During the fall expedition, students built their literacy and scientific skills as they engaged in a study of weather. First, students learned all about the basics of weather. They became meteorologists and studied all types of weather. The anchor text Weather Words and What They Mean was read aloud multiple times to discover how temperature, wind, moisture, and air pressure creates weather. Students then deepened their understanding of perspective as they went on a tour around the world and discovered how climate and weather change as you move across the globe. Students contributed to a classroom map of all the places we visited, and wrote about what would be packed in a suitcase to visit each place. As a culminating task, students learned how to read weather predictions and designed temperature and weather cards to create a school weather calendar which provided information to other students on how to be prepared to play outside.    

In this expedition, students become scientists and learned all about trees. Students learned what made something alive through studying trees and the living things that depend on them. They learned how living things grow by becoming experts in texts and using knowledge they gain though observation. To start, students listened closely to “What’s Alive” and researched nonliving things and living things. Then students focused on the needs of animals as living things and how they can meet those needs using trees. 

Students formed research groups to become experts on the trees and plants surrounding our school. Which spiked their interest and curiosity for the trees and shrubs we encounter every day. After growing their love for trees, students learned how real, and fictional, people enjoy and appreciate trees. They learned how planting trees can help a community and explored places trees could be planted. 

Distance learning provided an opportunity for students to observe and share with their Crew about the trees and plants near their home. Students observed and shared their noticings about lilacs, tulips, willows, indoor plants, vegetable starts and many other plants they cared about.