Pathfinder School Science

Our Multi – Age unit on Garage and Waste was amazing but with all the snow days I am wondering if we will ever be able to showcase all of the learning that happened. I will attempt to do a recap of what happened in science and on our field trips. I am hoping your student shared what was going on during their multi-age days but knowing adolescence I’m not so sure:)

These were the Multi – Aged groups:

      Water Issues                  Waste Issues               Plastic Issues

Anna David B Michael Harper Dylann Noah Oliver Alisha Dylan B

Sophia David L Lucy Josie Lauren Hayden Audrey Gus Lizzie

Lexis Andre Willow Caroline Maddie Aiden Lars Evie

 

The students in the Plastic Issues (← click here to see the assignment)class followed this website for directions and learning. They were able to choose the students they wanted to work with based on common topics and interest.

Lexi, Maddie, Evie and Aidan

Plastic in the Oceans  – Google Slide but didn’t have time to finish 🙁

Willow, Andre, Caroline and Lars

Great Lakes Plastic Pollution 

 

The students in the Waste Issues (← click here to see the assignment) class followed this website for directions and learning. They were able to choose the students they wanted to work with based on common topics and interest.

Lizzie and Sophie investigated Food Waste and created this infographic

 

Gus, Audrey and Lucy worked on Fashion Waste and began this infographic. Unfortunately, they ran out of time:(

 

David, Josie, Lauren and Hayden –  Created this website (click below) in addition to a video. All students did research and collaborated.

 Zero Waste

The students in the Water Pollution Issues (← click here to see the assignment) class followed this website for directions and learning. They were able to choose the students they wanted to work with based on common topics and interest.

These are some of what they produced. Since I am home I can not access the posters created but can include the information used. Please know that not all students were able to finish due to Snow days:(

Anna, Michael and Oliver

Pharmaceuticals in Our Water – this link includes the information from the poster.

Alisha and David Best

Beach Closings – this is a Google Slide

Dylann and Harper

Algae Blooms – poster – didn’t have time to finish:(

Noah and Dylan B

Algae Blooms Google Slide didn’t have time to finish 🙁

We were fortunate to visit American Waste where we learned what happens to our recyclables. At Oryana Coop we learned about bulk buying and zero waste and what the Coop does for our community. At Bay Area Recycling for Charities we learned about E-Waste and the fact that they recycle 500 mattresses a week!!!

In class we made beeswax wraps to use for lunches we bring to school.

I can’t even begin to describe how amazing these 2 short weeks were for me as a teacher. There is no way to quantify the learning – social, emotional, and content wise that went on during this learning adventure! For me to watch new friendships form and for students to see how others process information was inspiring. Additionally, the emotional outrage and fear the students began to feel about our precious planet Earth and the peril it is in, due to human’s careless regard for how we dispose of trash was evident. And what we learned about the persistence of plastic was terrifying!

AND ALL OF THIS HAPPENED JUST IN SCIENCE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

The fourth graders have begun studying animals beginning with Invertebrates. Starting with sponges, the simplest invertebrate, they conducted a lab to see how absorbent natural or real sponges are compared to man-made sponges. Students predicted that the natural sponges would work better because the man-made sponges were “just copying” 🙂 More than just finding an answer, students in this lab are learning how to measure, record data, collaborate with a partner and ask questions. In the next week, we will be making a worm box, conducting slug races and studying some lovely parasites.

In fifth grade, after studying Plant adaptations, we have begun a leaf collection. I remember doing this in middle school and loved it. We are running all over campus looking at trees, keying them out and wondering what makes them successful. This is an in-class project but students do have a vocabulary assignment due this week. Tree Vocabulary

https://sharri224.wixsite.com/tree-collectionhttp://

For sixth grade, news check out their owl reports on the previous post!

The seventh and eighth graders are just finishing a huge project on insects which included a collection of 25 insects. You can see what they were challenged to do by viewing this website.

https://sharri224.wixsite.com/insects-are-awesome
Be sure to check out their social media posts where they became a bug on their blogs located on the side panel.

This week the 8th graders will head to Pigeon River country to listen for Elk!

There are great things happening in Science at Pathfinder. Please feel free to contact me with any questions.

The sixth graders became owls and defended their place in the ecosystem by imploring Mrs.Cuttatree not to cut down their forest to build her Uppity Resort. To find out about their whole project click here. https://sharri224.wixsite.com/owls

On the poster click on each owl to read their letter to Mrs.Cuttatree.

Dear Families,

It has been wonderful getting to know your children, some new to me some just older and more mature:). I have put together a short video of some photos that show the beginning of our school year. I can’t believe all that we have done in such a short time, and all that I have learned and wondered about by the questions your children have asked me!

The 8th grade class traveled to Pigeon River Country to hear Elk bugle, hike and enjoy nature! Check out the video of the adventure:)