I hope you had a chance to spend some time with your children during the break! As for me, I did a lot of home improvement projects with my husband, but managed to enjoy some mother-daughter time in Santa Cruz, attend my son's Fall Family Game Night, and brunch with some teacher friends! So grateful for the time to regroup and recharge! And now...it's go time!
Please make sure to view your child's blue folder. In it, you will find a permission slip to complete for our next field trip, coming soon this Thursday, October 19th to Cal Expo for a Farm and Forest Tour. Please turn this permission slip in tomorrow or Tuesday! This is a sack lunch field trip; I have ordered cafeteria-made sack lunches for Ayesha and Max. Email me ASAP if you'd like me to order a cafeteria-made sack lunch for your child. Otherwise, please make sure he/she brings a sack lunch on this day and remember to wear WCS spirit shirts!
So far, our chaperones will be Lyla's mom, Elliot's mom, Adeline's mom, and Ethan's grandma. We are in need of one more WCS fingerprinted chaperone. The trip will be from 9 AM (load buses) to 1:00 PM (arrive back at school).
Interested in learning more about our field trip? Check out this info:
What will students learn?
Students grades K-6 will enjoy a 1.5-2 hour tour of the California State Fair Kaiser Permanente Farm’s crops and interactive stations, including a functioning greenhouse. Primarily focused on 3rd and 4thgrade curriculum, the tour will highlight California agriculture, seeds, crop growing and innovations in farming, soil and worm composting, and tasting farm fresh produce. The California State Fair Kaiser Permanente Farm is an essential part of mobilizing interest for young minds to pursue a career in agriculture and to further contribute to our bountiful state and sustain the industry.
5 learning stations on the farm include:
- Grow it! Seeds function in many different ways, and they are all different shapes and sizes. Students will have an opportunity to explore seeds, their differences, touch a variety of seeds, and learn about their many parts. This station will also allow students to create their own seed pots using newspaper, fill them with soil from our soil center, and plant a seed using their finger as a measuring tool.
- See it! From seeds to crops! Students will interact with planting our crops, learning about the stages of growth, helping us transplant seedlings, and ask questions about our orchard areas.
- Save it! Soilless and hydroponic growing is one of California’s newest innovations in growing food. This process allows the water to be filtered in a constant rotation while saving water and keeping the plants roots hydrated. Students will be given an opportunity to see this technology being used in the Agricultural industry as a result of California’s current drought situation.
- Plant it! This is where we will get our hands a little dirty! Having the right soil makes a huge difference when growing food. Students in our soil center will learn how to process the perfect potting soil complete with worm castings. They will even have a chance to interact with our worm bin to see these amazing creatures at work.
- Taste it! Plant parts are so important to understand and appreciate! Students will be quizzed on their knowledge of plant parts and their functions followed by a taste of each represented by – lettuce, celery, carrots, tomatoes, cauliflower, and sunflower seeds. We call it a 6 plant part burrito!
Culminating Projects for our Family Unit
Family Tree; Family Artifact(s); Speech Outline/Presentation due by Friday, October 20th
Students may turn in their family tree, family artifact(s), and speech outline anytime this week, with the absolute deadline being Friday, October 20th. Email me if you have any questions about any of these elements. I am also awaiting one 4x6" family photo from 6 of our families that we can display for the year in our classroom and also a few more "Where Do We Come From" completed sheets. Thank you so much for your support!
Fall Festival is coming this Saturday, October 21st!
Please take a minute or two to look at the volunteer sign up link and our basket needs. We are days away from the Fall Festival and without the support of the parents this event can not happen!
Below are the links for you:
http://signup.com/go/jLXmdVO
Acquisto Fall Festival basket 2017
Many thanks to Maddy's mom, Juanita Balinski ([email protected]), for her leadership in organizing us! All proceeds from the basket go back to our classroom! Thank you for your kind support!
Check out the Westlake Weekly for and the Westlake Charter Walk to school Day Event on Tuesday, October 17th and the Scholastic Book Fair from 10/17 - 10/27 in our new Library/Media Center.
That's all for now, have a great evening!
Looking forward to seeing your kiddos tomorrow!
Thanks, again, to all our Crocker Art Museum field trip chaperones. Below, is a look back at our fun, first field trip of the year!
Mrs. A