Sunday 27 April 2014

Suet Cages and Bird Feeders

Suet Cage for Nesting Materials

Last week, our friendly neighbour, Ms. Johnston, gave us two Suet Cages.  Instead of filling it with bird food, we decided to put nesting materials to help birds make their spring nests.    



First, we did some research about how birds make their nests.  We looked in some books and searched the internet for information about what materials birds use to make their nests.  We also saw a few videos on YouTube.  Below is one of the videos our class watched.  




We learned that birds make their nests using string, twigs, grass, cotton, feathers, pine needles, flower petals and even hair!  We already had some of those materials in our class, so we decided to use them.  







Once our cages were filled, we found a spot to hang them on a tree in front of our classroom window.  Everyday the students eagerly look out the window to see if the birds are using their offerings to build nests.  



Containers for Bird Feeders

We collected some coffee containers from Tim Hortons.  A few students were interested in turning them into bird feeders and hanging them on the tree next to the suet cages.  The students worked to decorate the outside of the feeder with pasta and Lima beans, and the inside with sunflower seeds.




Once the bird feeders were completed, the students presented them to the rest of the class.  

Ms. M – How did you make your bird feeders?
K. V. – We use different materials.
Ms. M – What materials did you use?
M. C. – Macaroni!
J. B. – Beans!
A. S. – Grass Seeds!
Ms. M – What did you put inside the bird house?
J. B. – Bird food like seeds.
Ms. I – Why do you think the birds will like using that bird feeder?
K. V. – Because they have food in it.
M. C. – Cause they can get in it, because there’s a hole.
Ms. I – How does the hole protect the birds?
K. V. – Because there gonna get cold.
M. C. – Being hot from the sun.
J. B. – Warm and rain. 
Ms. I – What do you think the birds will do with the macaroni around it?
All – Eat it!

Finally,  we took the bird feeders to the front of the school and hung them on a branch close to the cages filled with materials.  We were happy to see that the birds were making use of the materials we left for their nests.    



As soon as we hung our bird feeders a little bird flew to the tree and began chirping away!  We were happy to be helping our feathered friends in nature.  Hopefully a bird will choose to build a nest of the tree in front of our classroom window.  

Monday 21 April 2014

Our Class Trip to Britannia Farm Sugar Bush


On Monday, March 31, the Kindergarten students visited Ranger Ridley and Ranger Dan at the Britannia Farm Sugar Bush.  We couldn't have asked for a more perfect day.  The sun was shinning and the air was crisp.  The snow on the ground quickly melted as mud began to cover our boots.  




Ranger Dan taught us how the pioneers used to make maple syrup a long time ago.  We learned how to use special tools that made holes in wood, and we used a giant paddle spoon to stir the hot sap.  






Ranger Ridley showed us how maple syrup is made today.  He showed us a special measuring tool that calculates the number of buckets a tree can hold for collecting sap.  We also saw fresh sap ooze out of a maple tree.  The sap looked just like water, but tasted a little sweet!  Ranger Ridley then showed us a powerful machine that he called "Sappy."   He explained that Sappy heats and boils the sap that turns into maple syrup.  The best part of our visit was tasting the maple syrup... yum, yum!  

Ms. Marrella and I were snapping lots of pictures while at the Sugar Bush.  We decided to hand over the iPad to our students and give them an opportunity to document what they felt was important to them.  We were amazed at how beautiful their pictures turned out.  Below are some of the images our students took at the Sugar Bush. 







Once their images were developed, Ms. Marrella and I had invited our students to reflect back on their trip by writing about each image they took with the iPad.  



Though all the images from the Sugar Bush were beautiful, the students, Ms. Marrella and I felt that one image in particular stood out from the rest.  Below is an image of that picture. 


We decided to re-create this image using as many natural materials as we could.  





Finally, Ms. Marrella and I recorded a conversation we had with our students about their trip to the Sugar Bush.  When we reflected on the conversation felt that all the activities we had done during and after the trip helped our students to not only remember their visit to the Sugar Bush, but have a deeper connection to their experience there.  

Below is an excerpt from one of the recorded conversations we had with our students about their visit to the Sugar Bush. 

Ms. I  – Take a look at these two pictures.  How do they help you to remember your trip to the Sugar Bush?
G.V.  – I remembered about how we went to look at Sappy.  And I remember I taste maple syrup.  I remembered I pick up a leaf.  And I saw some mud of the ground.  The mud was squishy. 
Ms. I  – Why was it squishy?
G.V. – Um, because of the ground.  Because of the water from the clouds. 
Ms. I – Why would it be raining and not snowing?
G.V. – Because it’s going to be summer.

M. C. – Um, I remember that I was playing with the hammer. Um, I was banging the little logs. 
Ms. I – Why did Ranger Dan show us that?
M.C. – Maybe so we could try to play with that.
Ms. I – What did those materials help people do?
M.C. – To do the sugar bush.
Ms. I – What else do you remember?
M.C. – I remember there was snow.  There was so many trees. I can’t count them.  Um, they look like a forest.  No leaves on the trees, on the ground.
Ms. I – Why weren’t the leaves on the trees?
M.C. – Cause I think it’s almost summer.

Ms. I – Is there anyone else who would like to share their experience of the Sugar Bush?
A. M. – Because the wind was blowing the leaves, it was windy and the leaves were going on the ground.
Ms. I – Do you think that all those leaves on the ground were from the fall?  Why?
A.M. – Yes, because it was windy and then the ground turned muddy.   I rememeber when I was cutting wood.  It was fun because I liked it.  Because it was, when I was cutting the log, my hands were sticky.
Ms. I – Why?
A.M. – Maple Syrup. 

A.V. – There were a lot of trees.  There were small trees too.  It was a little bit cold cause it’s almost spring.  The snow was melting, so the ground was muddy.  




Sunday 13 April 2014

Planting and Growing Inquiry Continued

Our Planting and Growing inquiry is still going strong!  Over the past two weeks we have focused our attention on grass.  



The students began to take an interest in the jar with grass growing in it.  They enjoyed touching it and feeling the blades on the palms of their hands.  Ms. Marrella and I decided to have a conversation with our students about grass, and experiment with it by cutting it. 




Some students predicted that the grass would grow back based on their own experience with grass.  Other students wondered if cutting the grass would harm it as the grass blades were quite delicate.  As we waited to see what would happen to our cut grass, we decided to take a walk around the neighbourhood in search of grass. 



We invited our students to use the iPad and document the grass on our walk.  Unexpectedly, we began to notice different types of grass (shades of green and textures).  We decided to send a tweet to Ranger Ridley asking if there are different types of grass.


Our students also found a stick with green stuff on it.  They were curious about what it was, maybe grass?  One of our students was sure it was algae.  We asked Ranger Ridley what he thought. 




Interestingly, the front of our school grows the Hosta plant.  We noticed the finger like buds sprouting from the soil on our way back from one of our walks.  This plant stumped our students as they wondered if it was grass or not?  Hostas are green like grass, but thicker.  We have been watching and documenting the Hostas grow a little bigger every day.  Ms. Marrella and I took a small part of the plant for our students to explore up close.  



Finally, one of our plants died in the middle of the year.  We decided to re-plant this little tree in hopes that it might come back to life.  In preparation for this, our students choose a location behind the school, where the tree would get enough sun light, and not be stepped on by other children in our school.  Below are some pictures of our students planting this little tree.  







So many things to look forward to this week... the growth of grass, Hostas and maybe a tree!