the PJS Garden. They learned about the lifecycle and migration of the monarch butterfly and searched the milkweed plants on the school property for monarch caterpillars. The class learned about four common habitats and the animals that live in each of them. Wheat that was grown in the garden was threshed and winnowed by the students, in preparation of grinding the seeds into flour. Grade 1 students reviewed Insect Anatomy and drew illustrations of various live insects. The class had the privilege of releasing the one monarch butterfly that emerged from its chrysalis. They harvested, husked, and shelled popcorn and sketched the kernels before and after popping. The students read "Grungy Germ" and learned about the importance of thorough hand washing. Then they had the opportunity to use a special gel that glows under black light to see how well they had washed their hands. Many students were shocked to see how many "germs" remained on their hands. The class learned to make delicious mozzarella cheese, using milk, citric acid, and liquid rennet. Finally, the heirloom Anasazi beans were harvested from the garden. Grade 2 Grade 2 began the school year by drawing detailed personal bioglyphs.The students used a code to draw a picture of themselves that reflects their physical appearance, birth date, likes and dislikes,number of siblings, etc. Then the students were challenged to identify their fellow students' bioglyphs using the code. The class explored the meadow and used the booklet "Wildflowers of the PJS Meadow" as a field guide to identify the flowers in bloom there. Then they planted native grasses in the meadow to increase the diversity of the flora. Next Grade 2 looked at the Color Spectrum and tied that with the colors in nature. Using their prior knowledge of how trees appear through the seasons, students made predictions and drew pictures of how a particular tree on the school grounds will look as the school year progresses. They learned of the plight of Martha, the last living passenger pigeon.This tied in with our look at monarch butterflies, which were once prolific at PJS. Now they are a species in crisis, in danger of becoming extinct, like the passenger pigeon. Many classes were held outdoors where students had the opportunity to experience the change in seasons.They conducted an inventory of the Upper Meadow, learning leaf ID. The class collected various leaves, then played a competitive game of Capture the Leaf, which used their leaf identification skills. Grade 2 used their five senses to describe autumn. The students read "Grungy Germ" and learned about the importance of thorough hand washing. Then they had the opportunity to use a special gel that glows under black light to see how well they had washed their hands.Many students were surprised to see how many "germs" remained on their hands after washing. Grade 3 Grade 3 began the school year with a trip to the garden where they harvested beans and tomatoes. The students drew detailed personal bioglyphs .They used a code to draw a picture of themselves that reflects their physical appearance, birth date, likes and dislikes, number of siblings, etc. Then they were challenged to identify their classmates' bioglyhs using the code. The class used the booklet that they made last year,'Wildflowers of the PJS Meadow" as a field guide to identify the flowers blooming in the Wet Meadow. Next, the class looked at visible colors of the electromagnetic spectrum. They learned that the color an object appears to be is actually a reflection of that color: the other colors of the spectrum are absorbed by the object and are not visible. The students learned of the importance of thorough hand washing with a special gel that glows under a blacklight. After washing their hands, they were shocked to see the amount of "germs" left on their skin. They learned of the plight of Martha, the last living passenger pigeon.This tied in with our review of the lifecycle and migration of monarch butterflies, which were once prolific at PJS. Now they are a species in crisis, in danger of becoming extinct, like the passenger pigeon. In response, Grade 3 students have been researching six different Endangered birds of the U.S.and thinking of ways we can help keep them from becoming extinct, like Martha. Grade 4 Grade 4 began the year with a unit on Nutrition to coordinate with the classroom IB unit of inquiry. The students learned how to choose foods for a healthy diet, using a points system. They played the Nutrition Blastoff Game which required the selection of a balanced daily diet with lots of fruits and vegetables and 60 minutes of exercise daily in order to" blastoff". What People Eat in a Day gave an eye opening glimpse into the disparities of food distribution worldwide. The students researched the agriculture of some countries that lie on the same latitude as Lawrence, NJ and found that many of the crops they grow are the same as grown here. Grade 4 learned of the merits of cattails, which have been used for hundreds of years for food and shelter. They dug many, many cattail roots, scrubbed , chopped,and mashed them to extract the starch, which was allowed to dry into flour. The flour was then used to make Cattail Pancakes.The whole process was a lot of work and gave us new respect for the native Americans who had to process their own foods. Next the class took a trip to the Farmer's Market to purchase some supplies for pizza. Students ground wheat seeds into flour; they cooked tomatoes, onions, garlic and herbs to make sauce; and they used milk, citric, acid, and rennet to make fresh mozzarella cheese. The "from scratch" pizzas were delicious! A trip to Wegman's Market was educational and everyone had fun sampling the foods. Finally, the students learned of the importance of proper hand washing. They used a special gel that glows under black light to see how well they had washed their hands and were surprised to see how many "germs" remained on their skin. This led to the exploration of microbes. Students swabbed various surfaces around the school and cultured the samples in a petri dish. The microbes that grew were quite colorful. Currently, we are repeating the sampling to see if we get the same results. Grade 5To begin the school year, Grade 5 students were introduced to the mathematics of the Fibonacci sequence. Then they used the spiral to draw an object in nature, following the mathematical sequence. Students learned about the life cycle and care of Bombyx mori an insect commonly known as the silkworm. Soon after the miniscule eggs arrived and hatched, students were each assigned a pair of the tiny caterpillars to raise to the adult stage, the silkworm moth. In coordination with the silkworm rearing, the students are reading Project Mulberry in the classroom. Each day, the silkworms devour mounds of mulberry leaves. They have grown from barely visible larvae to 2 1/2" long caterpillars which will soon begin spinning their silken cocoons. The students have been studying Plant Morphology ( plant parts and what they do). They have learned about different types of roots, the functions of stems, and the parts of leaves. The class learned why leaves change color in the fall and the different pigments in the leaves that form these colors. They will be conducting a chromatography activity which exposes the hidden pigments.
A leaf Collection Project was assigned on September 17th. The final project is due on November 5th. Please contact me with any questions. [email protected] All autumn leaf specimens should be collected at this point, even if they have not changed color. Press the leaves as instructed. By November 1st all leaves should be pressed, ready to identify and mount. The project is due November 5th. If you have any questions, please email me at [email protected]
Grade 5 students were assigned a Leaf Collection project on September 17. Specimens should be collected no later than this weekend because the leaves will be soon be changing to their autumn colors. A fall collection date will be posted here as well as on the students' Leaf Project Timeline sheet. Please remember to follow the detailed directions of the assignment. Most importantly, don't forget to press your specimens!
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