Oh my goodness, where did summer go?
I can't believe we are almost headed back to school!
Let's start with the summer updates:
I hope you followed me on twitter and facebook this summer and saw all the great learning that took place in San Diego! I was fortunate enough to be chosen to head to San Diego this past summer for a week long Sustainability Workshop. It was awesome connecting with educators from all around the world! I learned some great new things that I can't wait to bring back to Abbotts Creek!
Our Bluebird Nest Box near the track was hopping this summer! Another pair of Bluebirds moved in after we all left for the summer and three more little birds hatched and fledged! This has been a VERY successful Nest Box especially for it's first year! With all the successful broods, I have decided to look into and get pricing for a nest cam which would allow our students to get a more intimate look into the secret world of the Bluebirds! I plan on creating a Donors Choose project soon! Please keep checking my website for more details under "Volunteer" tab.
A Big THANK YOU to all the families that helped water our Monarch Waystation (Butterfly Garden) this summer! The garden is looking great! We did have some plant loss as expected with the heat of the summer, and will be looking to replace/add more plants this fall and into the spring. We will also be looking at additional aphid control for the spring. The milkweed and butterfly plants were infested with the aphids and our newly established garden just didn't have enough beneficial bugs (ladybugs/praying mantids) to keep the aphids under control. One option we will be exploring will be to hatch and release praying mantids into our garden.
Our School Yard has been Certified as a Wildlife Habitat Site by the National Wildlife Foundation! Our great work creating a Butterfly Garden, adding Nest Boxes & Toad Abodes, and the natural beauty of our school campus has allowed us to become certified! It is GREAT that we can take learning outside and utilize our entire campus as a classroom!
Back to School News!
I think the biggest news is that I will be teaching K-5th grade this year! Yay! I can't wait to meet all of my students! Whether you are new to Abbotts, just starting Kindergarten, or an old friend please stop by my room during Meet the Teacher to see some of the great stuff we will be doing in class and see how you can help grow our program!
Do you like space? Our new Citizen Science Program that we are adding is growing tomatoes from seeds that were aboard the International Space Station! The data we collect will help scientists working on finding ways to allow humans to stay in space for a longer duration! I'm VERY excited to share this program with our students! Other Citizen Science programs that we will be continuing this year include our CoCoRaHS Program, Nest Monitoring Program, Shad in the Classroom partnership with the Natural Science Museum, and helping NCSU Turtle Rescue Team! Science is most meaningful when it is authentic.
Worm Wednesday will be returning to ACE after Labor Day! I know the kids look forward to helping feed our vermicomposting worms lunch leftovers! I was able to harvest the compost this summer which we will be using to help grow our "Space Tomatoes"! We are SUSTAINABLE at Abbotts Creek!!!!
Please don't forget to check out the "Volunteer" tab on my website to see opportunities to help grow our program! Also check out the "Class Work" tab to see upcoming science class projects and opportunities!
Are you following us on twitter? Facebook? Stay up to date with what we are working on in class by "liking" us!
Once again, thank you for giving me the opportunity to teach your kids. They are AMAZING future scientists & engineers!
Cheers,
Mrs. Brinchek
I can't believe we are almost headed back to school!
Let's start with the summer updates:
I hope you followed me on twitter and facebook this summer and saw all the great learning that took place in San Diego! I was fortunate enough to be chosen to head to San Diego this past summer for a week long Sustainability Workshop. It was awesome connecting with educators from all around the world! I learned some great new things that I can't wait to bring back to Abbotts Creek!
Our Bluebird Nest Box near the track was hopping this summer! Another pair of Bluebirds moved in after we all left for the summer and three more little birds hatched and fledged! This has been a VERY successful Nest Box especially for it's first year! With all the successful broods, I have decided to look into and get pricing for a nest cam which would allow our students to get a more intimate look into the secret world of the Bluebirds! I plan on creating a Donors Choose project soon! Please keep checking my website for more details under "Volunteer" tab.
A Big THANK YOU to all the families that helped water our Monarch Waystation (Butterfly Garden) this summer! The garden is looking great! We did have some plant loss as expected with the heat of the summer, and will be looking to replace/add more plants this fall and into the spring. We will also be looking at additional aphid control for the spring. The milkweed and butterfly plants were infested with the aphids and our newly established garden just didn't have enough beneficial bugs (ladybugs/praying mantids) to keep the aphids under control. One option we will be exploring will be to hatch and release praying mantids into our garden.
Our School Yard has been Certified as a Wildlife Habitat Site by the National Wildlife Foundation! Our great work creating a Butterfly Garden, adding Nest Boxes & Toad Abodes, and the natural beauty of our school campus has allowed us to become certified! It is GREAT that we can take learning outside and utilize our entire campus as a classroom!
Back to School News!
I think the biggest news is that I will be teaching K-5th grade this year! Yay! I can't wait to meet all of my students! Whether you are new to Abbotts, just starting Kindergarten, or an old friend please stop by my room during Meet the Teacher to see some of the great stuff we will be doing in class and see how you can help grow our program!
Do you like space? Our new Citizen Science Program that we are adding is growing tomatoes from seeds that were aboard the International Space Station! The data we collect will help scientists working on finding ways to allow humans to stay in space for a longer duration! I'm VERY excited to share this program with our students! Other Citizen Science programs that we will be continuing this year include our CoCoRaHS Program, Nest Monitoring Program, Shad in the Classroom partnership with the Natural Science Museum, and helping NCSU Turtle Rescue Team! Science is most meaningful when it is authentic.
Worm Wednesday will be returning to ACE after Labor Day! I know the kids look forward to helping feed our vermicomposting worms lunch leftovers! I was able to harvest the compost this summer which we will be using to help grow our "Space Tomatoes"! We are SUSTAINABLE at Abbotts Creek!!!!
Please don't forget to check out the "Volunteer" tab on my website to see opportunities to help grow our program! Also check out the "Class Work" tab to see upcoming science class projects and opportunities!
Are you following us on twitter? Facebook? Stay up to date with what we are working on in class by "liking" us!
Once again, thank you for giving me the opportunity to teach your kids. They are AMAZING future scientists & engineers!
Cheers,
Mrs. Brinchek