The Windowsill Jungle

Students' bean plants have truly been a welcomed pop of life and colour in the classroom. It has also created quite a jungle on the windowsill! With room at a minimum, our large bean plants went home on Wednesday to continue growing  in students' backyard or on their windowsill.

Before our bean plants could go home, we had to make our final comparison between our bean plants and those grown under altered conditions, as an experiment. Prior to planting our bean seeds, students decided that for best growth, plants need air, water, sun and soil. To test this, we decided to grow our bean plants with those ideal growing conditions, but to also grow plants without one of those elements.

The result were interesting!

The bean plant on the left is my bean plant, grown with the "best" conditions. The others were grown (from left to right) with no sun, no soil, no water and finally, no air.

Students made the following observations:

No sun:

-grew quickly

-stem is white

-has very few roots, roots are thin

-has no leaves

-roots are no longer absorbing water

-soil was very wet

-plant not anchored to the ground

No soil:

-grew much slower than our bean plants

-now as tall as our plants

-same number and size of leaves

-same colouring

No water:

-soil is loose and dry

-seed is unchanged since planting

No air:

-soil is VERY wet and puddled on top

-seed did not grow or sprout

-it STUNK!!

Conclusion:

Plants will not grow without air or water. For best growth, plants need air, water, sun AND soil.

Hope families enjoy the bean plant!

~Ms. Burland

Final Swimming Lesson

Grade 3s headed to their final swimming lesson on Tuesday morning. It was amazing to see how comfortable and confident students had grown through the six weeks! You've made me proud! :) As always, it was a treat to watch you all!

 

Great job my little fishes!!
~Ms. Burland

Chlorophyll Fun!

Our windowsill garden is becoming a jungle! Students' plants are growing quickly and some are even out growing the sticks they are stacked to. 

The leaves are large and darkening in colour. Our most recent focus within our study of plants is plant parts and functions. Today we took a closer look at the role leaves play. Students understand that leaves are the part of the plant that makes food for the plant; without leaves, the plant would not survive. 

We know that the process of making food is called photosynthesis. Photosynthesis occurs when the chemical chlorophyll within the leaves mixes with air, water and sunlight. Students have observed what happens what a plant does not receive sunlight or air or water- the plant is not able to make food for itself. The seeds we tried to grow without sunlight, air or water are not doing well. The seed that received no air and the seed that received no water did not grow or spout. The plant living without sunlight in our cupboard, did grow and grew quickly. Yet, the stem is white, the seed leaves are shrivelled and leaves did not grow. Today we noticed that the roots are no longer soaking up water. The water is sitting on top of the soil. It does not look healthy when compared to the plants in our windowsill garden. 

After an activity in the classroom, we traveled outside to collect leaves in order to make chlorophyll rubbings! Plenty of dandelion leaves were readily available!

Once back in the classroom, we used the handles of our scissors to rub against the leaves to release the chlorophyll inside. 

 Ta- da! Chlorophyll! The same stuff that stains the knees on our jeans!

~Ms. Burland

FYI

Please note that this week marks the final swimming lesson AND final hockey session, Tuesday AM and Wednesday PM, respectively.

Library is Wednesday and I am asking that books be returned Tuesday.

~Ms. Burland

Last week

Whew! What a busy week- here is a review of the week through photos!

We continued to chart and record the growth of our bean plants!

The stems are soaring and the leaves growing and darkening in colour.

Students FINALLY meet Harmony in person, the artist who wrote Die Like an Egyptian and the Vowel Song. Students were VERY excited and learned a lot about her musical background, talents and guitar. We began to write a song about the life of a bean plant- inspired by our own bean plants. Due to busy schedules, we will see Harmony for two more TIA sessions early in June.

Hockey students spent the entire day at the MTS Iceplex. They played two hockey games against other Winnipeg Jets Hockey Academy schools. They enjoyed a buffet lunch and a private tour of the Jets changing room and training facility. Students had a BLAST! They were very excited to return at the end of the day with these medals :)

Non-hockey kids spent a relaxing day with Mrs. Shabaga's non-hockey students. We did art, had two gym classes and enjoyed some fresh air.

With a short week, swimming, hockey and TIA, it was an eventful week!

~Ms. Burland