The Earth Is Our Science Classroom

In order to better understand our wonderful earth, 

one must go outside. 

And that is what the Navigators did 

to experience first hand the beautiful 

WEATHER of the Pacific Northwest 

(yes, even the RAIN) 

and the important WATER CYCLE.

We hopped aboard our new bus

and headed to the Cascade Mountains.

Destination: 

the Cedar River Watershed

Education Center 

along the shores of Rattlesnake Lake. 

We danced a jig and did "the floss" to the beat of the rain drums.

We learned about the importance of the Cedar River Watershed, where Seattle gets its water.

The water levels of Rattlesnake Lake are low at this time of year. 

We explored the tree stumps and roots 

that are submersed in the summer.

Mrs. Moon told us that she goes paddle-boarding here in the summer and that the water is higher than these tall stumps. 

 

Look! We're having so much fun together!

School outside is the best!

The town of Moncton was located here in 1906-1915. 

It was destroyed by flooding caused by seepage of water 

from the newly created Chester Morse Lake.

We saw a few foundations of buildings 

as seen here in this drawing by a Navigator. 

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We then went inside the education center and learned more about the importance of taking care of the world's important natural resource - WATER. It was a great review of science vocabulary.

And it was a great visual way to "see" the water cycle as our individual  water droplet balls made their way through the labyrinth of tubes throughout the building. 

"Start Here" with your water droplet and watch it evaporate.

"There it goes!"

We learned that our bodies carry about 3 1/2 gallons of water!

We went on a scavenger hunt and learned many things.

Even the wolf relies on water. :)

We saw a variety of skeletons, skulls, and nests of PNW animals.

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We then went back outside to have lunch and spend time in the Forest Court.

How old is this Douglas fir? About 650 years old!

Click here to watch a longer video of the drums. 

Look at the detailed map!

Thank you, Cedar River Water, 

for a wonderful day of school in the great outdoors!

Yes, we "Kan't wate to Go BaK"

Where is the Weather? Clever Mnemonics Help Us Know

During our study of the weather, one of the "question on the week" questions was, 

"Where is the Weather?"

We took a look at the atmosphere and discovered that weather occurs in the troposphere. 

We learned the typical mnemonic for the layers of the atmosphere.

Try serving mustard to elephants!

We then came up with our own  

very clever mnemonics

and illustrations:

Timing Snails Must Take Eons

Close up view part 1

Close up view part 2

Triceratops Starts Musical Trumpet Everyday

Triceratops Sew Many Things Eating

Tectonica Stops Marching Through Europe

Tornadoes Slam Microphones Twisting Everything

Try Sniffing Mice a Tiny bit on the Egg

Turtles Slide Mountains to Eternity

These kids!

They are a clever, creative, imaginative, 

fun, entertaining, amazing bunch.

It's no wonder they're called
"gifted and talented"!

Signing The Navigators' Compact with a QUILL PEN

As we began our study of  Colonialism, 

we took a look a painting of the signing 

of one of the first frameworks of government 

written and enacted in the territory 

now known at the United States of America.

Signing the Mayflower Compact 1620, 

a painting by Jean Leon Gerome Ferris 1899

Reading and analyzing the primary source

There is just something exciting and intriguing about 

writing with a quill pen for a first grader!

So we gave it a try! After practicing letters and names, 

we decided to write real letters. 

We then came up with our own ideas 

for how to best govern our classroom 

and compiled them to become 

our own "Navigators' Compact."

Like the early settlers, we want a government that is 

for the good of the people, is fair, 

and ensures freedom and equality for all.

We gladly signed it, with a quill pen of course, 

and it hangs in a prominent spot in our classroom. 

Halloween Escape Room Fun!

The Navigators had spook-tacular costumes, 

a fang-tastic parade, brainy food, 

and an 

ESCAPE ROOM STEM ADVENTURE!

The challenge was to solve the puzzles 

and escape the haunted pumpkin patch.

Was it possible? Could we do it?!

Wait for it....

A shimmering dragon

Purple haired Mal from the Descendants

Hermione and her wand

"Chinese" girl purposely looking shy

Two-tailed, notch-eared cat, Yokai

Transformer Bumblebee

Wednesday Addams from the Addams family

A pink NASA Astronaut

Avenger's Endgame Thor

A flippy shirt

"Did someone say CANDY?

Another super superhero

Ms Wollum, our princiPAL, leading the parade of costumes

 

Pointing to the brainy food

Escape room clue #1

  

Using a mirror to read some of the clues

"Decode the message below to find your next clue."

Final task of our Escape Room Adventure: 

Build a bridge out of pumpkins and toothpicks 

that is strong enough to hold a big pumpkin.

Can we do it?

This astronaut is very educated and looks very determined....

Wait for it....

TA DA! 

With only minutes to spare, 
we did it!

We escaped the haunted pumpkin patch 
just in time to do round two...Trick-or-Treating!

(Click here to see the video)

Thank you, parents, for all who planned and helped out with our 2019 Halloween Party.

It was fang-tastically spook-tacular!