5th Grade
Eco-Trekkers - All 5th grade students learn about the balance of ecosystems as they work through a 2 week "Eco-Trekkers" unit. Through scientific exploration they gain a better understanding of natural resource consumption while discussing related current events and environmental issues. The 5th grade class attends an annual field trip to the Marshy Point Nature Center and Miami Beach Park. This field experience allow them to take what they have learned in the classroom and apply it to studying the health of the Chesapeake Bay. The students have the opportunity to investigate and compare different ecosystems: shoreline, wetland, meadow and forest.
eco-trekkers_workbook.pdf | |
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In their Eco-Trekkers unit, students learn about the living and non-living factors that interact to create a successful ecosystem. They spend some time in the school courtyard observing, listening, and recording examples of producers, consumers, decomposers, and non-living factors affecting the ecosystem out there. The students’ (and the teacher's) favorite part about being in the courtyard for Eco-Trekkers studies is looking at the compost bins. "It’s pretty great to see decomposition in progress and know that the compost will help the plants in the next season!"
Living Classrooms Sailing Trip - Each year the 5th grade class spends a day on the harbor with the Living Classroom Foundation learning about the history, ecology, and economy of the Patapsco River. While sailing on a traditional Chesapeake Bay vessel (Skipjack or Pungy Schooner), students have the opportunity to conduct water quality tests, plankton studies, and marine life investigations.
Read All About It!!! - Students write an article to inform others about the Eco-Trekkers science field trip by using the writing process. (The gather ideas on a graphic organizer, write a rough draft, proofread and edit with a partner using checklists, and write a polished copy).
Meteorology unit - the culmination of this unit is the building of primitive weather instruments. Students use household materials to create a barometer, psychrometer, thermometer, hygrometer, rain gauge, anemometer, and wind vane. Then, for almost two weeks, the students go out to the Hillcrest courtyard to take readings and make observations from the instruments. They compare their findings with the mounted instruments which stay fixed in the courtyard, and to the National Weather Service readings for Catonsville.
Fifth grade has been embracing engineering as a way to solve problems this year (2013-14). Following the end of their meteorology unit, students were given the problem of individuals being stranded outdoors without proper shelter (this could be a hiker or even a homeless person). They were provided with 16 – 3 ft. lengths of bamboo, duct tape, two garbage bags, and twine. The students had to create a speedy shelter that could be erected simply and quickly to protect one person from inclement weather. After the students designed and built the shelters, they tested them in the courtyard. One student from their cooperative group remained under the shelter while the shelter was sprayed with a garden hose.
Chihuly Garden - The purpose of this lesson was to learn about the importance of reusing and recycling while creating a flower sculpture inspired by the artwork of the American glass sculpture, Dale Chihuly. Hillcrest teachers and students have been working hard to figure out new and improved ways they can reduce the amount of waste at their school. Art teacher, Lisa Black, incorporated the importance of "reuse and recycle" into many of her students' lessons. After learning about Dale Chihuly's incredible blown-glass sculptures, students used recycled materials found at home and at school to create a flower. The students then combined their pieces and efforts to create a large piece, mounted on a painted ceiling tile to create a large installation of their own. These tiles are hung in the main hallway of the school.