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8/18/2010
Barrett Gets a New "Green" Roof
Check out APS Snapshots from this week! It features the new roof that is being installed at Barrett, along with the new relocatable classrooms. Our new roof is "green" in the sense that it is made with state of the art materials which help to reflect and properly insulate our school so we are more comfortable and not contributing as much to our school's carbon footprint!
Our new roof will be a great teaching tool in the Discovery lab when our 3rd graders learn about ENERGY!!!!!!
Click on the link below...you may have to search in the archives to see the video on Barrett.... http://www.apsva.us/154010828132317197/site/default.asp
Posted by Allyson Greene at 10:00 AM
6/28/2010
Last Day of School-Students enter Mangrove Contest
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A benefit of the students sharing their learning with a mangrove ecologist last week was that they were invited to enter the International Mangrove Calendar Art Contest.
Mrs. Streeter (Art), Mrs. Lambert (4th grade) and Mrs. Sullivan (Project Discovery) facilitated the project for the students.
Posted by Laurie Sullivan at 7:35 AM
6/17/2010
Learning about the Mangrove Ecosystem
{DSC05022} Mrs. Lambert's fourth grade students became very interested in mangroves after reading about them in the reading textbook. When we started learning about the Gulf Oil Spill (or really a leak as one student pointed out) we wondered how this would affect the mangroves in Louisiana. In a news article Dr. Sullivan read about Mr. Lewis, a wetland scientist and ecologist, whose area of expertise is mangroves. Mr. Lewis has conducted research in the past on the impact of oil spills on mangrove forests. Mr. Lewis was kind enough to answer our questions and sent us some photos of his work in the field. After discussing his work, we watched a video clip that highlighted many of the adaptations of the mangrove and then we read the book The Sea, the Storm, and the Mangrove Tangle by Lynne Cherry. {measure} {measure}
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Posted by Laurie Sullivan at 5:00 PM
6/17/2010
End of the Year Gathering for Barrett Educators
Posted by Laurie Sullivan at 5:00 PM
6/17/2010
Kindergarten Bird Beaks
{DSC04917} Kindergarten students learned about different types of bird beaks and how the beaks are adapted for eating certain types of food. After reading about beaks, the students used various pretend bird beaks to eat various types of foods. They learned that some beaks did not work for some of the foods. The students graphed their results. Afterwards they watched a brief video on bird beaks and talked about observing birds outdoors. {DSC04906} {DSC04948} {DSC04955} {DSC04933} {DSC04932} {DSC04914} {DSC04922}
Posted by Laurie Sullivan at 4:00 PM
6/14/2010
Oil Impact on Wetlands- Model & Outdoor Classroom
Fourth graders have been learning about the oil spill, the clean up effort, and the impact on ocean animals, people, and the Louisiana wetlands.
Webinar with Philippe Cousteau
Cleaning up the oil
{Bayou}
Fiddle prodigy Amanda Shaw tours the wetlands in "Hurricane on the Bayou."
Observing the simulated plant roots in the Wetlands Enviroscape Model
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Reading Scholastic News Animals in Danger as Huge Oil Spill Spreads and completing activities with maps and Cause & Effect.
An EFFECT is something that happens. A CAUSE is why something happens.
Wetland at the edge of the pond in the Barrett Outdoor Classroom
Posted by Laurie Sullivan at 9:00 AM 6/8/2010
1st Grade Learns about Human Body Systems
In the Discovery lab, 1st graders are learning about the human body, specifically the cardiovascular, respiratory, and skeletal systems. Students rotated through a series of 4 learning centers which had a specific focus. Students enjoyed learning about what is on the inside of their bodies! Furthermore, we will talk about how astronauts are affected by weightlessness within their bodies as they live and work in space. {model of human body}
{respiratory system}
{reading}
{Mrs.Flores}
{x rays}
{Listening to my heart}
{heart}
{exploring}
{Ms. Harris}
{fingerprinting}
{Heart pumping}
{Learning in the lab is cool!!}
Posted by Allyson Greene at 11:10 AM
6/8/2010
Wind Mill Design Task...A 3rd Grade Success!
We have some outstanding engineers here at Barrett in the 3rd grade! Please enjoy the pictures below of our students working in engineering teams to construct a wind mill which works to lift a small washer. These students worked hard and were able to put to use their knowledge of windmills, wind turbines, and wind energy with the Engineering Design Process. {testing} Some careful testing of the prototype...
{designing} A redesigning moment...
{designing} Some more redesigning...
{Is it going to work?} Testing...
{Up close} It worked!!!!
Posted by Allyson Greene at 11:00 AM
6/8/2010
5th Graders Extract DNA from Strawberries!
Over the past few days, 5th graders have been getting a live, up close look at DNA...of strawberries! Students worked with APS science specialist, Jennifer Powell, through a series of steps which extracted the DNA from strawberries.
Students worked hard breaking down the cell membranes of strawberry cells with the use of their hands, and a few other ingredients: rubbing alcohol, salt, and DAWN Dish Detergent. Once those membranes were broken, the DNA was able to be taken from the nucleus of the cells and the result was a clump of DNA! Each student then walked away with a personal momento...a necklace holding the DNA!
{Mashing strawberry} Mashing up a strawberry...
{Mashing is fun!} This is a lot of fun!
{Getting a little help} Getting some help...
{Teamwork} Great teamwork!
{Carefully pouring} Carefully pouring....
{Nice work!} Nice Work!
{Carefully squishing the strawberries!} Carefully squishing the strawberries!
{Getting some help} Getting some help...
{Yuk!} Yuk!
{A Very Mushed Up Berry!} A very mushed berry!
{Using great teamwork} Using great teamwork...
{Nice job!} Nice job!
{Wow! This is cool!} Wow! This is cool!
{A very careful operation} A very careful operation...
{Here comes the DNA} Here comes the DNA...
{Using alcohol to seperate the DNA} Using alcohol to seperate the DNA...
{A Very Proud Student!} A very proud student!
{Lots of fun!} Lots of fun! Best wishes 5th graders! I will miss you!
Posted by Allyson Greene at 11:00 AM
6/7/2010
Students Clean up an Oil Spill
On Wednesday in the Discovery Lab Mrs. Lambert's fourth grade students participated in a webinar with Philippe Cousteau to learn about the Gulf Oil Spill. On Thursday with Mrs. Cohen they read and discussed the book, Prince William by Gloria Rand.The story illustrated the effects of the Valdez oil spill on the creatures of Prince William Sound and one girl's efforts to save a baby seal drenched in oil. On Friday the students were updated on the latest efforts to clean up the oil spill in the Gulf and then were challenge to clean up an oil spill in the Discovery Lab.
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Posted by Laurie Sullivan at 9:00 AM |
