What’s Growing in Lower Elementary Environmental Science

We are off to a wonderful start of the school year in Environmental Science. Here is a peak inside what our lower elementary classrooms have been up to so far.

Our Kindergarteners have transformed into full-fledged garden detectives. We have been learning about what plants need to survive, how to put our 5 senses to work in the garden and a complete soil dissection! Students dug in dirt samples to carefully sift through soil in hopes of finding real earthworms. Coming up we will dive into the vital role these tiny wrigglers play in keeping our earth healthy.

First graders just wrapped up their first unit: "Surviving and Thriving!" Throughout this unit, students explored what living creatures truly need to survive, how they adapt to their environments, and made discoveries about diverse habitats. They took a deep dive into the beaver and its relationship with the willow tree to survive. To celebrate the end of our unit, students made beaver masks.

Second graders have been traveling through time to explore how California’s land has transformed over the generations. From unsettled wilderness to modern urban, suburban, and rural communities, students examined how humans interact with and alter the land around them. To bring these big concepts home, students engaged in small-group community-building games. Working collaboratively, they mapped out their own sprawling towns—balancing farm placement, road networks, and natural spaces to create thriving communities.

In third grade, the spotlight has been on life cycles. Students have been analyzing the critical need for safe shelter and how environmental factors directly impact an animal's ability to reproduce and thrive. We have dedicated special focus to the Monarch butterfly, tracing its remarkable journey and discussing the environmental challenges this delicate pollinator faces daily.