Learning from the Eighth Graders
The most enthusiastic teachers are the best teachers! This was proven when the eighth graders took on the task of teaching the Junior Kindergartners about the plants and animals that live near the intercoastal waterway on the back of campus in the Native Classroom. Each JK student had their very own tour guide. The tour began with the eighth graders pointing out eagle and osprey nests, and sharing how to tell the difference between the two big birds. They used pictures to give the children a close up look at what they were seeing high in the sky.
When they reached the outdoor classroom, the older students taught the younger ones about mangroves, different types of pine trees and about several other types of plants native to Florida. They also learned that some of the trees on campus (Australian Pines) are invasive, meaning they don't belong in Florida, and can keep other native plants from growing. Under the guidance of their tour guides, the children pulled as many young Australian Pine trees as they could to help keep the Native Classroom free of this fast growing tree.
To wrap up their time together, the eighth graders taught the Junior Kindergartners about what they call "the forgotten ones" - small pieces of trash that get left on the ground around campus. Each person then collected two pieces to help make our campus a safer habitat for the many birds and animals that call it home. The children had a great time and were so impressed with their new Middle School friends!
[more photos of the nature walks on the Middle School page of Ebytes]
From garden to table
When the Alpha students discovered ripe eggplants in the garden, they were very excited to pick and examine them. But, what could they make with them? The decision was baba ganoush, and making it became a group effort during Friday’s joint exploring. The eggplant was first sliced and cooked in the oven. The children then took off the peel, mashed it and put it in the food processor. They added tahini, garlic and lemon juice, gave it a stir and it was done! Paired with carrots, pretzels and pita bread, even our most finicky eaters gave it a try. Many agreed that there’s nothing better than enjoying food you’ve grown and cooked yourself.
Examining Marine Life
The students in Junior Kindergarten have been learning about sea life, and were very excited to be able to get up close and personal with actual specimen that they had learned about. They had learned how fish breathe underwater, and having real fish to touch allowed them to observe the gills up close.Octopus and squid are also species of great interest to the children. By being able to handle and closely examine an octopus, they were able to locate and identify the siphon, beak and suction cups.
From trash to treasure
This month, the Alpha students searched their homes for “beautiful stuff,” such as broken jewelry, feathers, ribbon, buttons, etc. to share. Since then, they have spent much time exploring the beautiful stuff they brought in to share. Exploring it means using their senses of sight and touch to make observations about the various properties of the materials. Were they hard or soft, big or small, plastic, metal or fabric? What colors were they? The answers to these questions helped the children sort the materials according to similar attributes. Once they were sorted, the students used their aesthetic sense to choose items and arrange them over and over in ways that were pleasing to them.
On Friday, they again chose materials, but this time with a different purpose - to create their own faces. This was the first step in creating self portraits of recycled materials. Stay tuned to see the end results!
Appreciating families
To show their appreciation for their families’ love and care, the Junior Kindergartners created jar herb gardens to bring home and care for as a family. The gift will continue to evolve as they later enjoy using the herbs to use in recipes they cook together.
Tire Towers
The tires in our outdoor classroom have been a source of fun and exploration all year but the children are taking their adventures to new heights. From hiding inside them, climbing to the “top of the mountain,” and seeing what happens when a toy truck is placed inside and the tire rolled, the possibilities are endless. So too is the learning and development of balance, coordination and understanding of motion principles. Of course, the adventures don’t end with the tires, other children are finding new ways to enjoy the swings as well.
More learning and fun in the Experiential School
