🌻 Sunflower Growth Science Journal

Students embark on an exciting hands-on investigation by creating a science journal to document the growth of sunflowers over time! This interactive project integrates measurement, observation, data collection, and artistic expression to enhance learning.

📖 What Students Do:

🔹 Measure Growth – Use both standard and non-standard units to track plant height.

🔹 Graph Their Data – Record changes and create visual charts in their journals.

🔹 Capture Each Stage – Take and include photos as evidence.

🔹 Predict Future Growth – Make educated guesses and compare later.

🔹 Create a Masterpiece – Sketch and paint a Van Gogh-inspired Sunflower to celebrate their learning!

This project combines science, math, art, and literacy, making learning fun and engaging!

📚 Books Throughout the Year

Students will explore nature, wildlife, and ecosystems with these captivating reads:

📖 Under One Rock

📖 Turtle Splash

📖 In One Tide Pool

📖 Out of the Deep

These books inspire curiosity about the natural world and connect to science investigations throughout the year!

🎒 Kindergarten School Supplies

Ensure your child is prepared for a fantastic learning experience! A complete list of required school supplies will be provided to support daily activities and hands-on projects. Kindergarten School Supplies

📖 Kindergarten Summer Reading List

Encourage a love for reading with our hand-picked summer book list! These selections are designed to build early literacy skills and foster a lifelong passion for books.

📌 Kindergarten Summer Reading List

📢 Tip for Parents: Reading together for just 15 minutes a day makes a BIG difference in early learning! Let me know if you’d like any adjustments! 🚀📚

🐦 Exploring Bird Diversity on Campus

Students embark on an exciting bird-watching investigation to explore the diverse avian species on our elementary campus. This hands-on project fosters curiosity, scientific inquiry, and environmental awareness.

🔎 What Students Do:

📸 Capture Photos – Observe and document different bird species on campus.

📍 Map & Graph Data – Track bird locations, nesting sites, and migration patterns.

🪺 Nest Identification – Learn to recognize and record nest locations.

🦜 Assist with Bird Banding – Support Mr. Jim in checking mist nets and collecting bird banding data.

This interactive experience connects students with nature while integrating science, math, and observation skills!

📚 Books Throughout the Year

Enhance learning with these engaging books that support scientific discovery and literacy skills:

📖 From Seed to Soup – Learn about plant life cycles and food sources.

📖 Owl at Home – A fun and heartwarming story about an owl’s adventures.

📖 Amazing Whales – Explore the world of these fascinating marine mammals.

🎒 1st Grade School Supplies

Ensure your child is ready for success with the essential school supplies needed for hands-on learning and daily activities.

📌 1st Grade

📖 Required Summer Reading – 1st GradeEncourage a love of reading with our 1st Grade Summer Reading List! These books are carefully selected to build early literacy skills and comprehension.

📌 1st Grade

📢 Tip for Parents: Reading just 20 minutes a day can significantly improve vocabulary and reading fluency!

🐢 2nd Grade Wildlife Adoption Project

Second-grade students embark on an exciting eco-exploration by "adopting" an animal that coexists with the gopher tortoise! Through research, creativity, and storytelling, they discover how their chosen animal contributes to the ecosystem.

🔎 What Students Do:

🌱 Research Their Animal – Learn about its niche, habitat, and survival strategies.

🎨 Design a Model – Create a 3D representation of their animal and environment.

📖 Write a Folktale – Develop a creative story featuring their animal as the main character.

🌍 Biome Community Presentation – Showcase their models and stories to the community.

This project blends science, art, and literacy, helping students understand the delicate balance of nature and the importance of conservation.

📚 Books Throughout the Year

These engaging books help students connect with nature and the role of animals in ecosystems:

📖 Gopher Tracks – Explore the hidden world of gopher tortoises and their burrow buddies.

📖 A Dolphin Named Bob – Discover the incredible story of a dolphin and its connection to the environment.

