October 13. 2009

The 2/3's and the Hudson River- Real Learning in the Truest Sense
We are so lucky to live along a river- there is no better way to learn about the Hudson River than by experiencing the river itself.

Our first adventure- a trip on the Dutch Apple boat and a cruise up and down the Hudson.

Oh, the joy of feeling the breeze in your face, smelling the air and seeing the river from a very different perspective.



The children had the opportunity to steer the boat while the captain explained the Hudson's currents and tides, what direction we were sailing in and how boat speed is measured in knots, not miles. The children sketched a variety of scenes along the river-the landscape, houses, Port of Albany and the city of Albany itself. All definitely look different from the middle of the river.

Our 2/3 scientists next took part in the annual Snapshot of the Hudson Day-a day when schools up and down the Hudson conduct tests on water and soil samples from the river, catch and count fish and macroinvertebrates, and make observations about the river at their particular site.

The children worked with the 6/7s,


teachers,
parents and professionals
from the New York State Department of Conservation gathering water and soil samples and performing tests on these, observing and sketching the river, recording data.

Both excursions to the river provided great experiences that set the stage for more discoveries about the Hudson. The children learned as scientists do as they gathered valuable information about the river; they learned about the Hudson from a sailor and experienced the river from a different perspective while on the Dutch Apple. Already they can not wait until our next trip to the Hudson!
The 2/3's making learning come alive! Lynne