Friday in the Garden 4.26.2013

WOW (Lily)! We just studied cardinal directions yesterday and BOOM, right when we went outside we saw a compass rose on the path in the herb wheel (Will)! 

On the path the directions marked were northwest, southwest, northeast, and southeast (Bhavya). An Eagle Scout carved the compass and it was so cool seeing it on the path and there are so many other things we saw (Price, Kayla). The Eagle Scout also carved us an ABC path in the native garden (Herath). Some of us followed the path in alphabetical order (Sierra). 

We saw Monarch caterpillars and we hope to see them when they turn into butterflies (Abby). 

Pumpkins are sprouting from the ground (Max). They came from seeds from an old pumpkin we buried last year (Kara). The weather was nice but it was so foggy, we thought our eyes were blurry (Nathan). 

Today our assignment was to find different plant parts and rename them according to what their job is for the plant. We renamed roots to Sucker-Ground-Grabbers (Bridget). 

Stems were renamed to Cylinder Suckers (Vilina). Pretty Pollen Producers was the new name for flowers (Elliot) and finally leaves were renamed to Sun Grabbers. 

It was fun looking closely at the plant parts in our groups because we could compare them. For example some of the leaves were bumpy, some were soft and smooth, and some were poky and pointy (Kara, Vilina). 

We learned that every plant part has a job that makes the plant live just like us!  

I have been carefully tending to our beautiful butterflies during this gorgeous spring break. My children and the neighborhood children have thoroughly enjoyed the presence of these mysterious and fascinating little creatures. The weather being so gorgeous and the lifespan of a butterfly being so short, I just had to let them go. I know you understand. I made a video for you so that you may feel a part of the experience. ENJOY!

PS You may want to silence the narration! :o)

Friday in the Garden 03.08.2013

It was really cold and kind of misty, but when we got to the garden we didn’t care about the weather.

First we listened to Ms. Bonnie tell us we would be planting summer seeds. She told us we would be removing the winter plants because the winter plants won’t be good in the summer.

Next we picked up shovels and pulled out the winter plants. After that we put coffee grounds and compost in the soil and mixed it with our shovels like mixing cake batter.

Then we got into small groups. Some of us planted plants that somebody had already started for us. Another group of us planted seeds. You have to make a mound of dirt and poke 3 holes about an inch long. After we poked the holes we put in our squash seeds and covered them with dirt.

Last, we put up our shovels and Ms. Bonnie showed us where pumpkin seeds had started growing.

We’re excited to see our plants grow. Even though the weather was gloomy we still had fun at garden.  

Friday in the Garden 11.30.12

Today was a beautiful day to be outside. We made wreaths from items in nature and tried sunflower seeds. My adorable Foxes each wrote their own blogs. Here is today's experience in their own words. Enjoy.

The first thing we did was...Make a wreath we loved it. I hope we go again.

First we go the garden. Next we did observation and got flower seeds. Then we switched places. Last we decorated a wreath and a teacher hung it on the fence. 

First we went to the garden and we split the class. On my first one we explored the garden.  Next we had another station. We made a wreath. I love garden days. Bye bye.

(back reads: The garden rocks!)

At the garden. Today we went to the garden. We met adults Mrs. Joanne and Mrs. Patty. Next, we split up to make wreaths. I got to eat...more sunflower seeds. In the garden is Awesome!!

(back reads: our wreath was awesome!!!!!!)

 

First we went to a table that was filled with nature. Next Ms. Jo Anna said we were going to make a wreath. Then we went over to another part of the garden and saw a dead sunflower and Ms. Jo Anna said they put out their seeds and you could eat them. It was a wonderful day! 

First we went to observe the garden. We saw cauliflower. Next we went to the other side and finished the wreath that the other [part of the] class started. We put the wreath on the fence. I had fun today!

Foxes at the garden. First we went to the garden. We got split up in two. I went with the 2nd group. Next we made a wreath. Then we had the most delicious seed ever in my life!