✔️ Required Summer Reading – 2nd Grade

This summer, pick your favorite book—ANY book that you LOVE! 📚

✏️ Activity:

Write a paragraph and draw a picture explaining why you love the book. Share what makes it special and why you would recommend it to a friend!

📢 Reading Tip: Reading just 20 minutes a day boosts vocabulary, improves comprehension, and fosters a lifelong love of books!🎒

2nd Grade School Supplies

Ensure your child is ready for hands-on learning with the required school supplies for 2nd grade.

📌 Download the 2nd Grade Supply List

💡 Tip for Parents: Label all supplies to keep them organized and easily identifiable!

.📢 Get ready for a fun-filled year of reading and learning! 🚀📚✨

🌊 3rd Grade Ocean Conservation Project: Nurdles & Human Impact Third-grade students dive into the real-world issue of human impact on our oceans by studying nurdles—tiny plastic pellets that pose a major threat to marine life. Through science, math, and creative problem-solving, students learn about sustainable alternatives and develop innovative solutions to help protect our environment. 🔎 What Students Do: 🌱 Explore Nurdles – Learn how these microplastics impact marine ecosystems. ♻ Identify Sustainable Alternatives – Research eco-friendly products that replace nurdle-based plastics. 🧮 Calculate Decomposition Rates – Compare how long different materials take to break down. 🛠 Design a Nurdle Removal Model – Create an invention to remove nurdles from oceans & beaches. 📢 Advertise Nurdle Alternatives – Develop persuasive advertisements promoting safer environmental solutions. 🌍 Biome Community Presentation – Showcase projects, models, and ads to the community. This hands-on project integrates science, environmental awareness, engineering, and persuasive writing, helping students become the problem solvers of tomorrow! 📚 Books Throughout the Year These exciting books help students connect with environmental conservation and wildlife adventures: 📖 Bartleby and the Mighty Mississippi – Follow a fun and educational journey along the Mississippi River. 📖 The Missing Gator of Gumbo Limbo – A thrilling environmental mystery set in Florida’s Everglades. 📖 Garbage Island – A fascinating eco-adventure about survival in a world of floating trash. 📌 [Download the Full 3rd Grade Summer Reading List] 📢 Reading Tip: Encouraging 20 minutes of reading a day improves comprehension, critical thinking, and vocabulary! 🎒 3rd Grade School Supplies Ensure your child is ready for hands-on learning with the required school supplies for 3rd grade. 📌 [Download the 3rd Grade Supply List] 💡 Tip for Parents: Label all supplies to keep them organized and easily identifiable! 📧 Questions? Contact [Insert Contact Email] for more details. 📢 Get ready for a year of discovery, innovation, and environmental action! 🚀🌊♻ Let me know if you’d like any refinements! 🌎✨

⚔️ 4th Grade Florida History Immersion: Reenacting the Battle of Juan Ponce de León Fourth-grade students step back in time to explore Florida’s origins through an immersive historical reenactment of the battle between Juan Ponce de León’s group of missionaries and the indigenous people who resisted colonization. This hands-on project blends history, geography, strategy, and critical thinking to deepen students' understanding of Florida’s past. 🔎 What Students Do: 🗺 Map the Battle Terrain – Analyze historical maps and strategically plan movements. ⚔ Reenact the Battle – Take on the roles of missionaries and indigenous warriors to recreate the conflict. 📊 Calculate Battle Outcomes – Assess gear, resources, and strategies to determine potential losses. ✍ Rewrite History – Imagine an alternate outcome where the battle swayed in the other direction—what would Florida look like today? This engaging blend of history, math, and storytelling allows students to develop a deeper appreciation for Florida’s past and its lasting effects on today’s world. 📚 Books Throughout the Year These captivating books complement our Florida history and adventure studies: 📖 Hoot – A mystery novel about environmental activism set in Florida. 📖 The Talking Earth – A story of a Seminole girl’s journey to understand her ancestors. 📖 The Cay – A survival adventure set in the Caribbean during World War II. 📌 [Download the Full 4th Grade Summer Reading List] 📢 Reading Tip: Reading historical and adventure books helps students connect with the past, build critical thinking skills, and develop empathy. 🎒 4th Grade School Supplies Ensure your child is fully equipped for hands-on learning with the required school supplies for 4th grade. 📌 [Download the 4th Grade Supply List] 💡 Tip for Parents: Label all supplies to keep them organized and easily identifiable! 📧 Questions? Contact [Insert Contact Email] for more details. 📢 Get ready for a year of adventure, exploration, and historical discovery! 🚀📖⚔ Let me know if you'd like any refinements! 🌎✨

