What an Exciting Week!  A Day at Dyken Pond, Science time in the woods at school, and planting Mountain Ash Trees at school. These are only a few K/1 Happenings this week. Enjoy!

Science in the woods with Kate.

We compared habitats: forest, wetland, field....

Field trip to Dyken Pond

Looking for animal homes in their habitats.

 An animal den - porcupine!

The den is deep.

Porcupine quills

Deep in the forest...

Another den!

 Chipmunks had a picnic here!

The chipmunks eat pine cones similar to the way humans eat corn on the cob.

Wetland

Learning about the birds that live at Dyken Pond

Listening to recorded sounds of song birds

We just had to stop and feel this young pine tree!  So soft!

On our way to the beaver dam

The beaver dam was much bigger than we imagined!

 Beaver teeth marks on a log.

The pelt of a beaver!

Feels so soft!

 A turtle shell!

 It feels good to lean on Susie for a bit, while listening and learning.

 Lunch!

 And games!

 Our cute group pictures!

Planting Mountain Ash Trees at school under the guidance of master gardeners, and with the help of our middle school buddies.

 We love the vast spaces at our school - the fields, forests, wetlands.......Study after study has shown that exposure to nature on a regular basis has hugely beneficial effects on the whole person.  Hugging a little tree about to be planted, carrying a bucket of tools, working side by side with an elderly master gardener, helping each other accomplish tasks out in the beauty of nature.  Whether a child or adult, nature heals all!

 Back in the classroom we got together with our buddies and drew pictures of the trees we planted. We turned some of our pictures into thank you notes for the master gardeners.

Have a peaceful week!

Liliana