LEARNING IN NATURE
Park day at Hess was full of wildflowers, a fallen tree that served as the best climbing structure, an impromptu re-enactment of The 3
Billy Goats Gruff at the bridge and a closing meeting puppet show using sticks that looked like all sorts of magical sea creatures.
MATH
We started our mathematical problem solving this week as we “Discovered Digitopolis.” Students worked together as one mind to support each other to understand word problems about how many tons of sewage is created in our TKG city. Then, they shared their strategies with each other. Upon emerging from the experience, students commented, “that was a challenge!”, “That was awesome!” Next week, we will have new, multi-step math stories for the students to dive into and discover their incredible mathematical abilities!
At home, talk about how much one of your utilities bills is per month (round to the nearest dollar). Could you figure out how much that is per week? Per day? (this is division, so it would be great to have objects to manipulate as your child tries to form equal groups.)
SCIENCE
To get ready to begin thinking about Tree People’s mission of creating a Functioning Community Forest in every neighborhood, I introduced the word “sustainability” to the students and we brainstormed what that meant. One of the lenses I offered them is how a city creates sustainability around the services it provides. As I asked about the services in our city, somehow our conversation turned to water and sewage treatment. Hayden was quite sure that there is a “Poop Factory” that cleans the “dirty” water in our city. Everyone was in agreement that it goes from our bathrooms to the “poop factory” and then to the ocean. We wondered if there was another way. Maddie wondered if it could be used for fertilizer. We then watched a you tube video about a former architect in New Mexico, who is building completely sustainable homes around the world. As we watched the video not only were we looking at how the buildings worked with nature to be sustainable, but also the human ability to think beyond parameters, gaining a foundation in knowledge in order to push parameters and pursuing what you believe. Here is the link to the video we watched: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xks8w6iB1rI
At home, discuss with your child the utilities your family utilizes (water, trash, sewage, power) and how you benefit from those services and if there are any alternatives to these traditional services.
PARENT EDUCATION
A Book club for parents on Tuesday night brought us together to think about our personal connections to the words grit and determination and what we want them to mean to us as parents. A new book club calendar will be out soon!
COMMUNITY BUILDING
The Yogurtland fund-raiser brought us together for an evening of connection and deliciousness. Thanks to all of you who came out or told others to come!
CO-OPERATIVE LEARNING
Our visit to Tree People on Friday was a wonderful opportunity to once again take our learning on the road. The students got to bring home an Italian Stone Pine seedling that could live up to 75 years! Oh, the stories that seedling might be able to tell one day! Thanks to everyone who met us out there as we learned and roasted together in the incredible heat and the amazing setting!
CONNECTION LINKS
Lena Garcia, School Builder/7 to 9 Classroom
Jaclyn Epstein-Calvert/Co-Teacher, 7 to 9 Classroom
Erin Levin, 7 to 9 Room Parent
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