We went to the garden. It was cold outside a little bit. We made a wreath too. Next we switched groups. Next we observed the garden.

Today we made a Christmas decoration. We made it awesome! We looked eated our plants. We ate seeds.

Firs we explored the garden. Next we split into two groups and they have 8 and 9. I want to go to the garden again. Last we lined up. I want to go to the garden again.

Today we went to the garden. The first thing we did is split up. One of the groups did the wreath. The other group looked at stuff. 

Friday in the Garden 11.16.12

Ok, we're back! Enjoy the following by my fabulous Foxes...

What a cool day to be in the garden. The temperature was 58 degrees. We had our math journals and pencils and were ready to learn. First we observed the garden to look at everything new. Fuzzy caterpillars were everywhere! We also saw dying sunflowers which will drop seeds and rotting pumpkins which will help the soil.

Next we turned our math journal to a  fresh clean page and we roamed the garden to spot fractions. We found that a butterfly's wings are in halves because there are two and they are equal. We also saw three baby pumpkins in a group. Each pumpkin was one out of three. We saw the herb wheel and it was in four equal parts. The two paths divided it into fourths. There were many other fractions in the garden too. Then we went back to the stumps and shared what we wrote. 

Last we watered our cabbage and looked at the giant holes where our new trees are going to be planted. We can't wait to see the new trees in the garden! 

Friday in the Garden 11.09.12

Last Friday I was watching my wonderful nephews so I missed out on garden but my precious Foxes made it. We have also missed a couple of Friday's due to happenings around school, and we are glad to be back! Instead of a class blog, the kids wrote their own blogs and drew pictures to match. Their writing is something I love to read and it is so fun to decode! I have transcribed exactly what they wrote and have translated if necessary, and if possible :). Enjoy.  

"My klas wint to the garden we had to mack (make) 3 gropts (groups) my grop solal (saw) 2 foze (fuzzy) kelallipitrst (caterpillars)."

"Today at the garden we meshered across the flower bed. And it was fun!"

"Today at the garden we did ourvashin (observation) and the timchr (temperature) was 72. we medrd (measured) the lef (length) of the bed and we medr (measured) the lef of the sasis (spaces) beteing (between) the cabbages."

"We went to The garden. We haded a grat time at the garden. I like the garden. We all like the garden. I Sal (saw) a cadapiler, Pumkin and Plants." 

"I so (saw) a dutrfiy (butterfly) it wus coold (cool) it had culrz. I so (saw) a pucin (pumpkin) to I Thot (thought) They were cud cep lon I like to crv (carve) a pucin!"

"At the garden! We wint to the garden we adsrd (observed). I fand (found) Bees and a fusi (fuzzy) cadipilr! I Love the garden!..." 

"Garden i saw a catapilr on a plan (plant) NO MORE" 

"We megrd (measured) in detwingn (between) plans (plants) it whus (was) so fun! it whus are (our) first time to do it!"

"Helo Ms. P at the garden we saw fuzzy caterpillers. I experenst (experienced) kale. I miss you! =("

"fest (first) uwr (our) clas did upvshin (observation) in ufvshin (observation) we did look for plant an (and) insat (insects)" 

"Friday at the garden. I sold (saw) a catrpilr it wus (was) posis (poisonous) and cabbages. I mis you biy (bye)." 

"we whel (went) to The GarbeN iT Was f We So (saw) Caplirs Thay (they) wor (were) Black Tay SPrK"

"we wint to the goridn (garden) thin we got in to grops (groups) we magrd (measured) bockle (broccli) and marugolds (marigolds)!"

"We went garden and my class observd."

"I wit (went) to the garden I sllae (saw) 7 calrpilr (caterpillars) and I sllae (saw) plis it was fune."

"My flower was growing."

"I ma (am) at the godin (garden) toobay (today) we muJrd (measured) plantS."

Aren't they just precious?!? 

Measuring using nonstandard units

Making observations