Digestion: Models, Games, Experiments, Lab Reports, Fun!

Digestion starts in the mouth

Be sure to chew your carrots well.

Peristalsis of the esophagus

Who can swallow fastest?

Measuring 25 cc's of water for a stomach experiment

Mechanical digestion - squeezing and smashing the stomach

(saltine crackers, banana, and water)

Chemical digestion - adding lime soda

Our lab reports are becoming more and more detailed

Attaching the esophagus to his stomach which will be added to his model

Measuring 22 feet 

Rolling out the 22 feet of small intestines

Interesting side note: 

The question was asked, "What is this paper for?"

"Adding machines."

Quizzical look.

Stuffing 22 feet of small intestines into our guts!
We think they should be called long intestines!

Putting the human body systems all together!

Our models are complete.

Nervous system ✔

Skeletal system ✔

Muscular system ✔

Circulatory system ✔

Respiratory system ✔

Digestive system ✔

Life long learning ✔

Fun ✔

A Field Trip Back in Time to the Middle Ages

As a culminating activity for our Quest year, the Navigators and the Dragons took our Magic School Bus back in time to the Middle Ages.

What a great way to end our year and to add to our knowledge and understanding of how people lived in rural England in 1376. 

Welcome to the Camlann Medieval Village.

We got to peer inside of a daub and wattle house.

Touching the 6 inch thick daub

One boy asked, "Can arrows go through it?" 

Meeting the resident shaggy sheep

Some buildings just have wattle sides.

The blacksmith shop

Ye Bors Hede Inne

Frescoes covered the walls.

We were served a ploughman's meal on a bread trencher.

Bread, roast polish sausage, cheese, vegetable, fruit, and a spiced drink 

Our friend, Robin Hood, was even there to greet us. :)

A merry olde time was had by all!

Teacher's Experience Auction Winners

Each year, the Seabury teachers donate  "Teacher's Experiences" to the annual auction. Three Navigators families had the highest bids this year and got to go on a T-Towne Treasure Hunt with Mrs.Towne. Mrs. T., and the kids had a treasured time treasure hunting in ye olde downtowne Tacoma. 

We rode the Link rail to ye olde downtowne

We received our first clue:

Head back in time

to the time of da Vinci

and start the day right 

with a real fruit smoothie.

Get right off the tram 

and head up the Ave.

I wonder which flavor 

you'll choose to have.

Wishing you luck

to find the place.

It's just past Starbucks 

right in front of your face!

Following the rest of the clues, we went all over downtown.

To end our treasure hunt, 

let's have something sweet

Less of a commitment 

than a big cake...

A sweet, treasure-filled time was had by all.

Make sure you're the highest bidder for your teacher's experience next year!

"...the blessedness of being little." ~Shakespeare

As it states on our website, "Seabury's curriculum is built on a foundation of multidisciplinary, concept-based units that are designed to stretch students' thinking through a focus on broad ideas and big questions."

Concept of the year? Quest

Broad idea for first graders? The Renaissance

Big question for first graders? Who was William Shakespeare?

Big question for teachers? Can they do it?

Answer for teachers? A big resounding yes!

First of all, we started off with some Shakespearean compliments:

Directions: Combine one word from columns A, B, and C, add "Thou" to the beginning, and voila, a sweet compliment for a friend. (Cue the uproarious laughter.)

Thou sweet, fair-faced welsh cheese!

Thou brave, tiger-booted cukoo-bud!
Thou sugared, thunder-darting pigeon-egg!

Thou rare, honey-tongued toast!

Next, we gave sonnet writing a try. 

A lesson on iambic pentameter and rhyme pattern

A hog sat next to a dog

The stars shined with the moon

A dog chased the hog

It was way too soon. 

Notice the ABAB pattern. 

Then, having been inspired by A Midsummer Night's Dream and by the Magic Tree House book, Stage Fright on a Summer Night, the kids giddily set off in groups to do their own plays. 

We were a bunch of eager, gifted students in our happy place!

Writing scripts

Designing costumes

Hat + plastic bag + Starbucks lids + tail = a leopard!

Making fire-breathing dragon puppets

"Sewing is really peaceful."

Compiling props

Cupcakes, french toast, syrup, and fish sticks

Building scenery

"We're experts at castle building."

We even made rotten tomatoes for the "standers" to throw (those that paid less and stood during Shakespeare's plays at the Globe Theater.)

Performing a "little" puppet show with "little" props and a "little" puppet

Performing their play

A queen, her servant (wrapped in wrapping paper), and a leopard

We at Seabury provide big, broad opportunities for our little people.

"And though [they] be but little [they are] fierce," 

as William Shakespeare would say.

To find out more about our curriculum, check out our curriculum guide below:

Curriculum Guide