Past projects 2
Growing a Multicultural Bounty
Funded Oct 11, 2010Thank you again for your support of our science and health project "Growing a Multicultural Bounty." My students just finished their examination of minerals and rocks, and are learning about the formation of soil by the processes of weathering, erosion and biotic factors. They also recently completed a nutrition unit in health, and chose favorite recipes from their own and family cooking that support bone, muscle and skin health. They are now eager to put it all together by using the equipment you paid for to grow preferred plants in the open air courtyard raised beds at our school, and compare soil conditions below the different species of plants. Some of the factors around the plant roots they will examine are pH, temperature, light conditions, moisture, and fertilizer (N). The students will also take samples of different soil organisms (fungi, arthropods, etc.) beneath different crops, as well as at different depths in the beds. While studying the soil conditions, students will also get a chance to take responsibility for tending sources of food for their families. We had grand hopes of starting our crop and soil studies earlier this year, and the weather did not permit this. However, all signs point to Spring, and we are gearing up for a great project that the entire school and larger community will appreciate. With luck, vigilance and a lot of hard work, we hope to send home a source of good nutrition with the students at the end of the school year. Thanks again for recognizing the great worth of our program and our students!
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With gratitude,
Mrs. Hayes
This classroom project was brought to life by FEED USA and 4 other donors.Probing The Soil Environment
Funded Oct 8, 2010It is with anticipation and excitement that I send this letter at the start of our Probing the Soil Environment project. Our eighth graders have been waiting patiently to "get their hands dirty" in the materials that make up our Oregon State Science Work Sample at the tail end of our Energy&Atmosphere studies. Students are practicing their lab skills using the digital Hanna Temperature Probes to accurately measure soil thermal energy changes in the classroom when weather conditions are not conducive to field laboratory work. They will be accurately quantifying volume and mass of materials used to reduce variation between testing samples with their O'Haus Compact Portable Electronic Scales, and because they are battery operated, the students do not have to rely on the units being plugged into the scarce and inconveniently placed outlets in our classroom.
Students are measuring thermal energy gains and losses from soils that have a variety of physical characteristics that might effect their ability to gain or hold heat. This includes layers of insulation (like leaf mulch) and light versus dark materials, as well as soils that have varying amounts of moisture in them. They are designing the details of these experiments in collaborative groups, and gathering data to be analyzed and compared to the test results of others.
With their experiences in this project, my students will be ready to design outdoor experiments in the spring in raised beds containing crop plants that they have chosen related to our health & nutrition course. At that time, the scales and probes will travel between the courtyard and classroom efficiently and easily. I am looking forward to creating a display of their work inside and outside the building at the end of the school year so you can see how important your donations have been to us throughout the year!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Hayes
This classroom project was brought to life by Disney's Planet Challenge and 13 other donors.