5th Grade Fieldwork

A good teacher is like a candle - it consumes itself to light the way for others.  -Author Unknown

For the past week our science class has been helping teach a group of 5th graders at the elementary school on campus. We have been observing and assisting them with various experiments and lessons their teacher assigns. I have noticed lately how independent they really are. The last experiment we did involved constructing a boat out of either clay or tin foil. After the boat was constructed, they put as many pennies in the boat until it sunk. My student was very self-sufficient throughout the experiment and really did not have any questions. I tried to get involved by asking him to predict how many pennies his boat could hold and I also helped him record the dimensions of his boat but he wanted to do everything himself. I guess at 5th grade they are beginning to become independent. 

Full Moon

Last night was the biggest full moon in 18 years! I read on the internet that this moon was going to be huge but I did not believe it until I saw it. It was so big and bright that I didn't need a flashlight to walk outside. The street lights didn't need to be on either. You could see for miles as if it were day time because it was so big and bright. I look forward to the next time the moon is this big!

Sprouting

Today I was thinking about the lettuce seeds we planted in our science corner. Since it is spring break, no one has had a chance to look how far the seeds have come. I am not sure if they have even sprouted or not. I am worried that they have not sprouted because they have not had any water or sunlight. These are key ingredients for plant growth. Tomorrow my class is back in session and I will observe the lettuce seeds for the first time in a week. Hopefully they are sprouting and are on their way to becoming lettuce!

Spring Break

"The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, 

you gotta put up with the rain." - Dolly Parton

It has rained every day during my spring break. So much that roads are flooded and some people cannot even get into their houses. Many places in New Jersey have been evacuated because of the floods. There are images on the news of people getting around their towns in row boats! Tonights forecast says to expect a total of 5 inches of rain! My neighbors backyard is already turning into a lake. I couldn't even imagine 5 more inches. Next week however, they are saying it will be warmer and just cloudy. I do not want any more rain!