"Calling all butterflies..." by Mr. Maxwell. " Local watershed- " Dry Canyon Aqueduct"- behind school. Neighboring chapparal and California Live Oak.
"Captured" at school: "Praying mantis" by Brooke. "Wood 'rose' and dandelion puffball " by Ashley & Kennedy. " Hummingbird at rest" in Paul's Garden.
Welcome to the online science & nature journal for Santa Clarita Elementary's newly formed "Environmental Crew" or "E.C."! The "Crew" is a core group of sixty students -3rd through 6th grade- who have been challenged to conduct a scientific study of local environmental issues related to our school's campus landscape and the neighboring native chaparral habitat. The "Crew" is responsible for helping to raise awareness about these issues by creating school-wide and grade-level specific activities that will involve all Santa Clarita Elementary students. Over the next few months, students of all grade levels--from 6th grade down to preschool--will conduct curriculum-related tasks such as: -- Document weather changes (temp., wind, rain/sprinkler water) throughout the day -- Identify possible campus micro-climates -- Observe and count birds, insects, animals, (even worms) -- Map wildlife sightings for our campus as well as students' neighborhoods -- Monitor puddles for changes due to run-off and evaporation -- Classify campus plants and trees -- Conduct chemical analysis of campus soil and local watershed The data from the various grade-level experiments and observations will help the "Environmental Crew" select suitable native plants for a newly designated "learning garden" near the lunch area. Students hope use the results to publish a campus nature guide of the "flora and fauna" of Santa Clarita Elementary. Please come back often to see the updated results of the students' projects.