Teams Galaxy and Storm welcomed Tammy Campbell from The Van Wert Soil and Water District into their rooms. Mrs. Campbell reviewed the water cycle and discussed the importance of clean water. She then introduced the class to an investigation entitled "Grave Mistake." The students pretended they were the doctor of a small village where some of the residents were being affected with what looked like arsenic poisoning. By the end of the presentation, the students were able to determine the source of the arsenic before they made a "grave mistake."
Sixth grade students on Team Storm, learned about our world resources and how different countries are effected by the distribution of those resources. Students started by being divided up into countries with Ambassadors and a United Nations Council. Then they were given resources based upon their country's wealth, population and natural resources.
Wealth = Hershey Kisses
Natural Resources = root beer barrels/fireballs
Food = bread/water bottles,
Pollution = dirty water/black balloons
Geography played a big part in the simulation as kids thought about the percent of land used for people, agriculture and cities. It became extremely obvious how lopsided resources actually are in our world. Especially when looking at North America (3 people based on an 80 person world) which has 5% of the world's population, 1/2 of the food, most of the wealth, and most of the pollution. Throughout the simulation the UN Council observed complaining, trading, kids jumping borders, hoarding, stealing, and the frustration of the Asian Ambassadors as they had to divide 2 Hershey Kisses, 3 root beer barrels, 2 bottles of water and a 1/2 loaf of bread between 24 people.
Sixth grade Team Galaxy students have been studying cell reproduction and growth. In order to better understand the life cycle process, the students researched mealworms. Each team designed their own habitat and made a Google slide presentation.