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Environmental Stewardship	First Grade Swain's first graders participate in two 30 minute science classes per week. Our class periods are filled with interactive, hands-on experiences that promote natural curiosity, interest and discovery found in young learners. In September, first graders at Swain learn the importance of Reusing, Recycling and Reducing as part of our Environmental Stewardship Unit. We create a piece of recycled paper using paper from the waste basket, check out the compost pile and become part of the rot squad, and develop a poster showing all of the ways we recycle. In October we explore weather and the seasons, building upon our knowledge acquired in kindergarten. The children will learn the names of various types of clouds, play in the rain and stomp in puddles. We will spend time on blankets observing the sky. They also might surprise you with words such as precipitation, evaporation, and condensation. We also discuss weather realted to safety (planning a car kit for winter, what to do in a bad thunder storm, etc.) In November, we explore our health and wellness unit. We discuss holiday eating and exercise habits, how to care for our teeth and list healthy foods. We complete fun experiments with foods and oils if we have time too! I hope to incorporate a visit from the nurse, related to hand washing and general wellness. In December, we work on our dinosaur / threatened and endangered species unit. A paleontologist team will be hopefully be visiting Swain again! This time with a discussion on fossils that pre-date Mr. Nixon (the tricerotops we met last year). Each child will dig for their own fossil, identify it and keep it! Also, the team will bring real dinosaur fossils as part of their presentation. We will discuss endangered species, make a geologic timeline and talk about extinction. January will focus on a review of astronomy, specifically the nine planets. Then we will get into it deeper as we discuss how planets vary from one another, discuss the latest discoveries about Mars, do experiments and demonstrations that attempt to explain the vastness of space and take a trip to a planetarium. With any luck, we may connect with the Astronomical Society of Allentown for a trip to a telescope. Miss Cole's class enjoyed making a power point presentation in tech lab last year that focused on the planets in our solar system. February will focus on our Earth's properties and magnetics. This unit integrates nicely with the mapping unit the homeroom teachers present. We learn about the different types of rocks that make up our Earth's crust, the layers of the Earth, and magnets through a series of experiments, completion of three dimensional models and maps and by eating a tootsie pop! March will continue with or understanding of topographical mapping and using compasses. THEN, we will begin our kitchen chemistry unit. We will mix, pour, measure and make things to become familiar with beakers, stirring rods, measuring spoons, balances, eye droppers and more! April will include work on animals. We will use outdoor exploration, models, and 'construction' labs to learn about insects and herptiles, habitat, camouflage, predation, nature's webs and more. We will be out exploring and planting in the gardens as soon as weather permits this month! In May, we will study plants in hopes of developing a love of learning about nature. We will discuss the life cycle of the plant and SEE the life cycle in action. I hope to use flowers, blossoms and seeds to make plant books during this unit. We will spend many of our classes outside in the organic garden, native plant garden and grounds surrounding the school In June, the children will vote on a subject related to science...and Mrs. Bardman will create a curriculum based on the children's desires! ***ASSIGNMENTS - I will be sending homework home infrequently. When it comes home it is expected that there will be parental assistance, unless otherwise noted. I will also send home papers about events and information related to the subjects we are studying in science - these are not required items - they are for enrichment only. Please direct any questions or comments to me at cbardman@swain.org. YOUR CHILDREN ARE A PLEASURE TO WORK WITH! THANK YOU FOR SHARING THEM WITH ME!! Back to Mrs. Bardman's Homepage Back to Miss Monahan Back to Mrs. Kelly
Seasons and Weather
Health and Wellness
Dinosaurs and Endangered Species
Planets Review, Constellations, Space Exploration
What the Earth is Made Of, Magnets
Measurement and Mapping Kitchen Chemistry
Animals and Plants

Environmental Stewardship

First Grade

Swain's first graders participate in two 30 minute science classes per week. Our class periods are filled with interactive, hands-on experiences that promote natural curiosity, interest and discovery found in young learners.

In September, first graders at Swain learn the importance of Reusing, Recycling and Reducing as part of our Environmental Stewardship Unit. We create a piece of recycled paper using paper from the waste basket, check out the compost pile and become part of the rot squad, and develop a poster showing all of the ways we recycle.

In October we explore weather and the seasons, building upon our knowledge acquired in kindergarten. The children will learn the names of various types of clouds, play in the rain and stomp in puddles. We will spend time on blankets observing the sky. They also might surprise you with words such as precipitation, evaporation, and condensation. We also discuss weather realted to safety (planning a car kit for winter, what to do in a bad thunder storm, etc.)

In November, we explore our health and wellness unit. We discuss holiday eating and exercise habits, how to care for our teeth and list healthy foods. We complete fun experiments with foods and oils if we have time too! I hope to incorporate a visit from the nurse, related to hand washing and general wellness.

In December, we work on our dinosaur / threatened and endangered species unit. A paleontologist team will be hopefully be visiting Swain again! This time with a discussion on fossils that pre-date Mr. Nixon (the tricerotops we met last year). Each child will dig for their own fossil, identify it and keep it! Also, the team will bring real dinosaur fossils as part of their presentation. We will discuss endangered species, make a geologic timeline and talk about extinction.

January will focus on a review of astronomy, specifically the nine planets. Then we will get into it deeper as we discuss how planets vary from one another, discuss the latest discoveries about Mars, do experiments and demonstrations that attempt to explain the vastness of space and take a trip to a planetarium. With any luck, we may connect with the Astronomical Society of Allentown for a trip to a telescope. Miss Cole's class enjoyed making a power point presentation in tech lab last year that focused on the planets in our solar system.

February will focus on our Earth's properties and magnetics. This unit integrates nicely with the mapping unit the homeroom teachers present. We learn about the different types of rocks that make up our Earth's crust, the layers of the Earth, and magnets through a series of experiments, completion of three dimensional models and maps and by eating a tootsie pop!

March will continue with or understanding of topographical mapping and using compasses. THEN, we will begin our kitchen chemistry unit. We will mix, pour, measure and make things to become familiar with beakers, stirring rods, measuring spoons, balances, eye droppers and more!

April will include work on animals. We will use outdoor exploration, models, and 'construction' labs to learn about insects and herptiles, habitat, camouflage, predation, nature's webs and more. We will be out exploring and planting in the gardens as soon as weather permits this month!

In May, we will study plants in hopes of developing a love of learning about nature. We will discuss the life cycle of the plant and SEE the life cycle in action. I hope to use flowers, blossoms and seeds to make plant books during this unit. We will spend many of our classes outside in the organic garden, native plant garden and grounds surrounding the school

In June, the children will vote on a subject related to science...and Mrs. Bardman will create a curriculum based on the children's desires!

***ASSIGNMENTS - I will be sending homework home infrequently. When it comes home it is expected that there will be parental assistance, unless otherwise noted. I will also send home papers about events and information related to the subjects we are studying in science - these are not required items - they are for enrichment only.

Please direct any questions or comments to me at cbardman@swain.org.

YOUR CHILDREN ARE A PLEASURE TO WORK WITH!

THANK YOU FOR SHARING THEM WITH ME!!

Back to Mrs. Bardman's Homepage

Back to Miss Monahan

Back to Mrs. Kelly