Timberwolf Trail - Week 5 - 2017-18 Edition

This year, we will be working as Forest Friends Pen Pals with a kindergarten class in Vermont. Though we just sent our first set of letters, we decided to send more. Working through our first video project of the year, we chose to share this video with our new pen pals. Our video focused on the life cycle of  a tree. Students found examples in our outdoor classroom. Students brainstormed sentences. Students posed for pictures. Students choreographed the life cycle stages.

Some students showed off seeds.

Others found saplings.

Some students located adult trees.

Others found old age trees.

Some found decomposing trees.

Others found the soil from these decomposing trees. Then, after finding real life  examples, we choreographed and recorded our life cycle of a tree actions.

Seeds

Saplings

Adult trees

Old age trees

Decomposing

Dirt

After finishing up our video, we focused on a new topic: ecosystems. Using nature-themed sentences, that built off each other and pictures detailed in those sentences, we linked together as we read the sentences. We discussed how everything in nature is connected and needs to be protected and respected.

We ventured over to a part of our outdoor classroom we haven't spent too much time in: the natural play area.

While some built and some balanced, others explored off trail, hiding among the goldenrod. I have a feeling this will quickly become a class favorite.

This week, we also started our Collections in Nature unit. We decided to start a class collection of leaves by making the world's largest leaf pile. After two days of finding, collecting, and piling up the leaves, a nice pile is developing. However, with many more October days ahead, this collection will certainly grow.