Tonight was the night we have all been waiting for! Campfire Night! Our MOSS instructors donned costumes and props galore to host an hour of skits, songs, jokes, melodrama, and improv! What a night! We laughed until we cried when our very own chaperone, Nick, better known as “B’s dad,” gave a riveting performance as an astronaut, only to find out our Riverstone kids were interpreting his performance from a VASTLY different perspective!!! (You will have to ask!) Today we spent the day writing hypotheses, conducting research, recording data, and perfecting the presentations we will give tomorrow morning. I am very proud of the quality of work our students put into their research projects! We will see you all tomorrow!

Today our group headed into the field via canoe! We were able to observe from the water how glaciers formed Lake Payette by the dip in the mountains that formed a U. The theme for today was fire. We conducted experiments that showed how moisture levels and overgrowth of Grand Firs effect wildfires among the Ponderosas. The kids really got a kick out of creating their own mini-forest diorama which was then lit on fire, demonstrating the speed and ease in which a wildfire can devastate a forest community. It is surprising how quickly dead leaves and dry sticks can alight and spread from one to another. We ended the day by putting our knowledge of balance, fulcrum, and weight to the test as each child designed their own nature mobile. It was hard for me to capture the beauty of their creations, but I have included my primitive photos! (Carrie G., you left too early!) We are all having a wonderful time. Lots of smiles! Tomorrow the children will design and conduct their own science experiments. The day will be spent creating a report and presentation of their data and research and Friday morning they will present before boarding the bus, HOME BOUND, at 10 am!

Our blog is back up and running! Today we ventured out with our teams for seven hours in the field! I am so proud of what troopers our Riverstone kids are! I spent the day with the Running Lime Moose (RLM) group. We learned all about Igneous, Metamorphic, and Sedimentary rocks. The MOSS staff have put so much time into their lessons. Every game, activity, song, and challenge is designed to teach! We had two stations in which we had to solve very complicated puzzles about the cycle of a rock. The children were amazing, solving them both with lively discussion and determined and enthusiastic problem solving skills. Our evening program told the story of the 76 skydiving beavers that were transported from the McCall area to the Chamberlain Basin region in 1948. The students were challenged to create a “beaver box” that could withstand a 10 foot drop without injuring the beaver (an egg!). We were all surprised when 100% of the beavers survived their fall! Tomorrow our group heads out in the canoes!

Our 4th graders visited the Foothills Learning Center this afternoon as a part of their unit of inquiry on landforms and how they change through natural events and disasters. The students rotated through 3 weathering and erosion stations under the guidance of two Foothills Learning Center instructors, Zac and Casey. Rebecca Piva, Carolina Brioso, and Jennifer Avery also lent a hand. (Thank you!)

At one station, the students studied how floods can alter different types of environments (erosion). They discussed how certain environments can be impacted more severely than others due to compaction and a lack of vegetation.

In another experiment, students shook jars containing different kinds of stones to observe how different kinds of rocks are changed by water friction (weathering). They also learned how different kinds of weathering can affect water quality and how not every kind of rock weathers at the same rate or in the same way.

The third station involved looking at different kinds of rocks to understand mechanical weathering (the kind of weathering that happens to rocks in Idaho rivers). Students observed how sharp-edged rocks can be rounded through the constant tumbling of rocks in rivers or lakes, as they tumble and bump against each other.

Several students spotted western fence lizards on our brisk walk into the foothills, but the real treat was seeing a coyote roam through the grounds (at a distance) which almost everyone involved was able to see. The information they gathered today will serve as background knowledge as they begin to explore how natural disasters can affect landscapes and communities around the world.  What fun!

This week I discovered that when it comes to the river, our students take their Otter Spirit seriously! Each time our guide said they could swim, they dove right in! (It is possible they spent equal time in river and in raft!) It was a beautiful day and I am grateful to all the uncles, aunts, papas, moms, and dads that joined us!

This week we wrapped up our Memory String activity with writing. Please stop by to see their heartfelt creations. Our hallway bulletin board is looking amazing with all our beautiful student work!

We have unpacked our first central idea for How the World Works: Natural disasters transform the physical landscape and can impact humanity. We will be conducting several experiments over the next two weeks as we look into how science and engineering impact the effect of natural disasters on humans. This week we have Tom Boatner, a hot shot smoke jumper, coming into speak to us about the behavior of fire!

I am looking forward to seeing all of you at Back to School Night this Wednesday, September 11th at 6:30. Dr. Paulson and Mr. Hamilton-Vale and our AMAZING specialists will begin the evening and I will be sharing an overview of the year ahead of us and answering any questions you may have.

And to wrap up our week: a field trip to Foothills Learning Center on Friday morning! You are welcome to join us! Our presentation will be from 10:00-11:30. Have a fabulous week!