Stoneridge Children's Montesori School

To Google or Not to Google: Snail Blood and Giant Sea Kelp

by Martha Morgan, Librarian

Should I google it? 

A first grader walks into the library wondering if snails have blood -- a common event at a school like Stoneridge.  Looking in a guide book and at the encyclopedia entry are no help.  So ... let's google it as "snail blood".  And voila, various websites confirm that yes, snails do have blood, if in a different form than ours.

A sixth grader doing research on giant sea kelp for her Imaginary Island project asks, How "giant," exactly, is giant sea kelp?  She googles "length giant sea kelp."  Various websites pop-up with varied answers.  After some time examining the various sites she comes up with an answer: 60-80 feet.  That's pretty giant!  But wait.  A quick look in the encyclopedia shows that giant sea kelp can grow up to more than 200 feet.  Much more impressive!

So should you google it?  My advice to our students: For most purposes (like the length of giant sea kelp), try a reliable print source first before you head to the Internet.  Believe it or not, sometimes a reference book (what's that?) is sometimes an even quicker and more accurate source of information.

 

 

Citizen Scientist: Our Visit with author Loree Griffin Burns

by Martha Morgan, Librarian

Recently, nonfiction author Loree Griffin Burns, came and visited Stoneridge and talked about writing and science with the Kindergarten through Middle School classrooms.  She was a passionate speaker about our role as observers and actors in the natural world.  She shared information and images from her two published books, The Hive Detectives : Chronicle of a Honey Bee Catastrophe and Tracking Trash : Flotsam, Jetsam, and the Science of Ocean Motions, and introduced us to the ideas behind her new book, Citizen Scientists : Be A Part of a Scientific Discovery from Your Own Backyard.  This book, to be published SOON (February 14!), discusses ways for all of us to participate in scientific study.

Please ask your child about her visit and feel free to borrow one of her books from the Stoneridge Library!

Here is a link to her website and to order her new book: 

http://www.loreeburns.com/books/citizen_scientists

And here is her response of her day visiting Stoneridge, including links to various "Citizen Scientist" projects:

Thank YOU for a lovely day!  I enjoyed being part of your community for the day. What a wonderful environment for learning you all have created and fostered. I'm glad to hear that my visit sparked some interest in citizen science.  Here are the links I promised to share:

International Coastal Cleanup http://www.oceanconservancy.org/news-room/marine-debris/

Great Sunflower Project    http://www.greatsunflower.org/

Monarch Watch  http://www.monarchwatch.org/

Great Backyard Bird Count  http://www.birdsource.org/gbbc/

FrogWatch   http://www.aza.org/frogwatch/

Lost Ladybug Project     http://www.lostladybug.org/

Science for Citizens   http://scienceforcitizens.net/

(Note: this site was recently renamed SciStarter and given the new address http://scistarter.com/  I believe both addresses will work for some time, but the latter is the best one to use.)

Citizen Science Central   http://www.birds.cornell.edu/citscitoolkit/

All best,
Loree

 

 

Book Fair Banquet

by Martha Morgan, Librarian

For two days every October, the Multi Purpose Room becomes a banquet of books.  Tables covered in white tablecloths display a cornucopia of books; armchairs and a rug are set up parlor style; families gather; children buzz over the menu. It is a wonderful tradition.

Once again, thanks to Pat Purdy of Banbury Cross Children's Bookshop and book-fair volunteer coordinator Leslie Lyman and her many helpers, the Fair provided an opportunity for all book lovers to indulge in a literary feast.  Children learn how to count their dollars and calculate tax.  Parents learn of the new and best in children's literature.  We are all reminded of the importance of supporting a small local business.  And each year, thanks to your generosity, the Stoneridge library is refreshed with new materials.  This year, we've added more to our popular series, new fiction, and picture books, and we also added relevant titles to the Parent Shelf. In addition, picture books with CD's will be available for classrooms and for students--especially those learning to read.  Thanks to all for your support and enthusiasm.

Magic Happens in the Stoneridge Library! -- Wednesday, 8:30 am Curriculum Spotlight

 What makes the library the very special place it is for students? In this first-of-the-year Curriculum Spotlight, Martha will describe how she works with classes and individual students, TH through MS, and she will talk about how parents can continue this same work at home with their children. This event will take place on Wednesday, September 14.

On Wed., September 28, Elizabeth Slade will present "Ages, Stages and Family Traditions." Elizabeth will give an overview of Dr. Montessori’s  foundational teachings on the developmental stages of childhood, exploring the brain's sensitive periods for learning. In addition, she will weave in traditions parents can start at home at each stage to support their child's growth and development.

Curriculum Spotlights this year will take place on alternate Wednesdays in the Music Room. They start promptly at 8:30 am and will be over between 9 and 9:15. Coffee/tea is always available! What an enjoyable way to learn indepth about the curriculum at Stoneridge! You can find out more information about future Curriculum Spotlights on the School Calendar.

 

Stoneridge Reads 2011!

by Martha Morgan, Librarian

Martha will be presenting the first Curriculum Spotlight of the year -- on Wednesday, September 14, 8:30 am -- where she will talk about the Stoneridge library program, including Stoneridge Reads!

I hope you and your family had a chance to read and enjoy Patrick McDonnell's whimsical picture book biography, Me ... Jane, over the summer.  As we did last year with Planting the Trees of Kenya, we will explore various aspects of Me ... Jane in the classrooms and within our entire school community throughout this year.  We have many copies in the building if you've yet to experience its magic.

To begin the discussion, please check out the Stoneridge Library blog (which also includes access to various helpful websites):

http://stoneridgecms.wordpress.com/