The Trout Have Arrived!

Great news!!!! The trout arrived today!!!! Hooray!!!! We are welcoming 200 trout eggs this year as a result of our success last year. We are acclimating the eggs tonight and will be introducing them to their growing basket soon. We will be installing our Underwater Camera this week as well so we can film the growing trout. We look forward to having images on the blog as soon as possible. The photo's here are our first photo's of our eggs.

Earth Cycles TOO!

Today we discussed the Carbon, Nitrogen, and Water cycles in depth and we talked about different web pages where they can be found. Below is a web site with all of the different earth cycles and how they work.
Be aware...you will have a quiz on the cycles soon!
Happy Studying!
www.eo.ucar.edu/kids/green/cycles6.htm
http://www.uwsp.edu/geo/faculty/ritter/geog101/textbook/earth_system/biogeochemical_cycles.html

Earth Cycles and YOU!

In our Sixth grade classes we have been discussing the different cycles on Earth. We began with the Water Cycle and have since moved on to the Carbon and Nitrogen Cycles. I would like to have you continue this conversation at home. If you would, please discuss the ways in which each of these cycles are at work in your own yard and community. Please talk with your parents or an adult, and try to cite some examples from your yard and/or your neighborhood. Please share these discussions with your classmates on the blog so we can have an open discussion about them. I look forward to your examples and thoughts!
www.eo.ucar.edu/kids/green/cycles6.htm
Please use this web address to gain more information to talk about.

5th Grade Life Science Introduction

Today in class we read about and discussed what Life Science is and what Life Scientists do. I would like you to discuss at home tonight the importance of Life science in the world today with your parents or an adult and post the thoughts you are able to come up with on the blog. We will discuss your postings tomorrow in class. I look forward to reading your thoughts!!!

6th Grade Biomes

Some of you may have heard that we have begun a sixth grade Biome project in science and computers. WE HAVE!!! Our students have begun researching and assembling information and pictures in computer and in science class about different biomes around the world. They were able to choose the biome that they were most interested in and are currently working with Mrs. Dight and myself to find out more about their climate, weather, animals, plants, and distinct features that make their biomes so important to the organisms that live there. This is an interdisciplinary project that will be graded in computer class as well as science class.
This is a very exciting project that we worked on last year and due to it's success we are continuing it this year using new and improved technology. These projects will be presented in science upon their completion. These projects are being worked on in school so that there is no worry about program compatibility between school and home. Although the students are encouraged to find pertinent information at home and bring it or the web page they found it on to school, they are not to work on their projects at home so there are no problems with the transfer of information.

5th Grade Field Guide

Hello to all of my fifth graders and parents. We have begun an interdisciplinary project between science and computers. It is a field guide of native plants and animals that can be found in and around Connecticut. This field guide will be completed in computer class with Mrs. Dight and with me during science. We will do lessons simultaneously in science that will aid in project completion.
We have been doing research inside as well as outside to identify leaves and trees that we have on campus and talking about native animals that could be found here as well. I am looking forward to the finished products with their pictures and descriptions in place. Be on the lookout for our Northeast flora and fauna at home too!

Attention Plant Hunters!!!

We had an amazing trip to the Botanical Gardens on Wednesday. As I said on the way back we would have work to do via the Blog for homework/classwork.
Let's start with a comparison.
Compare the native trees to the area: Oak, Maple, Apple, to the Royal Palms, Cacao trees, and Kapok tree of the rainforest. What is the difference in the size of the leaves? Why does that help each plant survive in the regions that they live in?

Next: Why do the plants that are native to the Desert area have small if any leaves? What about them allows them to survive in such a waterless environment?

Finally: Do all plants need to be rooted in soil? Are there plants that grow without being planted? How do they do it?

I look forward to your conversations and your posts to the blog. We will talk about them on Tuesday. Please also feel free to bring your written responses to class if you do not want to post them.

I am excited to read your ideas... feel free to discuss your answers with your parents before you post.