Many thanks to Mr. Roehl, J.R.'s grandpa, who came by the Wednesday before break to help us tap the maple tree out in front of the school. We learned a lot about how to safely tap a tree and got to share some of our tree knowledge with him! Over break, W.J. and I checked the sap in the bucket and collected about four gallons. Today the Herons did the math and discovered that if we boil down our sap, we'll get about a pint of syrup. We also each got to try a dixie cup full of sap that we collected today.
On the Friday before break, we were able to learn about simple machines from the Cranes and Chickadees. It was a great multi-age theme and the Herons really enjoyed learning from their peers. The gym was full of kids teaching and it sparked many ideas for the Herons. Culminating events like these (and the personal project fairs of the weeks ahead) seed so many learning ideas in the school. They are the foundation for our culture of curiosity. In a school without grades, one of the most powerful motivators we have is the ability to teach others what we've learned.
The Rookery 
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