Winter Zenger Farm Trip

The students visited Zenger Farms for their second trip of the year.  The winter trip is MUCH different from the first one.  In the fall, they harvested crops and helped out with some work around the farm.  In the winter, they do more scientific work.  They learned and practiced scientific inquiry (questioning, observation, evidence, and conclusion).  The main scientific question of the day was: Is the water at the wetlands health?  They answered this question by measuring pH levels, diluted oxygen levels and acidic levels in the water.  They were also able to capture and observe macro-organizisms found in the water.  It was pouring, but that didn't stop this class from learning!

Morgan's Memorial

Today, our students participated in activities to memorialize Morgan.  Morgan Maynard Cook, sister of one of our classmates, was a student in Ms. Ever’s Kindergarten class.  Last year she was hit by a car and died.   We have a place in our garden to honor and remember Morgan.  Some of the activities included: 

• Planting heirloom sweet peas (in the ground, to grow up the bamboo trellises, and/or in small containers to take home).
•  Weathergrams: writing messages/pictures on paper to tie in the tree and let be changed by the weather.
• Stone markers: once cleaned, stones hold crayon marks for a very long time; you can draw or write onto the stones surrounding.
• Morgan's Garden to add a personal and decorative feature, helping to distinguish it from the rest of the garden.

A special thanks to Mara and Connie for putting this on. I am SO impressed by how supportive the classmates have been to our friend.  Our thoughts go out to Connie and Jaylynn's family during this sad and difficult time.

Multiplying Fractions

We are currently working on MULTIPLYING FRACTIONS in class.  Sure, the simple standard algorithm is easy.  All you have to do is multiply across.  However, we are focusing more on WHY and HOW to multiply fractions and not WHAT to do.  Focusing more on conceptual understanding will ensure long-term knowledge.  Below is a link to a website that will help YOU help your student with multiplication of fractions or students can review them for help.  Here are also two videos of some of our students solving a fraction multiplication problem.

Multiplication of Fractions from Forward