Science–Get Outside on a Nature Journey!
WEEKLY SCIENCE ASSIGNMENT–OUTSIDE, EVERYBODY!
This is going to be where you find your weekly Outside Assignments. Your first assignment for the 08/09 school year is this: Each week, you’ll be expected to put down your precious DS, GameBoys, computers, cells, gadgets, and all things electronic in order to make a concerted effort to go outside and observe nature. On your nature journey, the only electronic devices you may carry are flashlights and cameras in order to record special findings. You will want your notebooks in order to record observations.
NATURE JOURNEY? WHAT THE?!?!?!
Your nature journey requires you to be outside in the gorgeous, fresh air for a minimum of 30 minutes straight. You are to walk of your own volition, not being pushed in a buggy by your parents, and to explore the natural world around you. This may be as simple as walking through your own backyard or on one of the many green spaces and paths we have in Northern Virginia. Perhaps your family will do a family hike in the Shenandoah on the weekend, and your nature journey can happen there as well.
YOUR MISSION, SHOULD YOU CHOOSE TO ACCEPT IT…(and, of course you will!)
Your mission is to find a biotic or abiotic feature, photograph it, observe it and take notes about its environment. Then you will return to your technologically-powered reality to research this biotic or abiotic specimen. You will enter a blog on Science-Get Outside! including uploading a picture of your specimen. Your blog entry will include scientific name, physical characteristics described, location found, type of environment (woodland, swamp), how it produces energy, how it is consumed, who eats this, what does it eat? How does this thing live or exist? If abiotic, how do you think it possibly came to be in this location, in this physical condition. Of course, as time goes on, we will think of more information to include, and you are always welcome to include as much information that you can research! In other words…tell me all about your specimen in detail.
WHAT AM I GETTING FOR ALL THIS TROUBLE, MY BELOVED TEACHER? TELL ME THAT!
Worth 10 points! This is a weekly assignment, due by Sunday evening each week unless otherwise noted by me. So, Get Outside!! And enjoy! And please remember that when you blog, you have an instant audience around the world. Choose your words carefully, manage what you write elegantly, and consider your audience thoughtfully. The whole world can see what you write.
Enjoy, my nature bunnies!
July 13th, 2008 at 9:38 pm
That would be so fun! The rising fifth graders are so lucky! XD
July 13th, 2008 at 10:24 pm
Hi Mrs. CG I had a great time this year. I sort of have a problem about going out at a minimum temperture of 90 degrees and since I am in India and I don’t know many areas around here i was wondering if i still have to do the assignment
July 14th, 2008 at 7:53 am
Amay! You’re too awesome! I would love you to blog about the nature you’re finding in India right now even though it’s over 90 degrees! Just so you know, the temperatures are similar in Northern Virginia, so we’re all suffering the same at the moment.
Where are you in India? What types of plant life or animals do you see where you are?
Have a great time and please, please check back in and blog so we can all learn what you’re seeing! I think Ramya is headed to India shortly, so between the two of you, we may all learn a great day. Remember, to the rest of us, this is extremely exotic and exciting, so please, please share all that you see and do in nature…and otherwise! We are all just so curious especially because we had some studies on India last year and learned things we had no idea about!
Looking forward to more blogs from you, Amay!!
July 15th, 2008 at 4:44 pm
Hey Mrs.CG!!!
I will try to post on the blog during my trip to India. I want to share my adventure with all of you guys!!!:)
P.S. The blog was such a cool idea!!!!!!!!
Your Student,
Ramya R.
July 16th, 2008 at 4:17 pm
Yes, yes!!! Awesome~! Ok…so we’ll be waiting for those. Keep blogging, Ramya! And if you have kids over there that want to join in, please tell them about our blog so we can add more opportunities to talk with kids in India!
–Mrs. CG
July 17th, 2008 at 5:11 pm
Mrs. CG-
This is for the rising 5th graders, right?
-Ally
July 18th, 2008 at 3:06 pm
HI Ally,
Yes, that was my idea…that you guys would see it and give me some feed back about the idea. Then I’d try it out on the rising 5th graders when I get them in September.
July 29th, 2008 at 3:28 pm
Hey guys!! I want to try the nature challenge soon, but I have trouble with my schedule sometimes. My grandparents are coming over for 6 months, and they are supposed to arrive on the 2nd of August. I can’t wait!!! I MISS EVERYBODY!!! See you guys in 6th grade!!
July 30th, 2008 at 8:45 am
Well, you are the lucky ones to be moving on to 6th grade because this is going to be a regular assignment for the fifth graders! And they’re going to have a rubric, too, so it won’t be something casual. But, IF you want to do this, which I hope you do, of course, you do not have any stringent requirements. It would just be great it you guys would post something to get the fifth graders interested in nature and using the blog!
–Mrs. CG
July 30th, 2008 at 3:48 pm
Sure, I’ll try it soon!