Language Arts Mary Lyn Stalter
Notes: Tonight in your reading log you will see that there is more information required.
Your reading log will require you to identify primary character, supportive character and the stories message. The point that the story is trying to make.
Writing Prompts:
What is your favorite book?
Who is your favorite literary character?
Who is your favorite author, designer, director, musician, actor, writer, cartoonist, performer, producer or teacher?
Two of my favorite authors are Robert Munsch and Dr Seuss for their ability to tell a story that is also a poem while being funny at the same time. My favorite comic book characters are Captain Europe, Dr Gluck, Gecko Man, Under Armor, The Roaring Mouse and Muscle Man.
Science: François Gonzalez
Today Mr Gonzalez took us for a walk around the outside of the building in science class. He told us to write down the name of every plant or animal that we see. This is an exercise in scientific observation. You walk by hundreds of different plants every day, Do you know what most of them are called, and more importantly do you understand the role each one plays in our ecosystem.
Are the plants you see native and wild, or were they planted and or introduced by humans.
I expect you all to be on your best behavior on this trip. It is not recess, it is class. If you are successful and responsible we will be able to make longer field trips and find more interesting plants and animals to discover.
Then he gave a three minute lecture on his behavioral expectations of the class while outside.
(start D.R. Gluck) "In order for me to feel confident in the safety of this class I need to feel confident that they are following the rules." (D.R. Gluck)
He then went on to ask random students in our class what the rules were. So I wrote them down as people talked.
Follow directions the first time
Respect self, others and property
Stay in your seat or in your place in line
Use appropriate voice level for each activity.
Clean up after yourself
Leave things better than you find them
On Campus Field Trip Notes:
At the back of the school is a storage shed is the worm composting bin.
Mr Gonzalez took us there. He said, "We compost all of the school cafeteria's vegetable scraps there. Then the compost is taken to our Greenhouse where we grow native plants and vegetables. The school uses the vegetables grown in the greenhouse for our cooking classes."
Mr Gonzalez cleared his throat and continued "Red worms turn food scraps and bedding into high quality compost suitable for use on house plants, seedlings or general garden use. The bedding is moistened brown leaves, shredded newspaper, cardboard or clean food shavings."
"To maintain this system, simply bury the food scraps throughout the fully bedded bin. To bury your food scraps dig a hole in the bedding, put in food scraps and cover completely with clean bedding. A properly maintained worm bin should be nearly odorless. Flies may be controlled and bedding maintained by placing a sheet of plastic or cardboard on top of the bedding.
"Every 9-12 months the partially finished compost and/or bedding should be moved to one side of the bin and left to age. New bedding is added to the empty side of the bin."
"Then you bury food scraps only in the new bedding. Within 4-6 weeks the worms will move from the aging compost and populate the new bedding. The finished compost may now be harvested and the open space in the bin can be rebedded. Any large un-composted food scraps can be added back into the bin.
Worm bins can be kept outside or in a cool indoor space such as a basement or a garage. Outdoor worm bins should be located in a shady protected area. To keep your worms from freezing in winter, keep your bin fully bedded. Worm bins can also be insulated with bags of leaves or straw bales placed around and on top of the bin.
Worm bins can also be made from recycled materials, wooden boxes, or other containers. All worm bins must have drainage holes in the bottom to drain excess liquid and a tight fitting lid to keep moisture in and pests out. Do not use treated wood of any kind.
Source: Seattle Tilth Worm Composting Bin/ The Garden Hotline. Page 1