Drawbridge Challenge

This past week, the Geodragons learned more about medieval castles. The students learned about all of the parts of these castles and compared and contrasted medieval castle architecture in many different countries. 

At the end of the week, the students were presented with the challenge to create their own functioning drawbridges! Presented with simple materials, each group would have to brainstorm designs and work together to carry out this STEAM challenge. Challenges like this require students to demonstrate creative thinking, persistence, and team work.

In the pictures below, students are hard at work creating their own versions of a drawbridge!

Life in Medieval Europe

We've recently been learning about what it was like to live in medieval Europe! Yesterday, the class participated in a feudal system simulation. Each student randomly chose their destiny – some became lords and ladies, some became knights, some became peasants, and one lucky student became queen. 

The class learned firsthand how different life could be, just based on the role they were "born" into! Our queen was treated with the utmost respect and had all the food she could want, while the peasants had to give up the food they farmed on their lord or lady's manor. 

In the pictures below, knights kneel by their lord or lady at their manor. Serfs (peasants) are bound to the manor land (or, in our case, the desk).

Welcome, Geodragons!

 It's hard to believe we've only been together for a month! The Geodragons work so well together to create, explore, and question the world around them. 

We've had so much fun starting the year studying dragons and beginning our quest to uncover the history of the Middle Ages. This week, our class finished their squire training and became knights of Seabury! 

The study of archaeology

Fourth grade students have been studying Archeology and Early Man. They have compared bone structures from our various ancestors and traced the migration of people from Africa to other continents. They have been examining cave art from different continents to piece together clues about life before written history. Next stop Mesopotamia, the land between the rivers. 

This is an amazing place!

I'm a newbie at Seabury, and I am loving this school.  You have all been welcoming and supportive in my joining the Seabury family.  I look forward to a dynamite year and who knows, we might get to be on campus soon!

Regards,

Deb Owsley aka Mrs. Owl

Snow!

Snow arrived in our classroom today aka shaving cream! 

Getting the snow spread around!

I like bananas!

More Snow!

Cupcakes!

House and Tree!

Cedar River Watershed

It was a beautiful fall day, perfect for seeing the rain drums, the lake bed, tree roots/stumps, and banana slugs. Also perfect for learning about Seattle's watershed and experiencing the water cycle. 

Students figuring out how much water, in gallons, that they are.

This 5 gallon water jug is the amount of water used for a one minute shower.

This 5 gallon water jug is the amount of water that some people have to carry per day for use.

"What station should we go to next?"

Station 2: Different habitats. Find the animals in the mural and stamp them in the habitat where they like to live.

Station 5: Are you water smart? A game to test how much you really know about the Cedar River Watershed.  

Listening to the rain drops and creating a beat!

Walking on Rattlesnake Lake bed.

Mr. Jeff (parent) teaching students why the tree stumps have notches in them.

Checking out the stream flowing into the lake.

"Look a dam!" "I wonder what made the dam?" 

3rd/4th grade

We enjoyed our trip to the Cedar River Watershed Education Center!