Sailing on the S/V Denis Sullivan

Although a strong northeast wind was blowing, and the temperature was about 45 degrees, it didn't stop the 4th graders from learning about the history and ecology of Lake Michigan aboard the Denis Sullivan. The students got to do science experiements and help raise the sails while on board the world's only 3-masted schooner. Students studied fish adaptations, plankton, benthos, invasive species, and also tested the water quality of both the lake and the inner harbor. The trip wrapped up a year-long study of Lake Michigan ecology. A good time was had by all the students, parents, and staff that went along.

This trip will now be a 4th grade tradition. Along with that, the current 3rd graders are raising funds to help defray the cost of next year's trip with the "Seeds for the Sullivan" project. Students are selling home-grown sunflower seeds from plants that were raised in our own garden here at USM. As soon as the mud dries up, students will be planting the next crop for harvest in the fall. Please support our fund-raising efforts.

Spring Walk for JK

It still was a bit chilly for a spring walk, although the calendar said May 17th. The children saw that the woods and the trail looked much different than they did in the fall and winter. Everything looked and smelled new and fresh. We saw lots of deer tracks and some fox tracks, and we even made a few plaster casts of these tracks. The apple tree we always visit was just budding out, and there were very few wildflowers. The children also noticed how the position and length of their shadow changed in the short time they were out walking. Even though it was chilly and windy, the sun was shining and it was a great Spring Walk.