SLEUTh Academy » Environment

Seashells not quite by the Seashore (only 20 miles away)

Dr. Milenkovic — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 17:00:15 +0000

A gigantic THANK YOU to Bette and Sandy Baldwin for arranging an amazing donation from Rolf Kleinwort of a humongous seashell collection. These shells (and the fantastic custom cabinets that house them) will be used at Eagle Point for years to come to learn to sort, classify, identify the organisms that used these “homes” and to think about how to protect our oceans. Lessons in all grades are forthcoming — any ideas are welcome (please click on comments below!).

Learning Garden Guide updated

Dr. Milenkovic — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 02:28:57 +0000

It was wonderful to see Papa John’s at school today supporting our Learning Garden by sponsoring the Pizza Garden section. This part of the garden also includes a banana patch — a small edible garden conveniently located near the cafeteria. Additional vegetables have been growing wonderfully over near the West Wing – peas, tomatoes, cabbages, zucchini (prized for their delicious flowers), okra, cucumber, and salad greens. Come visit our garden – The Learning Garden 2009!

Vote for Inspector Recycle!

Dr. Milenkovic — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 00:24:46 +0000

Please go to http://www.nbcgreenerfuturecontest.com/ and vote for the Sci-Tech club’s recycle bin – it is the one with my name that looks like a “inspector” with an Earth head. One vote per email/per day for the week (now through April 20)….so please VOTE OFTEN!!!!

Science Lab Update

Dr. Milenkovic — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 22:10:29 +0000

Second and third graders have used their detective skills to identify a mystery liquid and reveal a secret message using red cabbage. This experiment is available as a virtual activity online at the ZOOM website. To create your own “invisible ink” write with a cotton-swab using a solution of baking soda and water as your ink. Let it dry and rub with a red (purple) cabbage leaf to reveal the secret message!

Second graders are beginning their investigations of Earth’s place in space using the laptop computers. Day and night cycles and moon phases will be investigated. Have a look at online moon phase activities here at Harcourt School and here.

Third graders will be studying energy transfer with computer connected temperature probes to study the Goldilocks Mystery – answering the question of “How can Mama Bear’s porridge be too cold while Baby Bear’s is just right?”. Practice your heat energy vocabulary with a fun game at NASA and at Harcourt School. Refresh your memory on insulators and conductors with this fun game

Fourth graders have finished mineral identification in time for their gem dig – using physical properties as clues to the identity of the mystery minerals. Now they are embarking on a journey through the Kissimmee-Okeechobee-Everglades watershed system to investigate the mystery of the swamp. Take a virtual visit by clicking here.

Fifth grade is applying the concepts of physical and chemical changes to processes that shape the Earth. They are investigating how sinkholes form and then will complete video research projects on a series of natural disasters. Check out some informative videos from National Geographic here.

Calling all Bird Detectives

Dr. Milenkovic — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 03:35:29 +0000

All grades are becoming true “birders” and working to earn a beautiful ruby-throated hummingbird certificate from the State of Florida’s “Wings over Florida” program. Students will be bringing home a small bird field guide to get them started on spotting 15 different Florida birds – return the top page signed when the 15 different species of birds have been spotted to get their certificate and information on how to continue to earn birder certificates from Florida Fish and Wildlife. Birds are everywhere and serve as a great indicator of the health of our environment. This unit will also help students practice identification, description and classification skills. Here are some other bird sites for you to investigate:

Learn more about that funny bird from the Bird Brained video:

As in the March 11 Miami Herald – Eagles Nest Webcam – live (note: look during daylight!)

Cornell Birds: All About Birds

Field Guides – enter your zip code for a specific guide for your area

Florida Bird pho tos – use this to help you identify birds you see.

Florida Bird Sounds – hear the bird calls of Florida birds

Bird Beaks – Adaptations

More Bird Beaks – with great photos

A Game: Pick out the bird beak – how fast are you?

Are you a true Bird Detective? What is this Bird?

Recycle Rex

Dr. Milenkovic — Tue, 25 Dec 2007 00:57:29 +0000

Here is a cute video from Recycle Rex in California. Keep an eye on WNEST for our own EPE Recycling Commercial coming up soon!

Download Close the Loop!

Reducing our Recycling

Dr. Milenkovic — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 00:27:59 +0000

Happy Winter Solstice! Friday, Dec. 21 is the first day of Winter in the Northern Hemisphere – 24 hours of darkness on the North Pole. Do you know why?

Some classes and science club have been making shrink plastic keychains/zipper pulls from the cafeteria salad containers (rescued from the trash, of course!). These are recycle code 6 (PS = Polystyrene) only. Here is a link to directions online: Super Shrinkers!

Have fun shrinking – just be sure you have an ADULT helper to help you with the oven!