It was a fun morning as students and staff arrived wearing their crazy socks! Everyone is ready for the winter break.

Working with Dawn in the Greenhouse, exploration began with finding actual seeds from plants growing on the perimeter of the fields near the school. The class categorized the seeds based on how they dispersed and came up with four categories: wind, water, animal host, and expulsion mechanisms. They then built their own models of seeds.

Next the class focused on wind dispersal in more depth and built models that they hoped would glide at least three feet from a drop of eight feet. They tested their designs. The next step was to build models of helicopter seeds that were designed by an engineer to mimic the way many trees seeds disperse. The final challenge was to redesign and build craft that would carry a seed even farther than the earlier designs, experimenting with lift, drag and angle of attack to achieve maximum glide. Students recorded the final steps of the process and created the videos you see using iMovie. Enjoy!

coolness seed from Karin Gravina on Vimeo.

flying objects from Karin Gravina on Vimeo.

flying creations from Karin Gravina on Vimeo.

Flying seeds from Karin Gravina on Vimeo.

Seed MSG from Karin Gravina on Vimeo.

Students in Lisa Kuerzel’s Grade 2 have been learning about the oceans. Groups of students researched oceans, tide pools and coral reefs and the creatures that live within these ecosystems. Each group prepared a presentation on their research findings and using green screen technology and KidPix software, each group created a movie.

Ocean Life

Ocean Life from Karin Gravina on Vimeo.

Coral Reefs

Coral Reef from Karin Gravina on Vimeo.

Tide Pools

Ocean from Karin Gravina on Vimeo.