- Curriculum Overview
- Afternoons
- Events and Celebrations
- Service Learning and Partnerships
- Special Assemblies
- Mini Courses
Spotlight On...
Experiencing Science On Our Campus
My first year of teaching science has been very rewarding and challenging. I am continually learning. Just after school started, I attended the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) Conference in Baltimore and came back invigorated about what I had learned and excited to put my knowledge to the test in the classroom.
I am thrilled to have such an abundance of resources and support at SRV. The outdoor classroom is everything a science teacher could hope for. We have the creek, the wooded area, the school garden, composting, recycling and much more.
To give you an overview of some of the projects we have started with the children this school year, I will begin with the Oldest Group and their creek study. The OG has a partnership with the Chester Ridley Creek Watershed Association. The chemical water testing along with studying macroinvertebrates was very successful. The children loved exploring the macroinvertebrates that we had collected using mesh bags that were left in the creek for several weeks. The macroinvertebrates count gives us an indication of the health of the creek.
The Main Circle studied density, learned about tree identification, soil testing and continued their partnership with Red Hill Farm. The kindergartners have studied animal classification, matter (solids, liquids and gases), and now we are starting to learn the basics of air and weather. The Primary Circle is studying the subject of air and weather in more depth including many hands-on experiments. The 5-day preschool has studied animal habitats, measurement with balance scales, and we are also beginning a study of air and weather.
The collaboration with the other teachers has been very successful. It has been a joy teaching the children. I love getting the children outside as much as possible to explore and to develop a love for nature.
I have listed a few books that I find inspiring that you may enjoy as well:
- Beyond Ecophobia by David Sobel
- Last Child in the Woods by Richard Louv
- Into the Field by Clare Walker Leslie
- Mapmaking with Children by David Sobel
- Organizing Wonder by Jody S. Hall
