Preschool Planting

It's still planting time if you are planting garlic! The preschoolers have been learning about plants that are part of our living environment.

After you bury the garlic clove root-side down and stalk-side up, you cover it up gently, pat the soil down over it and wish it a happy winter's rest! 

When you have some of last year's garlic crop leftover, why not cook with it? Garlic is very good for you! Here, the preschoolers chopped it, mixed it with a little butter, and spread it on bread. Can you guess what we made?

Nothing like warm, toasty garlic bread for snack! We all tried it and most approved!

We are looking forward to each clove that we planted today producing a large bulb next summer!

Colonial Science in 2nd Grade

The TCS garden is overflowing with herbs this fall, which is great for the second graders who are in the midst of their colonial studies. With the help of second grade mom and nutrition and wellness expert,Maya Bradstreet, we learned about the benefits of herbs and used them in several ways.

Making herbal soaps

Herb infused essential oils

Natural dyes

These are STEAM-infused times in second grade!

Learning the Tools of the Trades

PreK students have begun their study of tools used in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM!) We have been learning about and using scissors, and today we met others around campus who use scissors and other cutting tools
in their work.

Tony uses a pipe cutter, hedge trimmers and wire cutting scissors!

Nurse Fucci uses scissors to cut gauze and tape and to trim hang nails!

Mrs. Zane uses scissors to open packages of new postcards!

Mrs. Glasser uses scissors to open her glasses wipes (and students' yogurt snacks!)

Mrs. Richar uses a scissor-like letter opener to open mail that comes to the Country School!

Ms. S and Katie use student scissors to open a special birthday treat for Ms. S!

We had a great tour of tools at work at TCS today!

 

Rare Moon Watching Opportunity this Sunday!

We have a chance to witness a rare lunar event this Sunday. Fingers crossed for clear skies!

Timing depends on where you will be:

http://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/in.html

3rd Grade Embarks on their Connecticut Studies!

We are so fortunate to live and study along the Connecticut shoreline. The third graders have become experts in the ecosystems of Long Island Sound. Here, a student practices sorting and classifying the "life" in a small area in order to learn how scientist conduct population sampling in the field.

Lucky TCS students don't have to just practice lab methods indoors, they get to apply them in real world field work experiences! We had an amazing field trip to Grass Island in Tuesday and have lots of data to analyze over the next few days! 

Kindergarteners are Keen Observers!

The kindergarteners have been using their eyes and sense of sight to observe big changes around campus and have used their new STEAM journals to record their observations.

They have used tools like microscopes to help them observe smaller things like the butterfly wing we found outside the Clark House.

Full STEAM ahead in the New School Year

Welcome to the 2015-16 school year! I am very excited for a busy and learning-filled year in Science and STEAM!

This summer I had an experience that blended the STEAM disciplines in very interesting ways as I travelled to Istanbul, Turkey and took a workshop in the ancient Turkish art (and science!) of ebru painting. Ebru relies on an understanding of the relative densities of natural pigments, paints and water, as well as an ability to properly mix in the right proportions of pine resin and sheep gallbladder extract! I look forward to sharing my learning with my students this year.

Earth Day 2015

We started our day with an energetic performance by "The Energized Guyz," who reminded us we all need to be superheros and conserve energy and resources! Here, the preschoolers meet the inspiring actors.

Next, the PreKers, helped take care of our school garden. We are happy the snow is gone and the plants are waking up!

In the afternoon, the kindergarten went on a field trip to Bauer Park, hiking on trails and through wetlands and witnessing toads laying eggs!

What an amazing day in our amazing school on our amazing planet!

MoonQuest and Solar System Shares Coming Soon!

The third graders have been busy studying the moon and solar system in their classroom and in the STEAM Lab. Tomorrow, they will use an interactive website (www.moon.com.co/atlas) to study then mold and cast specific areas of the lunar surface while thinking about physical characteristics of the moon, positive and negative space, light reflection and properties of materials. Rachel Berwick, third grade mom and professor at RISD, will offer her expertise and help. We are excited and grateful for this special opportunity! Come to MoonQuest 2015 and the 3rd Grade Solar System Fair next Thursday, April 9th at 8:30 to help celebrate our learning!

TCS C.A.R.E.S - our responsibility for other living things?!

When the "Clark House Mouse" decided to make an appearance during PreK STEAM class this week, we seized the moment and discussed the needs of all living things: food, water and shelter, which the students excitedly designed and provided for our friend. After the winter we've had, we all agreed that we could sympathize with this critter's need to be inside! After a few days, our friend was set free to make his or her way in the great habitats that surround our campus.

Gaming and Learning?!

Sit with students at lunch or chat with them around campus and you can see that the lure of gaming is, for many kids, very strong. While parents worry about the distraction factors and time spent away from other worthwhile activities, there are many educational merits being argued:

http://blogs.kqed.org/mindshift/2013/12/5-digital-games-that-teach-the-art-of-persuasion/

What are your thoughts? I'd be curious to hear and discuss as I am in the thick of it as a teacher and parent.

What You See in the Moon?

Here are some of the creative ideas the third graders came up with in response to this question!

Lunar Exlorers

The third graders are starting their moon studies. Here, a student outlines some images she sees in a projection of a full moon.

Navigating to Africa

The second grade compasses are beautiful and functional! They are off on their journey with some helpful tools.

Happy Groundhog Day, I think?

So how are we feeling about winter now? Should we all acknowledge that we'd get very different answers from students, parents, teachers and school administrators (not to mention meteorologists?!) Personally, I have serious cabin fever but am grateful for a little bit of catch-up time as evidenced by this long post!

First off, here's a link from one of my favorite websites #www.nationalgeographickids.com pertaining to today's date on the calendar, Groundhog Day, followed by some great (indoor) teaching and learning moments in science class in the Clark House STEAM Lab:

http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/animals/groundhog/?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=Social&utm_content=link_FB02022015kids-groundhogday&utm_campaign=Content&sf7227569=1

PreSchoolers have been studying animals in our community, and, since birds need our help to find food right now, the class made sunflower seed-infused apple bird feeders and watched the birds enjoy their work outside their classroom window. The student honed their fine motor, observation and communication skills and the birds were very happy!

How tall is bamboo? The first graders could tell you all about bamboo (5 first graders tall, by the way) as well as the giant pandas to whom they made many science connections while "visiting" Asia. 

It was built over 2,000 years ago and is over 6,300 km long. How would you design and build a model of the Great Wall of China? The first graders have lots of great ideas!

What happens to the ability of a vehicle to move when you add weight to it? Ask a third grader and have them prove it with data that they have recorded and graphed.

Before heading off to Africa, the second grade has been practicing the use of compasses and exploring magnetism in science class. The good news is that they can find the magnetic north pole and so should be set for their journey!

Science meets art as the kindergarteners explore chromatography and the color wheel. Stay tuned for their Frank Lloyd Wright inspired sun catchers hanging around campus.....

The PreK paleontologists have been hard at work too! They have studied fossils and the tools of paleontology in science and STEAM to go along with their in-class dinosaur studies. Here, a PreK student is excited about his fossil model!

Stay tuned for some warm and sunny posts soon, I hope!