Bird Boxes and Body Systems

Here are a couple of the learning activities we've been engaged in the last two weeks.

Service Learning

This year, we're privileged again to be helping with the Colorado Bluebird Project. We build bluebird boxes in the winter and monitor nesting activity and record data in the spring.  This is a win-win for our crew and for the city of Castle Rock--a win for our crew because we learn about ecology, biology, carpentry, and helpful attitudes for serving our community; a win for Castle Rock because they need as many volunteers as possible to contribute to this worthwhile effort to help wildlife. Last week, both 5th grade crews teamed up with Home Depot employees to construct bird boxes that will be mounted at various places in Castle Rock in a few weeks before the nesting season begins.

Body Systems

We're into our Body Systems science expedition now.  We begin this with a general look at six body systems: skeletal/muscular, circulatory, endocrine, digestive, nervous, and respiratory. Students are paired up to research one of these systems and then they share with the crew what they've learned.  When we are finished with our presentations we will have two case studies that look at ways the health of specific systems can be impacted.