This will be a fun trimester for Peregrine elementary
students. Take a look at what the kids are studying in science classes.
The owls are studying physical sciences this trimester. Although
the standards are focused on pushes and pulls (forces and motion), I started
the trimester introducing the kids to the concept of programing. Peregrine is starting to integrate more
technology into its program, and the kindergarteners had fun playing
introductory programing games on the ipads (Kodable). They also had to write
codes to help someone else do something -
stack cups in a certain pattern or find a hidden treasure. This week we are
going to start talking about forces, and do a lot of hands on activities to
explore pushes and pulls.
The magpies are studying physical sciences this trimester.
We started with waves -focused on sound waves. The kids made string phones and
played with slinkies. We talked about sound (what makes sound and how sound
travels) and briefly discussed how we can hear. Our next topic will be light,
and we will also talk about the states of matter. Towards the end of the
trimester, first and second graders will start their technology/programming
study.
The hawks are studying life sciences. We started the
trimester by making a connection between the Earth science unit that they
finished before the break and our next topic. We talked about animals shaping
the landscape – examples included otters and humans, and we focused on examples
in California. The kids also watched an episode of the PBS documentary Becoming
California (http://www.calegacy.org/becoming-california/).
Now we are studying vernal pools. The kids are excited to learn more about
vernal pools and were excited to start our own pools by the classroom (I was
able to get some vernal pool soil with Jamie Kneite, a Biology Professor at Sac
State). : )
The crows are studying chemistry. We started by talking
about matter and taking a closer look at the physical states of matter. We then
discussed the difference between physical and chemical changes. There were a
lot of hands on activities – including dry ice demonstrations and baking soda
and vinegar reaction. The kids will also learn about atoms, the periodic table
of elements, molecules and reactions.
All classes will be designing parts of the garden/outside
area in “garden” classes. The owls and crows will work together as “landscape
architecture design teams” to develop a Mediterranean themed area by the stage.
The magpies will be responsible for the school’s vegetable garden, and the
hawks will develop a California native area. In addition to these projects, the
crows will continue their nutrition study and the hawks will start a
health/nutrition unit.
If you have any questions or comments about science and/or
“garden” classes at Peregrine school email me at fonseca.carolina9@gmail.com
