4th graders have been studying about electricity and currents in the Science Lab. In conclusion to that unit, the students got to work with our new STEM kits and collaborate to build their own inventions. They had a blast!
Here is the schedule for their upcoming games:
Saklan vs. The Berkeley School Tuesday, March 6th @ 4:15pm (Berkeley)
Saklan vs. East Bay Waldorf rescheduled Tuesday, March 27th @ 4:15pm (El Sobrante)
Saklan vs. Pacific Boys Choir Thursday, March 29th @ 4:45pm (Home)
Come cheer them on – they are a dynamic team to watch!
The below essay, by 7th grader Kyle Yasumura, is a great summary of why we choose to spend a week in Oahu every year!
In 7th grade at the Saklan School, the entire class, lead by Mrs Kim and Miss O, fly to Honolulu Oahu and study the wildlife, the culture, and have a ton of fun. But why Hawaii of all places?
The Hawaiian islands are an excellent place to study evolution and adaptation because the ecosystem there is extremely unique, with plants that only grow in tropical areas, or some even in only Hawaii alone. The humid weather, general heat, and limited island space are large factors that really allow some pretty amazing adaptations to be made. For example, because the plants in Hawaii are all very close together, sunlight per plant is very limited, a tree called the Traveler’s Palm adapted to have massive leaves allowing it to absorb as much sun as possible. Or the Banyan tree, a plant that strangles other trees and basically takes its space and sun.
As I mentioned earlier, some species are only found in Hawaii because of some special adaptations that are very specific to the island. And because of that, it gives the class an amazing opportunity to see the full extent of adaptations to a very unique climate. For example, the humuhumunukuapua’a, or, the state fish of Hawaii. The fish has adapted to be able to lock itself into place between rocks as there is a great abundance of coral reefs in Hawaii.
In conclusion, Hawaii is a great place for the seventh grade to be able to study/observe evolution and adaptation because of the unique climate, and species adaptations that occur due to the specific environment
Save the date for Saklan’s Annual Concert!
Thursday, March 15th
4:30PM
Dean Lesher Center for the Arts in Walnut Creek
Please click here for more detailed information about the concert.
Last Wednesday the Sun’s played against the Grizzlies in a game of basketball. This was the official start of the 2018 basketball season. It was a high scoring game and the Sun’s were victorious, 58 to 47. Come see a rematch at the Tice Valley Gym next Wednesday Feb. 14th @ 5pm!
CCJDS vs. Saklan Wednesday, Feb. 7th @ 4:30pm (Home)
Saklan vs. CCJDS Wednesday, Feb. 14th @ 4:30pm (Tice Gym)
Saklan vs. East Bay Waldorf rescheduled Tuesday, March 27th @ 4:15pm (El Sobrante)
EBW vs. Saklan Wednesday, Feb. 28th @ 4:15pm (Home)
Saklan vs. The Berkeley School Tuesday, March 6th @ 4:15pm (Berkeley)
Saklan vs. Pacific Boys Choir Thursday, March 29th @ 4:45pm (Home)
Do you have experience refereeing? If you do and would like to help, please contact Mr. Crabtree (ccrabtree@saklan.org).
We hope to see you out there cheering on the Suns!
This past Tuesday, the 3rd and 6th grades went to Valley Vista Staging Area to help EBMUD remove invasive plants. Here are comments from some of our 3rd graders about the trip:
We went to EBMUD on Tuesday, January 23rd. On our field trip I learned how to use these garden tools and to not buy broom from the nurseries because they are invasive and they crowd out the native plants. My favorite part about the field trip was when I got to hold a newt. – Ines
The third grade class went to EBMUD. We learned that broom is an invasive plant. We got to rip out plants which was very fun. We saw a hawk which was super fun to see! -Savannah
We went to EBMUD on Tuesday, Jan. 23. At our field trip I learned that you shouldn’t buy broom from nurseries because they are not native plants and they are invasive. I liked the field trip to EBMUD because we got to get muddy and help the environment. -Sadie
We went to EBMUD. We went into the woods to take out all of the invasive species called brush. – Danny
We went to EBMUD and we saw a hawk. -Sammy
I learned what broom is and that broom is bad. It was fun using tools. I learned how to use new tools. -Zachary
I learned that scotch broom is not a native plant. It was fun to pull the broom out of the ground. I learned how to use new garden tools. -Damon
Going to EBMUD was excellent! I found out how to use these orange tools and trimmers. I also learned that brush is a bad plant. -Alex
The 7th grade had some fun with Zentangles and translated their two dimensional designs into 3D. Using air dry clay, they created high, middle, and low reliefs to convey a sense of depth in their composition. Using color to reinforce depth, the students studied how warm colors advance and cool colors recede in a picture space.
The Kindergarten and first grade classes tapped into their expansive imaginations while looking at Rorschach inkblot tests. After discussing what they saw in the symmetry, they created their own Rorschach paintings. They were pleasantly surprised with the results every time!
Yesterday the 7th grade class skyped with a Scientist from the Gulf of Mexico, Ms. Samantha Silvestri. Samantha is a marine scientist specializing in reef zooplankton.
You must be logged in to post a comment.