In Earth Education classes, the students are busy moving, building, planning, and preparing for winter.

First Grade

The students built a cobb house made from mud and hay as a shelter for the squirrels and chipmunks. We also collected nuts so we would be able to supply them with food during the winter months. This fortuitously presented an opportunity to practice addition skills when counting the nuts. We also work on developing our balance and coordination at the school's obstacle course and throughout the forest.

Second Grade

The class is busily taking care of the compost. They are always excited when the wheelbarrow is full, so thanks to everyone for your contributions. Please keep it coming! We add games to the lessons, such as Swim, Salmon, Swim, and Mouse, Cat, and House, which help to develop valuable social skills as well as build physical capacities.

Third Grade

Alongside our usual farm chores, the class has started to build a garden shed. The students mix the clay with water and hay, form the bricks, and leave them in place to form the walls. This is a project that will result in a useful storage place for farm tools and supplies. The students benefit not only in that they gain new skills but also from the knowledge of completing a long-term project that benefits the farm for years to come.

Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Grade

The students in these classes are working on the watermill at the creek. When the weather was warmer, the students made a small dam for where the watermill would be positioned. Now, the students are planing planks of tree wood that we will use to build the water wheel. A big thanks to Noah Brunk for bringing his engineering expertise and helping us figure out the right dimensions for the water wheel. The students also help with different tasks at school, such as bringing stumps to the kindergarten classes, building a bridge next to the playground, and more. Projects such as these benefit students in that they learn new skills, expand their feelings of competence, experience starting and completing a project (this is very good for will development), and feel the satisfaction of serving the greater school community.

Warmly,

Matan