Glaciers and Craters

The 4th graders are just completing their study of Earth's Changing Surface. They modeled cave formation and how glaciers build up and tear down the surface. Using clay and mini-glacier models, the students made the glaciers advance and retreat watching the affect of the weight, and sediments in the glacier on the surface below it. The cave formation lesson showed the students how acid erosion wears away the Earth's surface and forms holes below that become caves and caverns. Both of these activities helped the students understand the forces of nature working on the Earth' surface, and also is preparing them for their Wisconsin trip in mid-May. The 3rd grade students have almost completed their mission to Mars. As the young astronauts approached the Martian surface and looked for a safe landing spot, they noticed the surface was marred by many impact craters. They wanted to know what made these craters, so they carried out an investigation. They realized that there are many space rocks, asteroids, meteorites, and other space debris flying around out there, and that the size, shape, and force of the impactor determined the size of the crater. The students are finishing up their mission by investigating what makes a bone strong. This has also tied in with their Phy. Ed. class learning about bones. In the investigation, students are challenged to design a bone that can support the weight of a ream of paper (5 lbs.) and is made from two 3" x 5" index cards and some aquarium gravel. Good luck, astronauts, on completing this challenge!

Maple Sugaring Time

There have been a few days with sunshine and warmer temperatures during the day, and below freezing at night. These are just perfect conditions to tap the maple trees and collect sap. The second graders did that last week, and now are anxiously awaiting the collection bags to fill with that sweet, watery substance called sap. The boiling process will begin this week, so the children can see the sap turn into the dark, brown, thick, sweet substance called "maple syrup". We have collected about 4 gallons of sap already, so Mrs. Z. will start the process of boiling it down before the spring break. The weather did take a slight turn for the worse so the sap is not running as well, but I will collect for several more days. Let's hope the snow stops and the sun comes out to warm up the trees.