🌊 5th Grade Ocean Biome Conservation Project Fifth-grade students dive deep into marine science by exploring ocean creatures and the pollutants threatening their survival. This hands-on project connects science, art, and environmental awareness to inspire students to take action in protecting our oceans. 🔎 What Students Do: 🐠 Study Ocean Life – Research marine species and their role in the ocean ecosystem. 🚯 Analyze Pollutants – Identify the human-made pollutants responsible for harming sea life. 🎨 Create Scale Models – Build lifelike ocean animal models using real-world pollutants to demonstrate their impact. 🌍 Raise Awareness – Present their models to the community to educate others on marine conservation. 🔹 Examples of Models: ♻ Albatross made from bottle caps – Highlighting the dangers of plastic ingestion. ♻ Sea turtle made from plastic bags – Showcasing the impact of plastic waste on marine creatures. This STEM-based project empowers students to become environmental advocates and champions of ocean conservation! 📚 Books Throughout the Year These engaging books deepen students’ understanding of marine ecosystems, Florida history, and wildlife conservation: 📖 A Land Remembered (Volume 1 & 2) – A historical novel about Florida’s past and its changing landscapes. 📖 Blue Bird – A powerful story of nature and human connection. 📖 A Whale of the Wild – An adventure from the perspective of an orca, highlighting the importance of ocean conservation. 📌 Download the Full 5th Grade Summer Reading List 📢 Reading Tip: Encourage daily reading to expand knowledge, creativity, and critical thinking about real-world environmental issues! 🎒 5th Grade School Supplies Ensure your child is fully equipped for hands-on learning with the required school supplies for 5th grade. 📌 Download the 5th Grade Supply List 💡 Tip for Parents: Label all supplies to keep them organized and easily identifiable! 📧 Questions? Contact [Insert Contact Email] for more details. 📢 Get ready for a year of discovery, creativity, and ocean conservation! 🚀🌊♻ Let me know if you'd like any refinements! 🌎✨

🏗️ 6th Grade Engineering Challenge: Catapults & Trebuchets Sixth-grade students take on the ultimate physics challenge by designing and building catapults and trebuchets to explore force and projectile motion. This STEM-based project encourages hands-on learning, teamwork, and creative problem-solving! 🔎 What Students Do: 🛠 Design & Build – Construct a working catapult or trebuchet using engineering principles. 🎯 Test & Redesign – Analyze performance, make adjustments, and improve designs. 🏆 Compete in a Speed Challenge – Launch paintballs at a blank house banner to create a colorful mascot. 💬 Student Reflection: “It was a challenge to see what we could create with basically unlimited options. My team decided on the traditional trebuchet route, and we had pretty decent results. Interesting to see machines that looked impressive but didn’t do much and those that looked poorly designed that had awesome results.” – Jake, Class of 2023 This project integrates physics, engineering, math, and art, giving students real-world problem-solving experience in a fun and competitive setting! 📚 Books Throughout the Year 📌 [Download the Full 6th Grade Summer Reading List] 📢 Reading Tip: Encourage students to explore books related to engineering, history, and science to build critical thinking and creativity! 🎒 6th Grade School Supplies Ensure your child is fully equipped for hands-on learning and engineering challenges. 📌 [Download the 6th Grade Supply List] 💡 Tip for Parents: Label all supplies to keep them organized and easily identifiable! 📧 Questions? Contact [Insert Contact Email] for more details. 📢 Get ready for an exciting year of physics, engineering, and competition! 🚀🏗️

