What rock are you researching?

For the rest of May we will be working on a Rocks and Minerals project. The papers below are what you need to be completing for the project. Each student will be researching one type of rock and one type of mineral. Those completed worksheets are due on May 30th. 

While you work on the project and are doing your research, please put any questions you have about the assignment here on the site. Share your progress and where you are in the project. This is your place to check in with us. 

What do you know about rocks?
Where do you find them?
How are rocks used?
Write questions you have about rocks.

Take a poetry walk in the neighborhood. Describe and record things you see, hear, smell, or touch related to the season, such as the weather or trees and plants. Make sure you record words to describe something for each of the following senses:

• Smell
• Touch
• Sight
• Sound

A Triante is a type of poem you can make with your sensory experience descriptors. See the following directions and example. 

Triante Poem Using Sense Words
Line 1: One word (Title)
Line 2: Two words (Smell)
Line 3: Three words (Touch)
Line 4: Four words (Sight)
Line 5: Five words (Sound)

Trees
Fresh, green
Hard scratchy bark
Tall, thin, many branches
Soft rustling in the breeze

Write your own triante poem with the words from your own nature walk and share the final poem here with us!

Learn about the history behind Earth Day and the progress we've made as a country since 1970 when the first Earth Day was held. Think about what still needs to be done and how we can help the environment.

Watch the actual news footage from the very first Earth Day in 1970. While watching the footage think about how things have changed in the last 42 years since Earth Day was first created. When you are done watching the video write your reactions and ask any questions that it raises for you. 

This video about a mother polar bear is also very interesting to think about. Watch the video, and then write about your thoughts and feeling about it. Why do you think we posted this video for Earth Day?

For this week's observational homework I would like you to take a walk around your neighborhood and think about three things you find beautiful and really like about the natural beauty around us and one thing you think could improve the natural beauty of our neighborhood. 

Monday April 22 is Earth Day and Friday April 26 is Abor Day. 
We are going to celebrate both days in school on Friday April 26th and in the school garden on April 28th. 
Please RSVP for our garden day on April 28th on the homepage of this website! 

Share your observtions from your walk and make some suggestions on how we could celebrate Earth Day or Arbor Day here!

Use your senses to find Springtime around you:
To do:
1.Take a walk around the block.
Things to See:
1.A wildflower: What color is it? What is the name of it?
2.A tree flowering: What color are the flowers? Where did you see it? What is the name of the tree?
Things to Feel:
1.Something Smooth: What is it? Where did you find it?
2.Something Rough: What is it? Where did you find it?
Things to hear:
1.A bird chirping: What kind of bird was it?
2.Running water: Where was it?

In your entry this week summarize your walk.Tell us when you went, describe what your saw, heard, and felt. If you want to take pictures or draw pictures you can bring them to class to be put on the site.