Students document their learning about native plants.
Impromptu foot race at Tilden.
A docent describes how native Americans used the chalk dudleya plant.
Students practice grinding acorns.
Homework:
- No new homework assignments tonight.
- No 4th grade math homework.
- 5th grade math homework assigned (see Tuesday's blog entry).
- The reading log is due tomorrow.
We had a wonderful outing to the garden today. The students were led by volunteer docents in small groups around the extensive grounds from region to region of California flora. The focus of the tour was on how Native Americans in California used plants. Throughout the garden were stations with props that focused on specific plants, and how they were used, from soap root to grey pine, manzanita and valley oak to name just a few. Students took notes in their field guides started in class yesterday.
Many thanks to driver/chaperones who made this trip possible:
- Riley's mom Ashley Kirkman
- Mia's dad David Hoffman
- Milo's grandfather John Meyer
- Gwen's mom Madeleine Dunphy
Back in the classroom Stephen led half the class in the creation of Powerpoint slide shows about the Californian tribe they each studied. The students are working from their notes to write passages that will eventually accompany photos about the specific topics covered. The other half of the class joined me to read and discuss Spanish exploration of the "New World," with a focus on Mexico (New Spain) in search of gold and treasures, and the link to establishing settlements in California as trade routes with Asia open up. This sets the stage for the Missions in California, which we will explore more closely next week.
Math:
Yesterday (Wednesday) we finished our first unit on Multiplication with an assessment and story problems. No 4th or 5th grade math today due to the Strawberry Creek field trip.
Impromptu foot race at Tilden.
