Planting Potatoes and Onions

The students recently visited the school garden to plant potatoes and onions. The students took turns digging the holes, planting the potato pieces or onion bulbs, and then covering them. They have been watering them every two weeks. Upon our return to class, they wrote a How To paper on the steps to take in planting potatoes. The How To writing is a part of our writing program, Write From the Beginning.

Be a Friend to Trees

During a lesson on natural resources, we talked about the need to conserve and protect trees. We read Be a Friend to Trees by Holly Keller. After reading, the students created a class Circle Map about things we would not have if we did not protect trees. They then wrote one sentence about what we would not have and illustrated it.

Nature Center Field Trip

Friday we had a field trip to the district's Nature Center. The students participated in four outdoor learning lessons. We visited the pond to identify living and non-living objects. Next we visited the gardens to view various plants and record their names alphabetically. We then went on a nature walk to record what we could hear, see, feel, and smell. Last, we measured the circumference of a tree and learned about various types of trees.

The Nature Center

Yesterday our class visited our district's Nature Center. The students rotated through various learning areas including the pond, the vegetable gardens, the walking trails, and the picnic area. At the pond, the students identified living and non-living objects. The pond has been recently updated to include two ponds that feed into one another thanks to a grant. In the garden, we read Eating the Alphabet and then the students wrote down as many vegetables and plants they could find for each letter of the alphabet. Following the gardens, we went on a listening walk down by the creek. The students identified different objects in nature using four of their five senses - sight, sound, touch, and smell. Last, the students explored nature through the lens of a magnifying glass. They compared how objects look with normal vision and then under the magnifying glass.

Free picture slideshow created with Smilebox

Garden Harvest

This is a little late as I've been enjoying my summer vacation, but here is a slideshow of the students harvesting their potato and onion garden. They worked very hard throughout the school year to plant, water, and measure their plants and it was great to see them dig up the end product of all of their hard work. The goods of their garden were donated to the local food bank.

This picture slideshow made with Smilebox

Moseley Garden Blog

Our literacy strategist, Mrs. Reed, who also teaches gardening lessons to our students, has started a Moseley garden blog. She has posted pictures of the various plants that the students have planted and nurtured. Our grade planted onions and potatoes. The students really love going out to water the plants and see their growth. Through the garden they are learning various math, science, and social studies skills such as measurement, life cycles, energy, recycling, animal habitats, and natural resources. Thank you Mrs. Reed for all of your hard work!

Earth Day Lesson: Earthworm Towers

Today we had an early Earth Day lesson with our literacy strategist, Mrs. Reed. Mrs. Reed teaches our first graders all about gardening throughout the year. Today's lesson was focused on the world's best recyclers - earthworms. We first learned about vermiposting from Vermi the Worm through videos and interactive games on the Promethean Board in the science lab. Your students can visit Vermi the Worm at his website to learn more about composting. The students then observed a compost bin filled with soil, shredded newspaper, and potato peels. Mrs. Reed then helped the students build a worm tower. The students added soil, shredded newspaper, water, and lettuce leaves to the top half of a 2-liter coke bottle. They then added earthworms to the mixture. The top half was then placed with the spout down onto the bottom half of the 2-liter coke bottle. Then they filled the bottom of another bottle with soil and planted lettuce seeds in it to grow on top of the worm tower. The students will continue to take care of the earthworm tower by feeding the earthworms and making sure they have plenty of moisture which they need to breathe. They will also observe to see if the lettuce grows and what drainage comes from the compost. Eventually the worms will be added to our grade-level garden. Our potatoes and onions that we planted a while back are almost ready!

Earthworms!

Last week and this week we have been learning about the garden habitat and life cycles. As a part of our study, we have had an earthworm habitat in our classroom. We have been having fun observing them and learning interesting facts about them. To reflect on the learning, the students each created their own earthworm which we then added to our garden bulletin board. They then shared one thing that they learned about earthworms and shared it with their friends.

The Nature Center

With the end of the school year quickly approaching I have not been able to update the class blog as often as I would like to. But, hopefully this slideshow is worth the wait! At the conclusion of our garden and life cycle unit we were able to visit the district's Nature Center to explore many types of plants in various stages of growth. We were also able to visit the pond habitat, a creek, and see many insects, birds, and other animals along the way.

Personalize a slideshow design

Be a Friend to Trees: Ways We Use Plants

As a part of our plant studies, we read about and brainstormed ways that we use plants in our everyday lives. From the air we breathe to paper to even chocolate, we could not live without plants.

Make a Smilebox greeting

Exploring Plants

Make a Smilebox slideshow