Kilometer walk

Now that our Bird Migration study is over, it is back to Metric measurement.  To help the students get a better grasp of how long a kilometer is, we went for a "Kilometer Walk" today.  It took an average og 9 minutes and 50 seconds to complete the 1Km walk.

Plum Island Field Trip

A Great egret.

Lesser and Greater yellowlegs.

On top of the observatiion tower.

We had a very successful field trip today to the Spencer-Peirce-Little Farm in Newbury and to the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge in Newburyport.  At the SPL Farm, the students participated in the 2 hour "Dirt Detectives" program where they become archaeologists as they survey a site map, explore interior archaeology via trap doors, excavate a mock pit using actual tools of the trade, and analyze authentic artifacts to learn about activities at the farm in the past 300 years.

While at the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge, the students extended their study of Bird Migration by looking for the bird they researched in class.

Lunch on the beach!

What a crew!

Bird of the Week lV - Sept. 26ty, 2011

Female Downy woodpecker.

Downy woodpecker in flight.

This week's BOTW is the Downy woodpecker.  The Downy woodpecker is the smallest and most common American woodpecker. It is found throughout most of North America from Alaska to Florida. It lives in a variety of habitats from wilderness forests to urban backyards, and comes readily to bird feeders. This small woodpecker is about 6 - 7 inches long. It has a black and white plumage and a small, pointed bill. The male has a small, red patch on the back of its head while the female has a black patch. Can you tell which photograph is of the male?

Which one is the male?

They eat small insects found on the branches of trees and the stems of weeds. They nest in the cavity (hole) in a tree or tree branch.

Photos from All About Birds.

Bird Migration Project - Day 6 The Last Day

We're done!

We're almost done!

All of the classes went to the computer lab today to attempt to put the finishing touches on their "mini" field guide they created for the bird they researched. 

Bird Migration Project - Day 5

The students are really getting the hang of using MicroSoft Word!  There are still some struggles with formatting all of the text and photos, but they are making excellent progress.  We had our first completed "mini" field guides today!  Tonight, the students are going to attempt to access their document through Edline.  This might not work for some students.  It will depend on the machine they have at home and the operating system they are using.

Mrs Powers really knows the technology!

Hard at work!

These guys are hard at work, too!

Bird Migration Project - Day 4

We were back in the library today using the computers.  The students are really making progress in taking notes.  Many students began putting their notes, photos, and range maps into their document.  They are getting a lot of practice formatting their information using MicroSoft Word!

Bird Migration Project - Day 3

We are very fortunate here at Parker to have several COW's.  Not the milking kind, but, Computers On Wheels!  It is a mobile set of laptops for the students use.  Today we brought the COW into my classroom and had the kids use them for their Bird Migration projector.  The kids spent a lot of time visiting the 3 bird identification websites and reading about their bird and taking notes.

Science Safety Posters

All of the students designed and made a poster illustrating one of the science safety rules we have been learning.

Science Safety Poster Assignment

Your Assignment is to design and make a poster illustrating one of the Science Safety rules we’ve discussed in class. The following is a list of guidelines to help you. This assignment is due next Friday, (Sept. 16th).

• Your grade is based on three things:


1. How effectively the rule is communicated


2. Creativity


3. Neatness

• You must illustrate only one rule. You do not have to write the rule on your poster. You can communicate it through the use of symbols, pictures, etc.

• Do a lot of planning! Sketch out several drafts of ideas on math paper.


• The minimum size of the poster is 14 inches by 18 inches. The maximum size is 18 inches by 24 inches.


• If you want to use a sense of humor, come up with a catchy saying.


• Put some thought into a color scheme.


• Don’t make your poster too busy.


• You may use colored pencils, markers, crayons, paints, cut paper, stencils, etc.


• The poster should be your own work.

 

Bird of the Week - lll

Male Cardinal

This weeks "Bird of the Week" is the Northern Cardinal. This medium-sized songbird has a large crest on it's head and a heavy, conical bill. The face is surrounded by black and the male is entirely a brilliant red while the female is grayish-tan with a red tail and wings.

Female Cardinal

This common bird is a winter fixture at snow-covered bird feeders throughout Massachusetts in the winter and is very popular. The female Northern Cardinal sings, often from the nest. The song may give the male information about when to bring food to the nest.

Female and male Cardinal.

The male cardinal fiercely defends its breeding territory from other males. When a male sees its reflection in glass surfaces, it frequently will spend hours fighting the imaginary intruder.
Photos from "All About Birds".

Male Cardinal bathing.

Bird Migration Project - Day 2

The template for how the final project will look like

 Today, the students reviewed how to retrieve their saved template.  Next they learned how to have multiple tabs open simultaneously so that they could go from one to another.  We next cover how to cite their photo source using Bib Me.  They then spent time visiting the 3 bird identifications sites and reading about their bird.




All the sites we'll be using are on Edline.





Hard at work!



The "All About Birds" website.





Hard at work!

Bird Migration Project

We will be taking a little time off from our Metric Measuring activities to begin some research into Bird Migration.  We will be learning why birds migrate and how they migrate.  The highlight of the project will be the research the students do about one particular bird they are assigned.  Working in the computer lab under the direction of Library Media Specialist Mrs. Ferrazzani and Computer Technology Specialist Mrs Powers, the students will create a mini field guide of their bird.  They will take this field guide with them when they visit the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge. 

I know what you're doing!