WOW! This school year is flying by! I can't believe we are half way through the year! We have been learning sooo much is science class! Before winter break Kindergarten did a science experiment with candy canes using the scientific method, it's always great fun to hear their hypotheses.... without fail I ALWAYS have at least one kid tell me our experiment is going to blow up! Thankfully that hasn't happened! First graders were engineers using the engineering design process to change the ending of the Gingerbread man story. Nobody likes it that he gets eaten by the fox, so my first graders build him a bridge using marshmallows and toothpicks so he could cross the river without the fox! Great designs! Finally my 2nd and 3rd graders had a ton of fun learning about solutions and making a super saturated solution to grow Borax snowflake crystals!
Now that we are back and the weather has been chilly we are continuing our theme of snowflakes and learning the science behind their formation. Are snowflakes really unique? Are snowflakes just frozen rain drops? We are finding these answers out, as well as learning about my favorite blast from the past guy Snowflake Bentley!
Another BIG announcement is that our vermicomposting worms are HERE! Yay! The kids are super excited and as spring approaches we will be learning a lot more about worms and why vermicomposting is a good thing to implement. At this point students know that our worms are "working" worms and NOT the worms you would be able to dig up in your backyard. Once a week I will place a bucket in the lunchroom for students to "feed the worms". Students will have an opportunity to place a little bit of their leftover lunch in the bucket instead of the trash can. They are learning what types of foods our worms like and there will be a big poster to help them remember. IF THIS IS A PROJECT YOU WOULD LIKE TO START UP AT YOUR HOUSE, PLEASE SHOOT ME AN EMAIL AND I CAN HELP YOU GET STARTED! [email protected] Our vermicomposting worms are going to help us move into our environmental until later this spring.
Finally, we have had two WONDERFUL volunteers build us (3) blue bird boxes! I am THRILLED! I will be going to get a post for one this week to install out in our fields. HOWEVER, if anyone would like to help me raising or contributing funds to purchase two more poles that would be greatly appreciated! Poles can be purchased at ACE hardware right up the block for ~$20. Also in the spring I will be looking for friends to help raise funds to purchase some squirrel baffles for our poles so that the snakes can't get to our baby birds! Thanks in advance for your help!
As always, I love parent involvement, and feel free to shoot me an email or swing by my classroom if you have any questions!
Cheers,
Mrs. Brinchek
Now that we are back and the weather has been chilly we are continuing our theme of snowflakes and learning the science behind their formation. Are snowflakes really unique? Are snowflakes just frozen rain drops? We are finding these answers out, as well as learning about my favorite blast from the past guy Snowflake Bentley!
Another BIG announcement is that our vermicomposting worms are HERE! Yay! The kids are super excited and as spring approaches we will be learning a lot more about worms and why vermicomposting is a good thing to implement. At this point students know that our worms are "working" worms and NOT the worms you would be able to dig up in your backyard. Once a week I will place a bucket in the lunchroom for students to "feed the worms". Students will have an opportunity to place a little bit of their leftover lunch in the bucket instead of the trash can. They are learning what types of foods our worms like and there will be a big poster to help them remember. IF THIS IS A PROJECT YOU WOULD LIKE TO START UP AT YOUR HOUSE, PLEASE SHOOT ME AN EMAIL AND I CAN HELP YOU GET STARTED! [email protected] Our vermicomposting worms are going to help us move into our environmental until later this spring.
Finally, we have had two WONDERFUL volunteers build us (3) blue bird boxes! I am THRILLED! I will be going to get a post for one this week to install out in our fields. HOWEVER, if anyone would like to help me raising or contributing funds to purchase two more poles that would be greatly appreciated! Poles can be purchased at ACE hardware right up the block for ~$20. Also in the spring I will be looking for friends to help raise funds to purchase some squirrel baffles for our poles so that the snakes can't get to our baby birds! Thanks in advance for your help!
As always, I love parent involvement, and feel free to shoot me an email or swing by my classroom if you have any questions!
Cheers,
Mrs. Brinchek