WATER
BY L. WALTER
U
nited States communities often take clean water for
granted. Kindergarten students in Ms. Walter, Mrs.
Frederick, and Ms. Liberati’s classes learned about the water
cycle and individual accountability for keeping our rivers,
lakes, streams, and ponds free of pollutants while gaining a greater
understanding of the importance of clean water for everyone and
everything. Students conducted hands-on experiments to remove
pollutants such as bottles, orange peels, coffee grounds, and oil
from water. The children discussed the ease of cleaning up some
garbage, such as bottles, and the difficulty of cleaning other things,
such as oil spills, out of our water. The children learned about the
time and energy conservation workers spend cleaning up oil spills
then tried their hands at “saving wildlife” using Dawn dish soap and
plastic birds. This project took our existing Busy Pond science unit
to the next level while encouraging our children to become citizens
of the world.
Amir Crosby
Daynell Johnson
Lily Killebrew
Hunter Cale, Da’Laney Miller
THERAPY DOG VISITS at Edgewood Primary
BY ALICIA COLE
M
Maizy
Amiya Thorton, Viola
Zuccarelli, Tennyson
Switzer, Lila Adams
(Bully rubs to Maizy)
30
WOODLAND HILLS
iss Cole’s 1st grade class had the pleasure of having visits from Maizy,
a Bernese Mountain therapy dog, throughout the school year. Maizy is
a registered therapy dog who is certified with the Alliance of Therapy
Dogs. Her owner is Marilyn Keteles, a retired Woodland Hills School District
teacher.
The benefits of therapy dogs in an educational setting seem to be
endless. Students experienced increased motivation for learning and gains
in confidence. Students read to Maizy and expressed they felt comfortable
reading to her more than a peer. It has also enhanced relationships with peers
and teachers due to experiencing trust and unconditional love.