Each class at Ohr Chadash Academy incorporates environmentally friendly lessons. Students are excited to learn about the environment and all it has to offer. Below are just some of the environmentally friendly lessons incorporated into our learning.
Pre-K & Kindergarten
Pre-K - Mrs. Anne Norris 2/17/2016 - end of March 2016 - Objective: using plastic 2 liter bottles, soil, radish seeds, leaves, dirt , sticks and rocks, children create three scenarios – 1 bottle with soil and seeds, 1 bottle with only debris (sticks, bark,leaves, ash from a fire) and 1 bottle with rocks. Students will learn information regarding soil erosion and soil health, and the impact on our water supply. 1. How soil erodes 2. Impact on fresh water and salt water. 3. How vegetation impacts water Lesson: Preschoolers will plant seeds then vote on which bottle will have the cleanest water . They will document this in a month long chart. Each week, the preschool will record which bottle produces the cleanest water . The environmental club will check in with the preschool at the end of the month to see how it is going. Environmental connection: Both the older and younger students will understand the importance of caring for our soil and the direct impact on water quality.
Pre-K 3's & 4's - Morah Anne Norris, 1/15/16 Objective: Students will learn about the life cycle of polar bears, how & why they are endangered, and about their habitat. Lesson: Looking at pictures of polar bears, students will notice physical characteristics, explore their habitats and then make polar bar hand prints using Crisco and ice. Students will understand how the fat of a polar bear keeps it warm. Students will then be introduced to the word endangered and discuss how climate changes are affecting the bears and what we could do as a class/community to maybe help. Environmental connection: habitats, climate changes, life
Kindergarten - General Studies, Mrs. Chavi Abramson 10/19-10/24/2015 Objective: Students will learn how an apple grows and the stages of an apple tree through the seasons. Lesson: Through literature, students examined the way apple trees looked during the 4 seasons. Students traced their arm and hand to create the tree. This encouraged the use of different crafts to represent apples in different stages of development. Environmental connection: Learning about the fruits of nature, seasons, and life cycle of an apple. Students also learned about planting through this lesson by discussing apple seeds.
Kindergarten - Judaic Studies, Ms. Luna Maman, 2/23/16 Objective: Students will learn to trace theHebrew letter "ayin" using recycled newspapers. Students will learn the process of recycling while using the newspapers. Lesson: Using recycled newspapers, students will cut or rip pieces to trace the Hebrew letter again. Students will partner talk at their tables about the usefulness of recycling while working, students will examine the newspaper and brainstorm other ways it could be used. Environmental connection: recycling
Kindergarten- General Studies, Mrs. Chavi Abramson, Jan-Feb.2016 Objective: Children will learn how things grow from seed to plant and what living things need to grow, Lesson: After reading, "From Seed to Plant" by Gail Gibbons, students planted parsley seeds. Children knew seeds needed soil, water and sunlight so that is what was used to plant. Students watched as the plants grew and tok note of how long. Environmental connection: Life-cycle of a plant, from garden to table (we eat plants), natural world, air sustainability.
