SRE 2nd grade takes a field trip to Lake Wallace

What do you get when you mix science, writing, math, and a generous helping of adventure?  A field trip for the entire 2nd grade!

18 BHS students hosted all 200 2nd graders on a beautiful early spring morning, thanks to the hard work of all of the 2nd grade teachers and chaperones.


Right square in the middle of the field and the bright sunshine ...

Marijo leads the way as students convince Desert Toad to come visit Lake Wallace ... with rich description, capitals at the beginnings and periods at the ends of sentences.

Hard at work thinking about the differences between the desert and a lake in an Eastern Forest.

Down by the trees ...

How many thumbs tall is that tree?  Students used Artists Thumb and Timber! methods to estimate tree height,  then we compared the estimates

Well, that's one way to find out the circumference of a tree.  How many 2nd graders does it take to hug a tree?

How many 2nd graders does it take to hug an Austin?

Then it was off to the lake's edge ...

Mr. Clark gets everyone ready to do respectful exploration and to look carefully at the life in the thriving ecosystem that is Lake Wallace.

Explorers hard at work scooping and sorting

Take a closer look ... you'll be surprised what you'll see!

Then over to the picnic tables for more scooping, sorting, identifying and sketching (that's documenting to you scientists!)

Lily sets the stage for the 2nd grade residents of Belchertown to really find out who lives in their ecological community

Yep, there's a lot of variety there, and it's all creatures who are part of a thriving ecosystem, living their lives all while providing us with clean water and clean air

Cool bug

We like Mayflies!

Take good care of that snail!

Now that's a lot of explorers!

And even more!!

The high school crew at the end of a long day of bringing the beauty of Lake Wallace to elementary kids.
See you when you get to high school, 2nd graders!