The goal of the Geosphere this year is to provide students with opportunities to both learn and demonstrate learning within the community, with peers, and on an individual level. Students will be challenged with a Rube Goldberg project, in addition to a variety of field experiences. This year we will visit Skyline Drive and meet with the man who designed and implemented the bear-proof trash bins and coordinates the recycling throughout the state park. We will drop off shoes at the Frederick County Landfill and tour their facilities, tour Skyline Caverns, and TREX Decking. . We will also do community service at Belle Grove Plantation. Last, but not least, all spheres this year will learn to work together in the food collection contest. Unlike years past when spheres worked against each other, this year we are joining forces! As a whole-group we would like to collect canned food to benefit Restore Hope House. So let’s work together and reach our goal! 2017 Calendar: JUNE 19th – June 29th ARRIVE @ 9:30 DEPART @ 3:00
TUESDAY JUNE 20, SKYLINE DRIVE: ![]() In one activity, students simulated the water cycle by following directions on different cards to form a story that followed the journey of a unique drop of water. A ball with the outline of earth's continents was thrown around the circle and students had to keep track of whether their thumbs landed on 'water' or 'land'. What was your favorite thing we did today? Jackson: "Probably the water molecule activity because, you didn't really know where you were going to end up until the end. What do you think was the main idea of what we learned today? Anna: About the effect we have on water. There isn't much fresh water and we're wasting a lot of it. What are you going to rethink or change after our trip to skyline drive? Grayson: I'd be more cautious about the water pollution and recycle more because she (Regina Cardwell) talked a lot about how the recycling percentages could be higher. WEDNESDAY JUNE 21, BELLE GROVE - Our hostess, Karen Beck-Herzog, introducing our project of the day: To plant a pollinator garden planned by a middle school class in Warrenton Belle Grove's master gardener, Larry Hawn, instructing the students on how to properly plant the pollinators The students, hard at work planting! After lunch, Larry took us on a surprise tour of Belle Grove's famous garden where we learned all sorts of neat facts about a variety of super cool plants. What was your favorite part about today? Liv: " Coming back to the school for Rube Goldbergs." What is the best part of community service for you? Eva: "For me it's helping people out so they don't have to do all the work.It's just a good feeling to help people." What are you going to rethink or change after our trip to Belle Grove? Liz: " You could grow different things (plants)to help pollination." THURSDAY JUNE 22, SKYLINE CAVERNS - Tour guide Brooke Henry telling students facts about many of the caverns' rock formations and lots of interesting history. (Pictured sideways) Student Alivia Ricci hugging the caverns' "lucky" stalagmite, and only formation allowed to touch Just a few of the many formations found in the caverns, including flowstone, a reflective drip pool, and hexagonal calcite crystals. |
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