First & Second Grades
First Grade - Judaic Studies, Mrs. Henia Gruner January - June 2016 Objective: To teach the students the connection between shorashim (roots) and seeds. Lesson: Students will begin learning about the Hebrew language and words. In Hebrew, shorashim means "roots" and just like a plant has roots, so do words. Students will use plants and seeds to make this connection. Seeds need water to grow just like words, which is why the "root" of a word is important. Students will water their plants daily, keep track of the growing process, and explore the importance of soil. Environmental connection: planting, seeds, roots, nature
First Grade - General Studies, Mrs. Rachel Shar - 2/24/16 Objectives: -To teach the children about sequencing and retelling through the process of making orange juice. -To further the students healthy eating habits by discussing the differences of fresh orange juice vs. processed orange juice (with additives). -Students will understand there are a variety of oranges, orange trees, and how the climate plays a role in tree growth/orange production.Lesson: Students will learn about the process of making "healthy" orange juice by going through the steps. Each student will get an orange to peel then juice. Students will examine orange tree pictures and the sequence to making the juice. Students will be able to drink the juice when finished and discuss the fresh taste without any added sugars. Students will also discuss why orange tree growth only occurs in certain climates like in the Florida climate. Environmental connection: nature, fruits, healthy habits, climate
Second Grade - Ms. Yaffa Wygoda, Judaic Studies, 9/11/15 Objective: Learn about Rosh Hashana (Jewish New Year) and the various simanim (symbolic foods Jewish people eat). Lesson: Students and teacher will discuss how/why honey bees are important not only to us as Jews because they produce honey which we need for the holiday, but also because they are a vital part of the ecosystem - pollinating our flowers, fruits & vegetables. Students will learn about the life of a honeybee and how they produce honey by watching a short video and writing a brief summary afterwards. Environmental connection: life cycle of bees, how the ecosystem works, and pollination.
K-2 - Science Mrs. Porter, 11/2/15 Objective: Students will learn about the erosion process, its effects, and how to prevent it. Lesson: Students used water and sand to discover how the process of erosion can change the surface of the Earth. Environmental connection: erosion, world around us, sustainability
First & Second grades - Science trip to The Maryland Science Center, 3/2/16 Objective: to have the students study various activities around the center and have hands-on learning experiences. Lesson: Students participated in a number of activities to learn the different principles of how the world works. For example, students learned and participated in activities about pollution, how to prevent it and where it comes from. Environmental connection: nature, pollution, sustainability, healthy habits
Third Grade Mrs. Shannon Porter, Science, 12/3/15 Objective: Culminating Field Trip to Baltimore Aquarium after lessons on climate change, learning about the natural world and ocean species. Environmental connection: importance of conservation to save species around the world
Mrs. Abby Barnoy, Judaic Studies - 2/29/16 Objective: learn Hebrew by practicing "gymnastics" outdoors. Students will discuss how animals fare in this kind of weather. Students will discuss climate changes and its affects on hibernating, all while stretching, exercising and discussing in Hebrew. Lesson: Students will learn basic weather related words in Hebrew by stretching and exercising. Students will have a discussion about when the weather is different than the "norm" how that affects hibernation .Follow up discussion about global warming and how it affects populations of animals will happen in science class. Students will enjoy the outdoors and explore healthy habits. Environmental connection: climate change, healthy habits, habitats
Mrs. Shannon Porter, science class - 3/11/16 Objective: Students will learn about the different, individualized biomes around the world and how they connect. Lesson: Students will watch videos on biomes and listen to a power point discussing the various biomes. Students will engage in a discussion about how they connect. Students will create biome fact papers then turn them into biome brochures. Environmental connection: biomes (ecosystem)
Fourth & Fifth Grades - Mrs. Porter, science class 10/2015 Objective: To show how items are compostable or not. How items will breakdown due to natural processes. Lesson: Students will empty a pumpkin and fill it with items from their lunches. They will choose items that are both recyclable and not. The pumpkins will get buried for about 6 months then dug up in the spring. Students will explore which items broke down or not. Environmental connection: recycling, composting, natural decay
Fourth Grade - General Studies, Mrs. Mann 11/2015 Objective: to learn about persuasive text and how kids can make changes to the world around them by being active members of their community. Lesson: Students will read a Time For Kids article about two kid-run and created businesses about recycling and upcycling. Students will have a discussion in ways they can help their environment both in and out of school. Environmental connection: recycling and upcycling
Fifth Grade - General Studies, Mrs. Mann 12/4/15 Objective: Students will read an article about gardens, recycling and how to make a better environment. Students will problem solve using the referenced article. Lesson: Students will read the article titled How have students made community progress? Students will problem solve about ways to help the environment based on the article and prior knowledge. Students will hang posters around the school bringing awareness to the issues in the article. Environmental connection: recycling, plating, natural world.