Art in Different Cultures

Cycles 2 in the creative arts component was all about art in different cultures. The BUGS students learned about African art, Hispanic art and Native American art. 

The sun is an important theme in Mexican and Central American arts and crafts. The Aztecs, who lived in Mexico from 1300 to 1500, carved a huge Sun Stone that functioned as a type of calendar. The Spiders got the opportunity to explore this culture and make their own Aztech Sun Gods.

The Crickets learned about an African tribe called Samburu which means "butterflies". The name was given to the tribe because of their layers of beaded-covered jewelry. The crickets made their own versions of the Samburu tribes colorful necklaces.

Beading plays a big part in African culture and artistry. The older groups learned how to make paper beads and strung together beautiful necklaces and bracelets. The paper beads where also used in making dream catchers as we explored Native American art.

  The students enjoyed learning about Guatemala and the legend of worry dolls. According to legend, Guatemalan children tell one worry to each doll when they go to bed at night and place the dolls under

their pillow. In the morning the dolls have taken their worries away.

Karen Ackerman Reports on BUGS

BUGS recently had the pleasure to show around Ridgely Middle School student reporter Karen Ackerman. You can check out her article on the BUGS program over here.

Butterflies clean-up an Oil Spill!

During this rotation with the Butterflies, we have been learning about the impact of oil spills on the environment.  Through the lens of the Deepwater Horizon Disaster (April 20, 2010), the Butterflies have experimented with oil (cooking...just to be safe) and water.

The Butterflies looked at how oil and water act together and about the properties of oil.  Then, they asked "Does oil damage natural materials?"  Yes! Was the resounding answer.  So the Butterflies decided they needed to clean up the feathers, rocks, fur, plants, and shells damaged by the oil.  They concluded that hot water and soap does the best job of cleaning up oil-coated natural materials.

Good work, Butterflies!!  (Pictures to come next week.....)

Crickets learn about Sea Otters and make a Kelp Forest!

Last week, I finished a rotation with the Crickets.  We had so much fun learning about Sea Otters -- Their habitat, their food, their babies.

The Crickets completed two projects related to their learning about Sea Otters and the Kelp Forest.  First, most of the students created a Sea Otter book.  In their books students wrote what they learned about Sea Otters through books, videos, and pictures.

Second, all of the students colored numerous critters that call a Kelp Forest home, including crabs, sea urchins, sea otters, starfish, clams, octopuses, squid, and fish.  We cut these pictures out and added them to our "kelp."

Great work, Crickets!!!

Fall Centerpieces

Our friends the worms

Exploring Farming

Throughout the fall the BUGS gardeners have been learning about farming across Baltimore city/county by visiting different urban, peri-urban and rural farms in the surrounding area. We have helped stack pallets, spread straw to insulate seeds, explored worm bins, planted cover crop and garlic and tasted a variety of delicious crops. A big thanks to Calvert's Gift Farm, Real Food Farm, Whitelock Community Farm, the Filbert St. Garden, Great Kids Farm and the Pearlstone Center for welcoming us into their beautiful growing spaces! 

Great Kids Farm:

Pearlstone Center

 Real Food Farm

Whitelock Community Farm

Fall cooking with BUGS

The BUGS have been hard at work learning how to make salad dressings and practicing their knife skills. The BUGS learned to make ranch dressing and blue cheese dressing.

 The BUGS also learned how to make deviled eggs, a very messy and tasty project. 

For Halloween the BUG students made creepy fruit faces and worms and compost. The Halloween snacks were enjoyed by all.