Field Trip: Glass Bottom Boat

Last week Grade 3 just finished our PYP Sharing the Planet: Water Unit and we capped it off with a field trip to The Slipway to ride on the Glass Bottom Boat. With all of the rain we have been having I crossed my fingers while we headed out on the buses to catch low tide. Everything was perfect when we got there. The water was low, the life-jackets were tight, our eyes were ready and the fish were abundant.
We went with the idea to not only observe the wildlife in the sea but also how much pollution is in the water right off of the peninsula. I am happy to report that we actually did not see too much of it. When we returned to the doc there was a little trash circle of plastic hanging out on the surface of the water, but it wasn't too bad.
All in all, it was a great trip. As one of the students enthusiastically exclaimed, "Ms. Rorey, that was way better than I expected."

 

Team Work for Conservation

The final project for our PYP Sharing the Planet: Water Unit required students to come up with a project of their choice to demonstrate their understanding of water conservation. Many students chose to work with partners or a group to show their learning. We had a few picture books, a some poster projects, a few games, two plays and some Powerpoint presentations. Overall, the projects turned out splendidly and splashingly.

What I was most impressed with was the amount of cooperation and teamwork it took to put these projects together. Even if a student worked alone on a project, they received help from teams that were already finished. There were kind words, pleases and thank yous, smiles, negotiating and compromising. These kids really have learned so many skills this year. Here are some photos to demonstrate the collaboration that occurred to pull these projects off. Wonderful 3R!