ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUE INSTRUCTION
The Mount Washington School (MWS) has continued to evolve over the past four years since being distinguished as a Maryland Green School in 2010. MWS has specific instruction of environmental issues which all classes incorporate into their curriculum. All students at The Mount Washington School participate in school-wide initiatives and are offered numerous opportunities to explore in greater depth environmental topics of personal interest. Field trips enhance the environmental objectives and give students a first hand experience with solutions to environmental problems. In addition, there is a "Green Culture" attitude among the students and teachers. The teachers are always presenting new environmental activities and practices and incorporate such activities into the lesson plans.
2nd Grade
Second grade scholars learn an array of things
- Season Change (9/20-9/29) - Scholars explore the theory of how Earth came to have seasons. They write about what changes we update with the seasons. How farming and food gathering is important.
- Good Eating (10/1-10/5) - Understanding how a proper diet can help us all is the key. Students see examples of food (good and Junk), and relate how it helps them feel through their days.
- States of Matter (10/10-11/5) - Students explore Solids, Liquids, Gasses and Plasma. Water is used as the hands on material to change it's state of matter using temperature.
- Ecosystem & Habitats (2/15-2/30) - Scholars explore where organisms live, and how their habitat effects their development. Using observations, students compare and contrast various organisms to analyze the proper habitat. This lesson culminated field trip to the Conservatory.
- Food Webs (3/5-3/20) - Building on Ecosystems & Habitats, students explore the food web.
- Crystals (5/6-5/30) - Students learn about and grow crystals, using observations in nature.
- Weathering and Erosion (1/5-1/15) - Students learn about Weathering effects with special attention to erosion.
- Leaf Impressions (11/5-11/11) - Scholars explore different types of leaves and gather impressions to identify local tree types.
3rd Grade
In third grade our scholar(
- Bug Museum (11/15-12/7) - Scholars learn the important role bugs play on our planet. Critical to our food web as well as many specific roles that are species dependent. Children explore further their specific bugs and present them at the Bug Museum for other classes to visit.
- Magnetism (1/20-Present) - Scholars learn about polarization and ionization of magnets. They find uses from location / direction to creating electricity.
- Space (1/10 - Present) - Students learn about space and our solar system and how it keeps our planet Earth. All in balance with our sun and moon to have life exist.
- Explore the Sea (9/13- 12/2) - From the English to Art, our seas have inspired humans. We explore poems and famous artworks. Students write reflections on the theme, and build connections through perspectives of our seas.