Our Plant Inquiry evolves into the Planning of an Outside Garden!

Our Plant Inquiry began in March and is continuing to grow!  Children are continuing to observe, record and investigate the growth of seeds and are very interested in caring for our plants.  During one of our many discussions, the students decided that they would really like to create an outdoor garden outside our classroom window.  So during the last two weeks, the children have been very busy making lists, assigning jobs, writing notes, drawing plans and researching gardens.  A note was sent home on Thursday asking for help to create our vision for the garden!  We are hoping that parents can donate a bag of soil (as it will take many bags) and a flower or two.  We are also in need for parents to help make our project a success- if you are available to volunteer this upcoming week, please let me know.  Here are a few snapshots to show you the thinking process of the children at work!

Planning the Outdoor Space.

"Let's put some flowers here."

After searching garden boxes, this group created a plan for the flowers.

Making a list of what students can bring for our outdoor garden.

Writing the parents a note asking for help!

The Final List of what we need and who can bring what!

YOUR CHILDREN ARE AMAZING!

I know that it has been awhile since our last post...  I sometimes find it hard to keep up with everything happening inside and outside of the classroom!  So much learning taking place and so little time to share it all!

I am sitting here on a Monday, going thru student work and writing comments of what I would like to say about each child for their June Report Card- and I am overwhelmed with how amazing your children are and how much growth there has been this year!  Your children are truly incredible and I am so blessed to be with them each day!

As you know, the children have been quite busy investigating living things inside our classroom- plants, chicks, caterpillars/butterflies, hermit crabs.  The children are writing down their wonderings, recording their observations and researching about living things.  They have discovered that living things need clean air (with the help of our discussion on THE LORAX), water, food, a home and space to thrive.  Students are learning these concepts as they research, observe and help to take care of our living things.  Many students also had an AHA! moment, when their plants started dying from lack of water and a lack of space-too many seeds in a small area...  gotta love inquiry!

Here are a few snapshots of our Living Things Inquiry:

Investigating worms  "Don't squish the head!  How do you know its the head?"

Making a safe place for our Hermit Crabs so we can observe them.

Researching how the chick forms and using our new microscope to see inside our eggs!

Designing a pathway to the Hermit Crab home...

Examining seeds and bulbs.

"Look it has roots now!"

Investigating our plants and how they are growing.

"My plants are dying.  They need more space, Mrs. P!" Some students realize that they planted too many seeds in the cup and start replanting them to give more space.

Watching the chicks hatch!

A Plant Experiment!

Plant Valley is created!

An EGGciting Weekend!

On Friday, the children and I put our "eggs to bed" inside the incubator.  They were taken out of the egg turner and placed carefully inside the incubator with a wet sponge.

 On Saturday, I could hear some faint "peeping" coming from inside the eggs.  This afternoon, our first little chick arrived!

On Friday, the children also welcomed our new visitors- CATERPILLARS!

This Education Week promises to be an exciting one at St.Stephen as we observe, investigate and explore the Living Things in our classroom!  We hope everyone can join in our investigations and check out our work during our Open House!