Strengthening Our Bond in 5th

Would you choose Vanilla or Chocolate? Fiction or Nonfiction? Money or Fame? Read the Book or Watch the Movie?  There is no right or wrong answer, it’s just your preference. A quick game of “This or That” was such a fun way to connect with our classmates in literature class today. A simple choice, a toss of the yarn, and a wrap around your wrist confirmed which classmates agreed with your choice. In the end, we learned that we have shared preferences with many of our classmates and the bond in our 5th Grade Community is strong.

Cars!

PreK through 3rd grade were busy this spring making and racing cars. Students built their own vehicles out of cardboard, straws, metal axles and tires with a cup on top. Some of the classes even made 3D printed cups! In rainbow colors, no less. After construction of the cars were complete, the experiments began. Classes raced their cars and we talked about gravity, force, and friction. To take our experiments to the next level, we added some weight to the cars to see if it changed the speed. Students could pick from marbles or cotton balls to add weight. We discussed which was heavier, and why…hint: it may have something to do with gravity! While the student-called results were a mix, the experiment was a fun success.

Trip to Outer Island!

On June 1st the 7th graders embarked on a magical journey to Outer Island (OI) which is the furthest island south in the Thimble Islands of Branford, CT. Outer Island (OI) is one of many wildlife refuges that is maintained by US Fish and Wildlife Services and offers unforgettable experiences to people of all ages. Our focus of the trip (other than having a magnificent time!) was to learn about the priorities of the wildlife refuge, how they achieve their goals, how to conduct water quality tests, species and invasive species identification, and we even learned about OI/Long Island Sound(LIS) history!

In order to get to the island, a 20 minute ferry ride through the Thimble Islands is the only option. We were so lucky to have perfect weather (77 degrees and 7 mph winds) and we were able to fully enjoy the ferry ride through this scenic area. The Thimble Islands are composed of just over a dozen large islands but contains a total of 365 islands during low-tide (this includes tiny rocks jutting out of the water!), as you can imagine, the boat ride in itself was an experience the students will never forget.

Upon arrival we were greeted by the Island Keepers (USFWS Interns) and Friends of Outer Island volunteers (a nonprofit volunteer group for the refuge). Once we were settled in to the island, the day began with a quick rundown on how to use binoculars. Each student was given a pair of binoculars and once they were comfortable using them, we took a tour of the island led by Mr. Bartosiewicz (Alum Island Keeper from 2018) and Marina(current Island Keeper). On the tour of the island, students were informed about the goals of wildlife refuges, the steps taken to achieve them and the duties of the Island Keepers; in addition, students learned all about the geologic history of the area (OI and LIS) as well as the anthropogenic (human) history of the island. After the tour, we broke for a picnic lunch on the southside of the island on the beautiful flat granite rocks. As we ate, we were able to enjoy the natural beauty of all the wildlife, from the chirping of the Oyster Catchers, to the intimidating stance of the Double Crested Cormorant as it dries its wings and even Osprey as it strategically hovers over the ocean to plan it’s attack. 

Post lunch, students took part in three more activities. First, students learned the importance of water quality (Dissolved Oxygen content, pH, temperature, salinity, and turbidity) in LIS and then they learned how to use several types of instruments to measure these parameters. Students then split up into smaller groups and took measurements off of the dock, at the beach and at the small tide pool. This information was given to the Island Keepers to add to their archive of data which will help scientists conduct further research in the area (For example, observing trends). The second activity students had a discussion on invasive and native species, which soon focused on the Asian Shore Crab. We then trekked down to the rocky beach where students collected 10 crabs each. Students then identified the crabs gender (using a distinguishing feature on their abdomen) and measured their sizes. Again, this information was logged into the archive the island uses to monitor the invasive species population. To end the day, students had the opportunity to go in the ocean and use a seining net to collect samples of the biology in the water on the beach. When the net was pulled in, we saw a couple of silversides and shrimp!

This was truly a memorable experience that opened the eyes of all of the students and gave them a deeper appreciation for nature and the world around us.

Pen & Paper, Volume 13, “New Horizons.”

An Atomic Debate

8th graders finished their Humanities unit on WWII by debating whether or not the US was justified in dropping the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The students were able to choose a side, and were provided primary and secondary sources. Using these resources, they crafted opening and closing arguments and brainstormed counter arguments and questions to pose the opposing side.

Presenting Utopia Projects