Pre-K
Bird Study
August 22 - September 10, 2016 Teacher: Beckie Carbaugh Students: 15 PK students start the year off by learning about birds. They discover what makes a bird different from other animals and what makes them so special. Throughout their unit they discuss, habitats, nests, and what they eat. They always have fun practicing how to be still and watch for birds outside. The classroom is always equipped with binoculars, bird books, and a bird checklist so they can learn to identify birds throughout the year with the help of the bird feeding station located outside the classroom window. Worm Study March 28 - May 30, 2017 Teacher: Beckie Carbaugh Students: 15 As part of the PK curriculum, students learn about earthworms and how important they are to helping our garden grow. Students build a “wormery” by layering rocks, soil, and organic matter and then observe them build their tunnels over the course of several months. Students have the opportunity to feed the worms fruit and vegetable waste from their lunchboxes and over time they are able to see the decomposition of organic matter. Throughout the unit, students are given the opportunity to go on worm hunts and observe them in their natural habitats. This past year, students collected worm castings to add to their raised garden beds. |
Pre-K Class building their own bird nests out of found objects. August 22-September 10, 2016
Pre-K class observing live worms. March 28 - May 30, 2017
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Kindergarten class visiting Summers Farm in Frederick Maryland to learn about the life cycle of pumpkins. October 15-19, 2017
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Kindergarten
Plant Life Cycle
October 15 - 19, 2017 Teacher: Dan Wirsz Students: 15 The students plant seeds in the school garden beds and observe and take care of the plants as they grow. They watered, weeded, and watched the plants change through the different stages. We also go on a field trip to summers farm and learn about the life cycle of the pumpkin and get a pumpkin for each student and for the classroom. We also put the large pumpkin in a wild area where it can decompose and be eaten by natures consumers. |
1st & 2nd
Plant Study
March 2017 Teacher: Juli Pumroy Students: 21 To help students learn about the parts of plants and the plant life cycle we learn about in our Science curriculum, we plant kidney and lima beans in ziplock bags filled with soil and then hang them in the window. The students love to observe their beans and see the changes that happen. As the beans sprout and grow, we are able to discuss which stage of the plant life cycle it’s in, as well as discussing the parts of the plant and its job. We also discuss what should happen next in its life cycle. When the plant gets too big for the ziplock bag, the students are able to take it home and replant it. Butterfly Life Cycle Study March 31 - April 28, 2017 Teacher: Juli Pumroy Students: 21 As part of our insect life cycle study, we raise and observe the lifecycle of Painted Lady Butterflies. We receive a class set of Painted Lady caterpillars. Each student gets a small plastic cup willed with food for their caterpillar. The kids enjoy watching the caterpillars grow as they eat. Once the caterpillar has eaten enough, it will attach itself to the lid of the cup and create a chrysalis. The lids with the chrysalis get transferred to a mesh butterfly pavilion where the kids can watch and wait excitedly for the butterflies to emerge. The kids love to check on them throughout the day and are ecstatic when they finally emerge. We keep them in the classroom a week or two, feeding them sugar water from flowers and observing them before having a "Release Party" and setting them free. |
1st- 2nd Graders sprouted seeds while learning about plant lifecycles. March 2017
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3rd-4th Graders visiting the Montgomery County Recycling Center.
April 2017
3rd-4th Grade watch waste being recycled at the Montgomery County Recycling Center. April 2017
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3rd and 4th
Waste Management and Recycling
Date: April, 2017 Teacher: Joy Nugent Students: 24 3rd and 4th graders completed an entire unit on waste management and recycling. To finish up the unit, students took a trip to the Montgomery County Recycling Center where they learned about recycling, reusing, and waste reduction. They also learned about the different tpes of recyclabs and what items can be recycled. |
5th and 6th
Wall-e: A Study of the Human Impact on Earth January 16-February 22, 2018 Teacher: Jake Villanueva Students: 18 Students watched the Wall-e movie and then discussed human impact on the earth. Students made a data chart to catalog what kind of trash was being thrown out in the classroom. They converted the data chart into a graph to show what was being thrown out. After analyzing the data students came up with ideas to reduce trash. One of the ideas was to buy a container to recycle plastic bottles and cans as well. Also to compost any produce that has not been cooked. https://www.davis.k12.ut.us/cms/lib/UT01001306/Centricity/Domain/8250/Movie%20Worksheets/Wall-e.pdf |
5th-6th Graders watchng Wall-e during their environmental unit. January - February 2018
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7th-8th Grade testing soil samples. September 2016 - March 2017
7th-8th Grade study stream quality during Outdoor School. September 10-12, 2017
7th-8th Grade observe healthy soil during Outdoor School. September 10-12, 2017
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7th-8th Grade comparing soil from unwintered soil beds and wintered soil beds. September 2016 - March 2017
7th-8th Grade study stream quality during Outdoor School. September 10-12, 2017
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7th and 8th
Soil Bed (Ph Level)
September 2016 - March 2017 Teacher: Angie Singh Students: 8 Students participated in a soil study. 7th-8th graders gathered a baseline as to how healthy the PH level of our soil bed. The students tested the PH level and realized that the level was very acidic. The students planted barley and added organic fertilizer after the barley reached 12” inches the barley was mixed back into the soil to break down and replenish the needed nutrients. After 6 months the soil was tested and it revealed a neutral PH. Outdoor School September 10-12, 2017 Teacher: Angie Singh Students: 12 Students visited Mt. Aetna Retreat Center for 3 days and 2 nights. The students explored concepts such as a dirt kitchen and soil conservation. Students also identified native bird species, and how water moves. Students also participated in a stream study to identify healthy stream habitat. |
