Stephen Gaynor School students from the EC through Blue Clusters are celebrating Earth Day on April 22 with a variety of activities designed in collaboration with the Science Department to connect them with the outdoors and help them become responsible stewards of the environment. Science Department Chair Cristina Fabricant sent along information on how each Cluster will be celebrating Earth Day:
Pink, Red and Orange clusters will each experience their own “Natural Classroom” field trip in Central Park. A park ranger will facilitate various activities connected to upcoming topics including birds (Pink Cluster), plants (Red Cluster) and animal habitats (Orange Cluster).
Yellow Cluster students will be exploring the rock forms of Central Park. This activity will echo their study of landforms, during which they learned about the three main types of rocks, the rock cycle, and the processes of weathering, erosion and deposition. On Summit Rock, they will record data and hypothesize how the rocks got to Central Park and why they look the way they do.
Silver Cluster students will explore the biotic and abiotic aspects of Central Park. In groups, students will organize various naturally-occurring items, such as rocks, insects, trees, water, and man-made objects, into living and non-living categories. They will also explore how energy is transferred throughout the Central Park ecosystem. These activities dovetail with their upcoming unit: Invasive Species.
The Green Cluster will be conducting an exercise activity where they will be participating in different levels of endurance. They will be tracking their pulse at the end of each activity to observe how their heart rate changes.
Blue Cluster students will be exploring nature nearby by doing a scavenger hunt throughout Central Park, appreciating nature, and exploring how humans create and use green spaces in our communities.