Tuesday, September 16, 2014
Welcome to the Outdoor Classroom!
After many days of hard work and preparation by our 1-2 students, out outdoor classroom is set-up and ready! Check out the pictures above of our new space for exploring and learning in our own backyard. Kids bring out their buckets (that double as seats) to gather in our mulched meeting circle. There are even a few bluejays who like to visit the granite basin in the center. At this circle we note the weather, listen for sounds around us and observe seasonal changes in our area. Sometimes we get out the gardening tools to plant or weed in the butterfly garden. Other times we spread out with our nature journals to look closely at the world of nature around us and draw what we observe. Scavenger hunts acquaint students with all there is to see, hear, smell and feel in our outdoor space. It has been quite a point of enthusiasm with the 1-2 students and they are eager to go out daily!
Friday, March 7, 2014
Bird Drawing with James Armstrong
James Armstrong made a second visit to the 1-2s today! This time, instead of tanks of tide pool creatures, he brought a model skeleton of a bird he created with items around his home.
James showed us the way a bird's skeletal anatomy is similar to our own - ribs, vertebrae, skull, pelvis, leg and arm (wing) bones. James even brought some actual bird bones for us to see and touch. We learned that bird bones are hollow, so they are light.
Understanding the make-up of a bird's bone structure underneath the skin and feathers helps us visualize the shape of the outer bird. We were excited to draw along with James today. This practice will help us make our bird drawings for the Junior Duck Stamp Contest more accurate and realistic!
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