Last week in sustainability, we continued our aquaponics exploration!
Our Kindergarten through 3rd-grade students focused on the fascinating parts of a fish, thanks to Ms. Heidi's nomenclature cards! I loved watching the kids engage with materials from their classroom in a different space. I particularly enjoyed witnessing moments of mentorship, as students helped their peers who were less familiar with the work.
We chose to focus on one essential component of fish anatomy: the gills! We explored what gills are, their functions, and how they operate. To take our learning further, we conducted an experiment using coffee grounds and a filter to demonstrate the filtration process of gills. Students discovered that gills filter oxygen from the water, allowing fish to breathe without ingesting the water itself. They were fascinated to realize that their own bodies breathe in a similar way—just with air!
Upper Elementary students similarly studied water's ability to dissolve solids, liquids, and gases to better understand how fish use their gills and how oxygen makes its way into water. Students were asked to put on their detective hats to solve the case of the missing coins. Throughout the mystery, they encountered hints about water's ability to dissolve different substances.
While reading the story, students performed multiple experiments to test their theories of what happened in the case:
Experiment 1: Why does water dissolve sugar but not sand?
Experiment 2: Why do water and oil not mix?
Experiment 3: Does heat affect water's ability to dissolve gas?
Ultimately, the mystery was solved by observing that a can of soda had gone flat, disproving the apparent timeline of the crime.
And of course we had to have some fun, by shaking the soda bottles used in previous experiments and watching them explode!
This past month, our middle school has been diving into the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal number 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions. It’s been inspiring to see this topic woven into various subjects such as Government, Language, and Science, making it incredibly relevant in today’s world. I appreciate that each teacher is intentionally creating a safe space for students to explore important issues.
Recently, students have engaged in readings and projects focused on the Declaration of Human Rights. One of our highlights was creating a large tree display in the loft, showcasing the freedoms that every individual deserves. The roots symbolize the strong institutions that support and uphold these freedoms, while the leaves represent the rights themselves.
Students have been encouraged to think critically about these freedoms: Who decides what they are? How do we honor them? Are there any that could be added, or even some that might limit freedoms? These fantastic questions have led to rich and dynamic discussions. As we formally wrap up the unit this week, I am confident that these conversations will continue!
-Ms. Emily
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