Ecosystems
Central Idea - A variety of factors working together help an ecosystem to maintain balance.
19-05-14
We started our unit this week. Our first lesson was outdoors. We did lots of brainstorming on what different ecosystems are and we even hypothesized on what could happen if we introduced a white shark into Lac Leman!
We started our unit this week. Our first lesson was outdoors. We did lots of brainstorming on what different ecosystems are and we even hypothesized on what could happen if we introduced a white shark into Lac Leman!
Investigating a pond
22-5-14
After art class, we went to have a look at the pond. We had been observing this pond in the winter when it froze and wondering what happens to the fish. We weren't sure if they would survive the cold winter.
To our surprise, they did! We asked Mireille about this, and she explained that they go into the weeds at the bottom of the pond and as long as the whole pond doesn't freeze, they survive by having a sort of hibernation; their systems slow down. Thanks to this, they do not require as much food or movement. However, even if the pond is not completely frozen solid, one danger that exists is that the fish are not getting fresh oxygen, so the air can actually become toxic for them. Luckily, our winters here are not so cold, meaning that the pond did not stay frozen for too long.
We noticed that the pond had lost a bit of water from the heat, so we put the hose in and filled it back up. We also made sure to clean up the leaves that had fallen in from the storm last night.
After art class, we went to have a look at the pond. We had been observing this pond in the winter when it froze and wondering what happens to the fish. We weren't sure if they would survive the cold winter.
To our surprise, they did! We asked Mireille about this, and she explained that they go into the weeds at the bottom of the pond and as long as the whole pond doesn't freeze, they survive by having a sort of hibernation; their systems slow down. Thanks to this, they do not require as much food or movement. However, even if the pond is not completely frozen solid, one danger that exists is that the fish are not getting fresh oxygen, so the air can actually become toxic for them. Luckily, our winters here are not so cold, meaning that the pond did not stay frozen for too long.
We noticed that the pond had lost a bit of water from the heat, so we put the hose in and filled it back up. We also made sure to clean up the leaves that had fallen in from the storm last night.
Our trip to the Botanical Gardens in Geneva
3-6-14
Today we went to the Botanical Gardens in Geneva. It was a fabulous day out. The only thing missing was more time!
The day started nice and early. We caught the 9 o'clock train from Vevey and then hopped on a bus at Geneva train station to get to the Botanical Gardens.
Today we went to the Botanical Gardens in Geneva. It was a fabulous day out. The only thing missing was more time!
The day started nice and early. We caught the 9 o'clock train from Vevey and then hopped on a bus at Geneva train station to get to the Botanical Gardens.
The first part we investigated was the alpine garden. In the alpine garden there are alpine plants and flowers from all over the world.
The Primary Class had to use a map to find a specific plant from Sardinia which had a glass cover on it. They also had to do observational sketches of a plant or area that interested them.
The Primary Class had to use a map to find a specific plant from Sardinia which had a glass cover on it. They also had to do observational sketches of a plant or area that interested them.
Next, we went into a tropical greenhouse. This greenhouse was split in two. One side had ornamental plants and the other side had 'useful' plants. We found the cocoa tree and other plants that provide us with food, drinks, spices and even medicine!
We noticed that the greenhouse was made out of glass and that it had heaters inside, so that the plants stay warm, since their natural biome (tropical rainforest) has a hot and humid climate. We agreed that the plants would probably not survive a Swiss winter, if they were not protected.
We also went into a green house that had a big collection of different cacti!
We noticed that the greenhouse was made out of glass and that it had heaters inside, so that the plants stay warm, since their natural biome (tropical rainforest) has a hot and humid climate. We agreed that the plants would probably not survive a Swiss winter, if they were not protected.
We also went into a green house that had a big collection of different cacti!
After the greenhouse, we discovered a very special kind of garden. In it they have planted many different plants that are used as medicine. There are plants that help all parts of our body (eyes, digestive system, nervous system, circulatory system and more!) It's amazing to think just how much plants can do for us!
We also had a moment to admire and discuss bees. We learned in the classroom that bees have a very important job! First of all, they ensure that many plants and crops are able to grow and thanks to that, indirectly provide us with food.
Can you think of one single meal where you do not have something that comes from a plant? We couldn't!
Thank you very much, bees!
Can you think of one single meal where you do not have something that comes from a plant? We couldn't!
Thank you very much, bees!
We then had a chance to have a bit of 'unique' fun. The Botanical Gardens has a very special carousel and we were invited to ride on it!
After the carousel, it was finally time for lunch. We found a nice shady spot and sat down to have our picnic. Once we had finished eating, we bought ourselves some ice cream and went to investigate the animals.
The first animal we encountered was a peacock. It was just walking around the park. Melissa dropped a bit of her ice cream, and the peacock came to eat it! Then he started following us! It was amazing!
We also spotted some deer, ducks and flamingo.
The first animal we encountered was a peacock. It was just walking around the park. Melissa dropped a bit of her ice cream, and the peacock came to eat it! Then he started following us! It was amazing!
We also spotted some deer, ducks and flamingo.
Last, but not least, we had a little bit of time to enjoy the lovely playground, before catching the bus and train home.
A few other things we have done...
Learning about the different biomes
We all chose a different biome in class and went home to do some research on it. The next week, we all had to bring a mind map to show what we had learned.