🌍 7th Grade Global Awareness Project: A Long Walk to Water Seventh-grade students step into the lives of others—literally—as they explore the daily struggles faced by the people of Sudan through the powerful true story of Nya in A Long Walk to Water. This hands-on empathy project combines literature, engineering, and personal reflection, helping students develop a deeper understanding of resilience, resourcefulness, and global issues. 🔎 What Students Do: 📖 Read & Reflect – Dive into A Long Walk to Water and analyze the challenges of water scarcity and survival. 👟 Design & Build – Using only scrap materials available to a Sudanese teenager, construct a functional shoe. 📓 Create a Diary – Write personal reflections on lifestyle differences, binding journal pages directly to the sole of their shoe. 💬 Student Reflections: “I had no idea how long it would take to make your own shoes, especially when you could only use your surroundings. I thought homework was hard, but this gave me a new appreciation for how hard life can be.” – Hailey, Class of 2023 “It was frustrating, but in a good way because once you perfected your design, you had to replicate it for the other shoe. The time spent was well worth it—I still have my pair!” – Anastacija, Class of 2023 This project allows students to apply problem-solving skills while fostering compassion, creativity, and a greater awareness of global challenges. 📚 Books Throughout the Year 📌 [Download the Full 7th Grade Summer Reading List] 📢 Reading Tip: Encourage students to read books about real-world perseverance and survival to enhance their understanding of different cultures and global issues. 🎒 7th Grade School Supplies Ensure your child is fully prepared for hands-on learning and meaningful discussions. 📌 [Download the 7th Grade Supply List] 💡 Tip for Parents: Label all supplies to keep them organized and easily identifiable! 📧 Questions? Contact [Insert Contact Email] for more details. 📢 Get ready for a year of discovery, creativity, and global awareness! 🚀🌎📖 Let me know if you'd like any refinements! 🌍✨

🌊 8th Grade Innovation Challenge: The Recycle Regatta One of the most anticipated highlights of 8th grade is the Recycle Regatta—a thrilling project that merges engineering, sustainability, and teamwork while promoting recycling awareness.

🔎 What Students Do:

🛠 Design & Construct a Recycled Raft – Build a buoyant vessel that is at least 80% recyclable and includes materials from four different recycling categories in Hillsborough County.

♻ Raise Recycling Awareness – Research and create PSA videos for each recyclable category used in their boat.

📱 Augmented Reality Integration – Use the Aurasma app to link their PSA videos to the vessel for an interactive learning experience.

🚣 Race Day Competition – Put their designs to the test in a 200-meter race on the Hillsborough River!

💬 Parent Testimonial: “It was a great experience to get the students to work together and to let them know that things can be made of recycled and reused materials. Looks are definitely deceiving as some of the more glamorous boats aren’t always the most functional. It is a wonderful opportunity for parents to be involved in their student’s middle school experience. My daughter is graduating this year and still talks about this project.” – Stacie Grizaffe (Parent, Class of 2018 & 2020)

This STEM-driven project fosters problem-solving, teamwork, and environmental responsibility, giving students a memorable hands-on learning experience!

📚 Books Throughout the Year ?

📌 Download the Full 8th Grade Summer Reading List

📢 Reading Tip: Encourage students to explore books about science, sustainability, and problem-solving to build critical thinking and environmental awareness.

🎒 8th Grade School Supplies Ensure your child is fully prepared for hands-on learning and meaningful discussions.

📌 Download the 8th Grade Supply List

💡 Tip for Parents: Label all supplies to keep them organized and easily identifiable! 📧 Questions? Contact [Insert Contact Email] for more details. 📢 Get ready for a year of engineering, teamwork, and sustainability! 🚀♻️