Ecomentors focus on observation and documentation

Once again, Ecomentors were treated with great weather as we set about documenting the life in the lake.  The students chose a specimen, spent some time observing, did their best scientific illustration, and paired it with a photograph.  Nicely done!  See you all on June 12.

Thanks Mrs. Brunelle and Mrs. O'Rourke ... always great to have you along!

Beetle ... maybe Ringo

Hmmm, mayfly or damselfly?  A little out of focus to tell

Snails ... always dependable

We do love dragonflies ... the babies eat mosquito babies, and the adults eat mosquito adults

This spider was on the water, not in it

Leech ... up close, they're quite beautiful!

And, could you believe it ... stuck to the side of a basin, discovered only back in the classroom ... a freshwater limpet!

Graduation Beautification Planting Cafe

Students performing and enjoying the music on LEAF's Open Mic Night on May 10th also got their hands dirty in the name of those little landscaping touches that can make a big difference.

We purchased flowers, soil, peat moss, and drainage stones with funding from the BHS Student Council, and Ms. Levy's quick swing by the Amherst take-or-leave center landed the perfect number of 6 inch pots.  During a break in the performances, students got a quick tutorial on proper soil consistency and the importance of drainage and the ecological savvy of the xeriscape gardener ... then they got their hands in the dirt!

Two salvia's, 4 marigolds and a few portulaca's later, and we were looking at gorgeous live floral arrangements, in school colors, of course!  The pots will be arranged in the landscaping in front of BHS on graduation day, adding just a splash of color to those precious memories.

(Meaghan, Jill, Mikayla, if you took any pictures, please send them my way!  llevy@belchertown.org)

Several days later, Ms. Kampe's kids strolled down to Rm 127 to do the same ... and boy, did they have fun!

Nothing like a little dirt to put a smile on your face!!

Tuck those roots in nice and snug!

Those colors are going to look great in your graduation pictures!

Nicely done

The boys show they've got the touch, too

The proud gardeners pose with their creations

Thanks to Karen for taking such beautiful pictures!!

Creativity Competition

Thanks to Mrs. Naz and the judges and onlookers.  It took a while, and swapping out a floor fan for a box fan, but the windmills wound and Danielle emerged the victor!

Nice job, engineers!

May 3 Exploring Lake Wallace; Signs of Spring

Included in all of the great activities organized by Jennifer Whitehead, a new batch of excited explorers set out on an excursion to Lake Wallace.  We scooped, sorted, observed, and gloried in the amazing variety to be found in this hidden jewel of the community.

Thanks to Ms. Whitehead, Mr. Clark, Matt G, the 18 kids and 4 parents who came along ... leaving the screens behind to find out who really lives in our community.

(Parents, if you took some pictures, please send some and I'll add them here!!   llevy@belchertown.org)

Activities in the classroom

Mr. Koziols' crew got busy making density columns

Yes, Doctor, density is destiny

Biology students testing and analyzing their reaction times

Release,

 ... and catch

record, 

 ... and graph

Alyssa found a beautiful spider

Measuring our BLG trees, starting our electronic record of study branches.

Tyler thinks his tree rocks!

The Maple sap has passed, the leaves are on the way

It's all about balance

Yes, John, you have advanced to the 2nd level

And you can also decorate with colored pencils!!

The Swift River Puddle mystery ... solved!

Taking best advantage of sunny weather and Woodland Ecology meeting during long block, Darryl Clark's students joined Ms. Levy's students to answer the question ...

Just what is in the Swift River puddle?!

You know it ... at the end of the Swift River Elementary entrance, next to the DD drive through, where ducks, red-winged blackbirds and killdeer are regularly seen, that's the place.  With plenty of folks asking why the ducks spend time there, and whether there are mosquitoes, we decided to explore to answer those questions.  The last thing we want is another mosquito breeding pool.  ...  Anything but that!!

So, nets, basins, trays, spoons, and great attitudes, we headed down to the puddle, several of the brave high schoolers in waders.

Ready to explore?

Right in the thick of it ... what's out there?

Have net, will investigate

Science, fun, and partnerships ... a recipe for long-lasting memories

Believe it or not, the waders were not overkill, there was about a foot of water in the deepest portions and tons of mud!

Take the scoop of water, search in the basin, sort into the trays ... and count

Andy's hard work gets him some adoration

Yep, grass = ticks ... partners checked each other before we left

Yep, mud.  Nothing to do but bring that home!

We found some very happy worms

Scientists collecting data

A scientist observing form and behavior

Mr. Clark and company found some pretty amazing things ...

... as did Ms. Levy's

On the second day, preparing to explore and confirm

Believe it or not ... tiny tadpoles!

A water scorpion (with lots of mites on its legs)

We found a shoe, too ... hmm where's it's pair?

A fine day.  Good work, teamwork, satisfaction and pride!