Cleaning Water Experiment

On Tuesday we did an experiment where students were given dirty water and they needed to use a variety of materials (sponge, coffee filters, two different kinds of sand, moss, tissues) to try to get the water as clean as possible. We related this to how a wetland cleans up water.  Students worked in groups and designed three different trials.  They recorded their data on a sheet, filled a funnel with their materials, poured the water in the funnel, and timed their result. This experiment is similar to what students will have to do in the spring on a science NECAP test.  You can ask your child what changes they made in their experiment and how successful they were in cleaning up their water. Below are some photos from that day.
The first photos are from doing the experiment:

 The results:

Four Winds-Rocks and Minerals

Today we had Four Winds thanks to Margaret McCoy and Sara Kirby. The topic was Rocks and Minerals.
We learned that there are three different kinds-igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic. You can ask your child to explain what they are doing in the photos.

How is a sandwich like a sedimentary rock?

Pass the rock.

Can you find which rock is yours by feeling it?

Identifying rocks by certain characteristics and tests.

Arranging rocks into their stages.

Waterton Planning Commission Play

This week students were presented with a scenario that a local farm has been sold to a development company.  The development company wants to build 14 houses on the farm land. A variance must be approved by the planning commisison. Several residents are coming to the planning commission meeting to give their opinion of what should be done with the land.

     Students were given roles and their position on the variance. A few business men Willy and Wally Variance (otherwise known as Lucas and Damian) were on the board. Students wrote a speech, found some costumes and presented their opinion to the board. The board heard their views and decided to allow some houses to be build along the current road and to leave some of the farm the way it was. The students did a fabulous job of getting into their character. Here are some photos from that day.




Miss Phoebe Byrd, a member of the Audobon Society



Mr. John Appletry who owns apple trees in adjoining property



Mr. Hank Boardman, who logs with horses on the farm

 

Miss Peggy Perc and her sister, investors in the development




Miss Sarah and Susan Breadloaf, local store owners
  

 

Mr. Bill Dozer a representative from the Development Company



Miss Amy Tillage, the person that had to sell the farm

 



The whole crew