Water Quality

Today we were able to bring a water sample from a local pond to class to study for our water quality lesson as part of our aquatics unit. Earlier this morning I tromped out to a local pond near our school and almost lost my rubber boots collecting a sample of water for the class.  (It totally would have been worth it! #SCIENCE).

We used the The Alberta Lake Management Society water quality testing kits for AWQA Day (Alberta Water Quality Awareness). They are these efficient kits used to test temperature, turbidity (clarity), dissolved oxygen and pH of water samples. Results are submitted across the province and compared over time to observe results.

Using our AWQA Day kits

The pond, recording results, and checking out some critters under the microscope

We studied our sample and compared them to tap water and our classroom aquarium water. The results were interesting and sparked very good conversations about the possible reasons why. It was a great teachable moment to notice that many of the results were not even close to what they had anticipated.  

Aquarium Water

Tap Water

Pond Water

We were also joined by a delegation of educators from China where Mr. Kierstead had visited earlier this year. We were able to show them what we had been studying today as well as the robotics projects a few of the kids had been working on during options. I am very proud of how well the students represented our school and our country.

Sci 4 WEBQUEST

Faites chacune des tâches suivantes pour savoir plus sur les déchets, le compostage et les 3 R's.  

N'oubliez pas d'augmenter le volume et porter vos écouteurs


1.  Regardez ces films

 

 

3.  

2.  Jouer aux jeux ici

3.  Cliquez sur "Let's Get Started" et suivez les instructions

4.  Essayez le jeu et quiz 'eco-emballages'

5.  Visitez les sites suivants de Wonderville

• Sort it out
• Diversion Dart
• Waste No More

6.  Lisez le blog de Mme

• Composting Lab
• Keep It Green Beaumont

7.  Amusez-vous avec les liens trouvés ici (BGRS ES)

8. Faire les Mathletics

Composting lab

Composting lab!! 

(This is in English so parents can help kids get ready!)

What you need to bring from home:

• Large clear glass jar with a lid (pickle jar, canning jar, etc.) 
• One item you think will compost (must fit in the jar) 
• One item you think will not compost (must fit in the jar) 
• One item you aren't sure will compost (must fit in the jar) 

It will be interesting to see the results!!


More information:

• See about Beaumont's Keep It Green program here
• See the lab from previous years here. We will modify by using clear jars. 

Here are some videos to get us ready!

• Le compost
• Composting for kids
• How compost is made cartoon

Keep it Green Beaumont!

I have been doing some research about what kind of green initiatives and waste management our town has and I am VERY impressed.  

I had the kids do a garbage sorting activity including where to sort:

• compost
• recycle
• bottle depot recycle
• garbage
• garbage dump (large items, hazardous waste and e-cycling technology)

The town also offers a great deal of information and support.

• Environmental Services (energy conservation, idle-free, water conservation, etc
• Environmental Master Plan (pdf)
• Kids version of the EMP (pdf)
• Curbside collection program (details about sorting garbage)
• Curbside collection program brochure (pdf)

Also have a look at these videos

• Edmonton Waste management Playlist
• Edmonton IPTF and Compost Facitlity

This video is more appropriate for grade 7 kids, not grade 4

Brainpop

• Brainpop - Recycle
• Brainpop - Waste Management
• Brainpop -Conserving energy
• Brainpop -Humans and the environment

Les déchets

 Les déchets 

Introduction

• Les déchets BP 
• Nous et l'environnement

Grande plaque de déchets du Pacifique 

• Filme
• Animation (après) 

Virtual Ecology

Because it is cold and miserable outside most of the time we are going to learn about ecology virtually!  Here are some great videos, animations, and labs to try.  The main focus is topic 7, ecological monitoring.

National Geographic

• Environmental monitoring of a river

• Great Lakes pollution

• Monitoring deformed frogs

• Satellite imaging

Topic 7 Environmental Monitoring **

• FrogWatch The FrogWatch web site contains pictures and sounds of frogs native to Alberta. There are links to activities and other NatureWatch web sites.
• iNaturalist  record what you see in nature and learn about the natural world

OTHER

• Amazing list of resources from BGRS
• Food chain and population dynamics - Run the simulation and see if your population thrives
• Virtual Carbon cycle
• Great ecology websites

Cycles and Food Chains

We have been learning about ecosystems and the environment including the water and carbon cycle, food chains, webs and pyramids.  These poster activities are a great way to teach the kids how to categorize items and learn the vocabulary.

photos TBA

These videos will explain the topics further
Brainpop (username - fcss, password - password)

• Water cycle
• Carbon cycle
• Food Chain
• Energy pyramid and biomass
• pH Scale
• Acids and Bases
• Air pollution
• Water Pollution

YouTube

• Food Chain with Simba and Moufassa *
• Tropic levels and food pyramid

Bill Nye Food Web

Crash Course - Cycles

Inside Ed at ECES

We were fortunate enough to have Pamela from Inside Education come and talk to the class about Energy, Ecosystems, and You!  It was a great way to end our latest unit on heat and temperature while adding concepts from our ecosystems unit.  The students participated in a variety of activities and a Pamela gave them a lot to think about.  We talked about stewardship and looked at THIS POSTER to brainstorm some ideas.  Make sure to ask them about it and how you, as a family, can reduce your carbon footprint and your impact on climate change.  

Care Lab

Today we did the CARE PACKAGE lab with the students to learn about being GREEN and using more energy efficient products at home and school.  So much fun!  Thank you to Inside Education for this great resource!  I will email pictures home!  Have a talk as a family about a few of the things that you would like to try and do at home and save the earth and some money!

"This kit is filled with over 20 items that will help you and your students explore simple yet effective ways to conserve energy and water and reduce waste. Kits are limited to one per school.

Due to the popularity of this resources we have distributed all the CARE kits available for the 2011-2012 school year! All of the items in the CARE kit are listed in the teachers guide as well as great ideas for promoting stewardship in your school - check it out!" - Inside Education

3 R's!

For Topic 3 of the Ecology unit in Science 7 we are learning about our ecological footprint and the three R's.  I have challenged the students to pack a waste/garbage-free lunch tomorrow.  I would like to see them use a lunch bag or box, containers, recyclable drink containers, organic matter to compost, and food that isn't individually wrapped. 

It is very hard to do sometimes so I am asking them to try their best for tomorrow to be 100% garbage free and then apply at least two methods in their daily lunches for the rest of the year.  (See blog post below for more ideas)

They will all get a sticker for a garbage free lunch tomorrow and then I will try and keep track as often as possible and give a prize at the end of the month to the student with the most eco-friendly and healthy lunch.

Take the eco-footprint quiz as a family and see where you can reduce your footprint.

Enjoy Jack Johnson's song about the three R's.  It is from the Curious George soundtrack and is the only kids music I can handle.  Love it!

Green lunches

I would love to see the amount of plastic thrown out at lunch reduced but I know it is impossible to do that every day.  Some tips are to use re-usable containers, re-use ziplock bags, have a paper bag lunch and recycle it, bring compostable materials home for the compost, keep on recycling beverage containers, and try to avoid pre-packaged foods.  It is sometimes a pain to do all of these things so just pick a few that work for you.  
Another great idea are these bento box lunch kits.  They are a system of containers or bins that help you have a green lunch!

I have a Goodbyn for my daughter's lunch and love it!  Maybe I need to get one for myself!