We had to teach each other about where these biomes are found, what plants grow there, what animals live there and any other interesting facts.
We all learned so much thanks to our wonderful teachers!
Tessa - Rainforest biome
Anaïs - Temperate Forests biome
Portia - Taiga Forests biome
Helio - Tundra biome
Nicolas - Desert biome
Morris - Grasslands biome
Aibo - Savannah Grasslands biome
Théa - Freshwater biome
Melissa - Marine biome
We had to teach each other about where these biomes are found, what plants grow there, what animals live there and any other interesting facts.
We all learned so much thanks to our wonderful teachers!
Tessa - Rainforest biome
Anaïs - Temperate Forests biome
Portia - Taiga Forests biome
Helio - Tundra biome
Nicolas - Desert biome
Morris - Grasslands biome
Aibo - Savannah Grasslands biome
Théa - Freshwater biome
Melissa - Marine biome
Recycling
Throughout the year we have been taking the school's recycling to the local recycling bins. We have to walk to a few different bins each time to recycle paper, cans, glass, aluminium, plastic bottles and nespresso capsules (for the teachers!)
We want to make sure that as much of our waste as possible is recycled and reused!
Making an 'Ecosystem Web' in Art Class
If there is one thing that we have learned in this unit is that every living thing in an ecosystem has to rely on other things in their ecosystem to survive!
With Mireille, we created an artistic web to show how humans rely on all the different parts of their ecosystem. We rely on: Water, Plants, Animals, Insects, Land and Dirt, Sun and Day, Moon and Night, Fire and Shelter.
With Mireille, we created an artistic web to show how humans rely on all the different parts of their ecosystem. We rely on: Water, Plants, Animals, Insects, Land and Dirt, Sun and Day, Moon and Night, Fire and Shelter.
Learning about oceans
Since we knew a little bit about each biome thanks to our individual research and presentations, we decided to spend a week focusing on one, so that we could learn about it in more detail.
We all agreed on the marine biome, as it's the most mysterious! Also, our marine biome teacher, Melissa, gave us a very in-depth presentation on all the amazing things we can find in the oceans!
We started our learning by watching a documentary on The Great Barrier Reef (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DwC7jpQiDGY). It was amazing! We even learned about trees that grow in water and how young fish often grow up around the roots of these trees to stay protected from big predators.
We then moved on to see how humans are affecting the oceans (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_pRy88R-4BI). We discovered that there is a lot of garbage getting into our oceans. In fact, there are even big garbage patches in the ocean! The garbage is affecting the living things in the ocean and many corals are disappearing. Sometimes, animals like the sea turtle, confuse plastic bags for jelly fish, so they eat the plastic bag.
It wasn't all bad though - we did discover that there are many people and groups of people trying to do something about it.
There is a 19 year old boy who has devised a way to effectively start cleaning the oceans (http://www.theoceancleanup.com/the-problem.html)
'Ocean Sole' is a group that started using flip flops that have washed up on the Kenyan shore and they started making crafts out of them. Now they create some beautiful and colorful masterpieces. By doing this, they are not only helping to clean the oceans, but they are giving many local people jobs (http://www.ocean-sole.com/story). Miss. Maria brought in her flip flop elephant called Patrick. He is very colorful!
As part of our learning, we made a pamphlet. On the front we drew an ocean full of garbage. We were all sad to have to be drawing it! On the inside of our pamphlet we drew the ocean being cleaned up and we wrote about what we could do as kids to help our oceans. Finally, on the back of the pamphlet we drew the beautiful, clean and colorful ocean as we want it to be! That was our favorite picture!
We all agreed on the marine biome, as it's the most mysterious! Also, our marine biome teacher, Melissa, gave us a very in-depth presentation on all the amazing things we can find in the oceans!
We started our learning by watching a documentary on The Great Barrier Reef (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DwC7jpQiDGY). It was amazing! We even learned about trees that grow in water and how young fish often grow up around the roots of these trees to stay protected from big predators.
We then moved on to see how humans are affecting the oceans (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_pRy88R-4BI). We discovered that there is a lot of garbage getting into our oceans. In fact, there are even big garbage patches in the ocean! The garbage is affecting the living things in the ocean and many corals are disappearing. Sometimes, animals like the sea turtle, confuse plastic bags for jelly fish, so they eat the plastic bag.
It wasn't all bad though - we did discover that there are many people and groups of people trying to do something about it.
There is a 19 year old boy who has devised a way to effectively start cleaning the oceans (http://www.theoceancleanup.com/the-problem.html)
'Ocean Sole' is a group that started using flip flops that have washed up on the Kenyan shore and they started making crafts out of them. Now they create some beautiful and colorful masterpieces. By doing this, they are not only helping to clean the oceans, but they are giving many local people jobs (http://www.ocean-sole.com/story). Miss. Maria brought in her flip flop elephant called Patrick. He is very colorful!
As part of our learning, we made a pamphlet. On the front we drew an ocean full of garbage. We were all sad to have to be drawing it! On the inside of our pamphlet we drew the ocean being cleaned up and we wrote about what we could do as kids to help our oceans. Finally, on the back of the pamphlet we drew the beautiful, clean and colorful ocean as we want it to be! That was our favorite picture!