Start of the science year

Today marks the first deep day of science study. We've set the stage for this study with a related read aloud, an introductory slideshow, and lots of teamwork focus and activities. We've also changed our minds a lot about how to fit science into the teaching/learning schedule, a schedule filled with reading, writing, math, social studies, and lots of special events. For now, our science will fit in with what we have named Science Mornings, mornings where students rotate through three related science activities. For example today the fifth graders will make watershed models with me, engage in a water cycle activity and introduction with a colleague, and take a deep look at rivers and our local SUASCO watershed with another colleague. It will be a morning of connected learning about water systems and the general and specific role that water plays on Earth and why this is important.

One reason I'm a fan of standards is that those standards guide our study in ways that connect with years past and the years ahead. There's a lot to know out there, and the standards framework provides a way to ensure that children get a strong foundation of useful knowledge, concept, and skill. How we teach those standards continues to grow and deepen as we learn more and the world around us changes. Our science study has a climate change connection too since as students learn about Earth and space systems, they also learn how and why they can care for those systems in life enriching ways.

Where is our science study headed?

• Water cycle, watershed, and river studies
• Wetlands review
• Interconnectedness of people and the environment
• The sun, solar energy, solar ovens
• Water conservation, phase changes, water filters
• Plant parts, plant packets, plant cycles
• Climate change and climate change projects
• Space lessons - winter
• All about matter - winter lessons
• Composting (moved to spring due to Triple E threat in fall)

We're on our way.