Flipgrid: Preserving National Parks

As part of our project based learning unit on habitats, we have taken time to discuss the importance of preserving our nation's National Parks. Together as a class we watched a BrainPop video and brainstormed ideas. Students were then asked to write their opinion about why it is important to preserve land and oceans and have National Parks?

Project-Based Learning: Habitats!

This week our students started a brand new project on habitats! As we strive to dream big, reimagine the educational experience, and increase student engagement, we are participating in a PBL (Project Based Learning) unit. This incorporates peers, passion, and play into a culminating project. We are off for our next big adventure for the next few weeks!

Starting this week, the entire second grade began an exploration of various habitats. Mrs. Sabatini, Topsfield Math and Science Curriculum Specialist, has created a cross-curricular unit that integrates reading, writing, science, geography and math while also aligning with the common core standards. Students will work together as a team of park rangers to explore, learn, and become experts on their particular habitat. This unit will also incorporate social emotional learning as we emphasize collaboration, flexibility, perseverance, and communication skills.

Throughout the week we have been reading and researching using nonfiction books and working collaboratively to design and transform our classroom. Each habitat group designed their own park ranger jeeps to create vehicles on the front of their desks. Students have been learning a lot about what a habitat is and why it is so important for plants and animals who live there. 

Ask your child what habitat they are studying and what their assigned 'role' is! Here are some photos from the week:

Team Grasslands!

Team Ocean Life!

Team Desert!

We hope to share our learning with you at our Open House/Author Share on Thursday, May 31st from 6:00-7:00pm.

NOAA Visits our Park Rangers!

Over the past couple of months I have worked closely with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the team at the Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office in Gloucester (where Mr. Ford works) to coordinate a fun program to bring to the second grade during our project based learning unit on habitats.

This morning, our second grade Park Rangers had the opportunity to explore more about ocean life and visit five hands-on stations. Students were extremely engaged by the interactive stations that focused on the different life habitats, and adaptations of ocean creatures, as well as ways we can help protect our ocean and wetlands!

Rocky the right whale!

Here are some snapshots from our fun morning!

Students learn about the life cycle of a sturgeon and see the size of sturgeon at different stages of life. 

In the next station, children got to stretch a rope and visualize how long an adult right whale can grow, see the difference between baleen and toothed whales, and speak with marine law enforcement. Ask your child what seal artifacts they saw!

At the salmon station, students played a game as they learned about the challenges salmon face in regards to predators, changes in their habitat, and their diet.

Do you recycle? Students spoke with a marine biologist from the conservation department about the importance of throwing our trash away in the proper place. Most of the litter ends up in our oceans! They played a game to show how much trash fish and birds actually may eat.

In the last station, students learned about the benefits of grass in our wetlands. The marsh grasses help protect our water sources by filtering out waste such as litter and gasoline. Students performed an experiment to see what the water would look like if it was unfiltered. Ask your child what they polluted into the fish's water!