During the first weeks of school, every elementary student will spend time exploring and connecting with the environment. The kids will make initial inventories of the biota and study the soil at different microenvironments of the school. We will use this information in the proposal that we are submitting at the end of the physical year (Schoolyard habitat grant from Fish and Wildlife Service). The kids will be studying plants, insects and soil.
The K-1 class will focus their environmental study on the vegetable/fruit garden. They will be working with the 5-6th graders, and will learn about permaculture. In science classes the kids will be learning about the human body - hands on activities that will help kids learn more about their bodies. We will start with the senses and see where the kids take us. Juliette and I will work closely and plan science classes according to students' interests and K-2 science standards.
The 2-4 class will be responsible for preparing the Schoolyard habitat grant proposal. They will be making maps, studying soil and native plants, and will also write the proposal. Assignments will be differentiated according to students' grade levels. The kids will also study weather/climate this trimester. We will look at weather data and practice reading/making graphs.
The 5-7 class will learn about permaculture and make a plan for the vegetable/fruit garden. Part of their learning process will include teaching what they learn to the K-1 class. In science classes the kids will learn about cells and work on independent research projects. Research projects will be focused on cells - structures and functions.
Every class will have 1 to 2 science related field trip(s) per trimester. Field trips are carefully planned to support what each class is learning in science and/or "garden". I have tentative dates for every field trip but am waiting for some confirmations. My goal is to share the specific dates with familie ASAP since we will likely need chaperons.
In the Fall trimester, the K-1 class will visit the Center for Land Based Learning (tentative date: Wednesday October 14th) and the Bohart museum (date will be posted ASAP). The 2-4 class will visit a property in Winters that has been affected by the Wragg fire and will visit a restoration site (dates will be posted ASAP). The 5-7 class will visit the property in Winters that has been affect the Wragg fire, and a research lab that studies vaccine. If I find a good project, the older kids will also volunteer in a restoration project (they did this last year and really enjoyed).
In the Winter trimester, the K-1class will visit the planetarium and Hall of science in San Francisco (tentative date: January 13th ). The two other classes (2-4 and 5-7) will revisit their study areas at the property in Winters that was affected by the fire and will also go to the Exploratorium in San Francisco (tentative date:January 27th).
To celebrate the end of the school year, every class will have a camping trip during the Spring trimester. K-1 will camp at the school, 2-4 at Solano lake and 5-7 at Richardson's Grove. In addition, K-1 will visit the Exploratorium in SF (tentative date: April 13th) and grades 2-7 will have a final visit to the property in Winters.
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