Trout in the Classroom Visit

Lillit Genovesi of Trout in the Classroom visited all fourth grade classrooms to answer their trout questions and to help them imagine life as a hungry trout in the cold waters of Upstate New York.  

Students had to I.D. macro-invertebrates that are food for the trout!  They made a chart to show all of the critters that are part of the stream eco-system.

Students had questions about trout care; 

But some had ethical questions.  Is it wrong to raise trout?  Here are some student opinions:

It is bad to raise trout because their predators aren't in the classroom.  They need to learn how to protect themselves.  

It is good because the tank isn't that different (from their habitat).  Their moms don't teach them to protect themselves and it is fun for us to watch them grow up.

My opinion?  It is less about raising trout and more about raising students who are aware of the importance of healthy waterways.  Bonding with trout makes the need for clean water more relevant to 9 year olds.

Thank you Lillit for all that you do to help us!  

Simply Fabric: Remembering How to Play

Did you ever throw a piece of fabric over your shoulders?  Wrapped it around your waist?  Or covered your head? Placed it over two chairs to create a tent? If yes, then you will understand how transporting and transformative that fabric can be.  If not, check out what these students are doing.

Visiting Edgemere in the Fall

First Grade Farmers bring their skills to Edgemere Farm in the Far Rockaways.

Kids screamed "Shore School" when they spotted the Rockaways.

Farmer to Farmer Gifts

A gift of praying mantis "nest" to bring back to BNS

Helping a Forest Floor

"This was so much fun!  When I'm an adult I'm going to do this 100 times!"

This overheard comment summed up 2nd graders' feelings about raking and collecting leaves to "feed" the forest floor.  Thank you Howard Goldstein, Prospect Park Forest Ecologist; and Bart Chezar, Barbara Jaffess, and Timothy McKinney--American Chestnut conservationists for your support.

And thanks to  Amy Brown for the photos.