Monday, October 26, 2015

Nutrition Unit

We have kicked off our Nutrition Unit! In this unit students are asked to consider the following essential question: What choices can I make to be healthy?

As a result of this unit students will be able to answer all of the following questions:
  • What can I do to keep my body healthy?
  • What are the characteristics of healthy foods?
  • What are the five food groups that have been identified as important to human health? What are Some specific foods within each food group?
  • Where can healthy foods be found? What are five healthy foods that you enjoy eating?
  • What nutrients does your body need to stay healthy? What are different foods that provide these nutrients.
So far we have identified the 5 food groups and today we practiced sorting different foods in the appropriate groups. We also realized that some foods are considered 'Sometimes Foods' and are in their own group.

Make sure to ask your student what they have learned so far!

Thursday, October 8, 2015

Learning about the Lake Champlain Watershed


Yesterday we had a very special guest from the Lake Champlain Basin Program! Ms. Kerry helped us see how polluted run off harms our lakes and rivers. She brought a water table model and allowed us to pour oil and different simulated pollutants on the landscape before a big rainstorm came. We watched as the water washed all of the water and pollution right into the lake!

Ms. Kerry helped us identify things that we do that harm or help Lake Champlain. Here is what we have learned so far...

Things that pollute or harm the lake:
  • Oil from leaky cars
  • Factories that dump into the lake
  • Construction
  • Farms - fertilizer and animal waste
  • Run off from roads
  • Pet waste

Things we can do to help the lake:
  • Take care of our cars so they don't leak
  • Clean up after our pets
  • Be responsible with toxic waste
  • Build fences to keep cows out of streams
  • Don't cut down trees on the banks of rivers