October has been an EXCITING month for Mrs. Hand's Lower School STEM students, with many special and unique hands-on learning opportunities accompanying their study of Earth and the environment. 

At the beginning of the month, 2nd and 4th-grade students welcomed guest speaker and environmental expert Debby Way from the Beaufort County Conservation District to enhance their studies throughout the month. Students in 3rd and 5th grade enjoyed exciting off-campus adventures to deepen their learning. 

On 10/7, Ms. Way joined the 2nd grade STEM class as they engaged in activities connected to their study of The Changing Earth. Students in the second grade explored bodies of water, erosion, and flooding and learned new mapping skills. In addition, Ms. Way helped students understand more about how our changing earth affects plants and animals and how they adapt as a result.  

The 4th grade welcomed Ms. Way to their STEM class on 10/8, as they studied Earth: Past, Present, and Future. Students explored the Earth's natural features, tectonic plates, weathering and erosion, types of weathering, earth rocks, and pollution.  

On 10/9, the 5th Grade STEM class embarked on an exciting day trip to the Port Royal Maritime Center to enrich their learning about Earth's Water and Interconnected Systems. The students toured the Maritime Center and then participated in an engaging program offered by the Center: Man and The Port Royal Sound. This program challenged students to think about how humans impact our waters and the surrounding environment. Through an Enviroscape interactive model, students gained a better understanding of the impact of pollution on our waters and learned how they can make a positive difference.

Finally, on October 17, the 3rd grade traveled to Summerville, SC, for a memorable all-day adventure with Palmetto Fossils Excursions, recognized as one of the top fossil outfitters in the world! As part of their Environmental Changes study, students learned about habitats and animals, focusing on how they change over time. Their research also included a dive into geology and an analysis of fossils. This was an exciting day for students and for the parents who joined the trip! Students and parents had fun getting their hands dirty as they dug for fossils and unearthed many treasures! 

Teaching about God's creation and how the Earth changes has been really fun to explore with my STEM students. I've had so much fun guiding them through several unique, hands-on lessons this month, and I've especially loved taking my students on these special field trips." 

- Abby Hand, Lower School STEM Mentor 

Click HERE for a video recap of our October Adventures in STEM!