Northgate School 2nd Grade Science

 Why weren’t the usually robust  Chalta trees with their large fruit growing in Central Africa?  This was the big overarching question for the 10-week Autumn unit.  It involved plant and animal migration, overhead canopy, elephant poop and dicy bureaucratic decisions.  Turns out the staple fruit trees were being over shadowed by other trees making for less sunlight, Chalta loving elephants were herded  into once closed Chalta forests and then pooping seeds miles away.  The students were highly engaged as we tested light variability on seeds in class, made 3-D models of forests and studied the ever changing ecosystem.  

This winter, 2nd graders are “glue engineers” searching for that elusive sticky stuff that all school want.  Within safety limits, students will test their “homemade glues.  Thus far we’ve talked about properties of substances… hard, gooey, runny.  And we use science terms evidence, design and observe.Randy Harkness

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