Year 4. Session 5. Week 3 Spark Update

In Spark this week, the learners continued studying Zoology. They focused on insects and their habitats and the characteristics that make up an insect. They ended the week with a super fun craft where they got to make their own insect.

          

On Wednesday, the learners did a ladybug release. We learned that ladybugs like to eat aphids and that one ladybug can eat up to 5,000 aphids over its lifetime. They can also help to rid your garden of other soft-bodied insects such as mites, mealybugs, and leafhoppers, along with insect eggs and even ants.

           

On Thursday, we did a watermelon volcano experiment. We gathered the supplies and made a hypothesis as to what was going to happen. The learners learned that baking soda is the base and vinegar is an acid and mixing the two will produce a fizzing gas called carbon dioxide. This reaction is what caused the watermelon volcano to erupt.

             

A popular lesson this week was Color Mixing. This lesson consists of a tray with three dropper bottles each containing red, blue, and yellow, three bowls for mixing colors, and a stirring spoon. When children have the chance to work with fewer colors, they have deeper reflective thoughts and can form an essential understanding of spatial awareness in art. By experiencing a single color at a time through specially set up Montessori color mixing activities, children will notice different degrees of hues with a sharper eye and even learn to appreciate and be more selective with colors as they progress in their art literacy.

            

This week for Grace and Courtesy, the learners discussed the concept of the tone of voice, such as, kindly delivering messages versus yelling. The meaning of a sentence can change based on what feeling you use when you say the words. The meaning can also change depending on which words you choose to use. The learners also got a lesson on the proper way to cough to prevent the spread of germs.

This week for Food Prep the learners practiced juicing an orange and, while making tea is available every week, it is always a favorite.

            

Have a great weekend!