MANY STUDENTS WILL NOTE THEIR FAVORITE MEMORIES OF THEIR FOLGER EXPERIENCE STEM FROM THE OVERNIGHT ADVENTURE TO ARLINGTON ECHO IN 4th GRADE. THIS HANDS-ON LEARNING EXPERIENCE IS AS INFORMATIVE AND UNIQUE AS IT IS ENJOYABLE BUT IT IS JUST ONE OF THE MANY ENRICHING ENVIRONMENTAL LESSONS THAT THESE STUDENTS EXPERIENCE. THIS GRADE LEVEL IS RICH IN GREEN ABUNDANCE AND THE CONNECTIONS TO ALL SUBJECT MATTERS VALIDATE THE REAL-WOLRD CONNECTIONS FOR THESE BUDDING STEWARDS!
Water Water Everywhere
During this unit, students explored and discussed the connections between the human need for clean and safe drinking water, and the important role of environmental engineers addressing water quality. Students read the story, "Saving Salila's Turtle." The setting of this story is India and allows students to appreciate differences in culture and resources, and both natural and man-made tools and organizations to serve the environment. The story addresses the need to care for the environment, an important lesson for our students to put in place themselves! Students then investigate how air, water, and soil contamination can occur in the own community by observing the land around the school. Students tested the efficacy of different filter materials on three different types of non-toxic contaminated water. They evaluated how well the filters removed particles from the contaminated water. Many volunteers participated in the multiple-day lab work that brought this lesson to life!
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St. Mary's Trip
This extended day annual adventure not only takes students quite a distance from school, it's as though they go back in time as well. Through rotations at colonial St. Mary's City, students gain a first hand-perspective as to the value of the environment in establishing this settlement, as the water and land determined survival. This colony is the basis for our entire state! Students participate in the actual work required at that time, including farming, life on the water, and managing animals. This historical adventure incorporates our environment throughout the lessons and setting.
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Save the frogs
In Science, students discussed habitats and adaptations of frogs and dragonflies in Maryland. Students learned about population decrease and focused discussions on possible causes and solutions to save frogs. In Language Arts, students read a National Geographic magazine article on frogs and watched a video to integrate information to create a poster based on information learned from the text and video . Each group presented their findings, aimed at different aspects of this problem. This approach cultivates stewardship by actively engaging students in a real-world problem and being part of the solution!
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Bay buffers
Students demonstrate an understanding of the impact of erosion on the natural environment and ways to reduce their impact. They investigate erosion in Maryland using satellite images. During the trip to Arlington Echo, students collected data about erosion to learn how human activities impact the local environment. Finally, students created a proposal to change the schoolyard to help reduce erosion based on an investigation of the school property.
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Energy EFFICIENCY
The culmination of a Science unit on electricity involved a visit by an electrical engineer to speak with students about the topic. Students were introduced to 3 different light bulbs: incandescent, CFL, and LED and discussed pros and cons of each. Discussions were focused around energy efficiency of each and what we can do to help be more energy efficient at home. Afterwards, students built circuits using energy efficient LEDs where students revisited parallel/series circuits, conductors, schematic diagrams, and voltage (power). Students were all able to go home with a small LED bulb from the guest speaker at the end of the lesson, once again bridging the gap between school and home and making the impact of a classroom lesson come to life - or should we say, "light"!
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Arlington echo field trip
Each year, the entire 4th grade participates in an overnight field trip that focuses on environmental and outdoor lessons on a variety of topics relating to the Chesapeake Bay and its surroundings. Students learn about reduction in waste to help the environment, effects of humans on our environment, habitat and adaptations of frogs and dragonflies, as well as many more exciting lessons including: Adaptation Station, Hopping through Time, How to be a Dragon, Indian Creek Exploration, Pollution Solution, and Thrive to Survive. Thanks to the extensive partnership with our parent community, this real-world learning is possible, as volunteers receive training and then lead the learning stations. This too further promotes an environmental commitment because both students and adults are captivated by the world around them and inspired to be environmental stewards.
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