Week of April 15 - 19

Here's what happened in the Science Lab this week:

• Kindergarten: My kinder friends and I explored pillbugs (more commonly known as roly polies) this week. We got to observe them, learn more about roly polies and their lifecycle, and make a little roly poly craft to take home. Home extension: We talked this week about what roly polies eat; allow your student to use this informaton to help them keep a roly poly pet in a jar for a little while!
• 1st grade: This was week 2 of our seed investigation. This week, we observed 6 different kinds of seeds and sorted them before planting our own seed to take home and nurture. Home extension: allow your student to place his/her plant in a sunny windowsill, and remind him/her to water it every day. You could even give your student an extra challenge: measure the plant's growth every day to see how quickly it grows!
• 2nd grade: We got to share our animal research information today to the rest of the class. It was so much fun learning new information about every animal! We'll use this information later to create our own ocean food chain during Science Lab. Home extension: Ask your student to share facts about 2-3 animals they heard about from classmates today.
• 3rd grade: This was week 2 of our owl study, and it was messy! Students were able to dive right into dissecting their owl pellet this week. Students worked for almost the whole hour to uncover bones and clean them off for next week's project. Home extension: Do a Google search for "live owl webcam." There are several to choose from online; they provide an opportunity to watch barn owls in action 24/7!
• 4th grade: We tested the effects of gravity and air resistance with a challenge today: we had to build our own parachute with the most "hang time." Students had to work with their team to decide on appropriate materials before constructing and testing their parachute. Home extension: provide students with some string and a grocery sack or piece of tissue paper and allow him/her to continue the investigation at home.

 Green Thumb Club members: our next meeting is Tuesday, April 23. Hope to see you there!

Earth Day: Earth Day is April 22, but we'll be celebrating it all week long in the Science Lab next week! We'll start on Monday morning with a ladybug release -- all students will get to release a ladybug into the wild. Ladybugs are considered a garden's best friend (acting as a pest control) so we know they'll do wonderful things both for OUES's garden and for surrounding neighbors' gardens! If you're interested in playing a super-cool, online recycling game, check out Recycle City's Dumptown Game.

Week of April 1 - 5

Welcome back! I hope you enjoyed the 3-day weekend; I sure did!

Here's what we did in the Science Lab this week:

• Kindergarten: We learned about plant lifecycles before planting our own [green bean] seed. Most students took the planted seeds home, but I think that at least one classroom teacher had the seeds stay in the classroom so she could help her students watch the plants grow daily. Either way, when the planted seed comes to you, please remind your student to place it in a sunny spot (like a windowsill) and water it every day. When the plant gets bigger, you can transfer it to a bigger pot or to an outside space where it has more room to grow. Enjoy your green beans! Home extension: if you have a garden, allow your student to help plant, weed, and water. If you don't have a garden, letting your student plant 1 seed of his/her choice to keep and nurture in his/her room would be great!
• 1st grade and 2nd grade: I did not get to see my 1st grade friends this week, due to the STAAR writing exam that I helped monitor. I can't wait to see them next week, though!
• 3rd grade: We reviewed measurement methods today by participating in some measurement centers. We reviewed area, perimeter, length, and width. Home extension: There are lots of opportunities to practice measurement at home! Make up a problem that requires measurement, and allow your student to solve it for you. For instance, maybe you need a rug to fit the living room; your student could measure the length and width of the room to figure out how big of a rug to buy. They could also calculate how many square inches or feet of fabric you'd need to buy if you were going to make the rug yourself.
• 4th grade: We made electroscopes today, and each student got to take home their creation! Home extension: Ask your student to dig their homemade electroscope out of his/her backpack and show you how it works!

 Green Thumb Club members: our next meeting is Tuesday, April 9. Hope to see you there!

Week of March 18 - 22

Welcome back to Old Union! It was so nice to see everyone's smiling face this week.

Here's what happened in the Science Lab:

• Kindergarten and 1st grade: We kicked off our "organisms and environments" unit by learning the difference between living and non-living things. We also talked about basic needs of plants and animals. Home extension: If you have a pet at home, allow your child to take part in feeding and taking care of the animal; that would be a fantastic opportunity to talk about basic needs and living/non-living! If you don't have a pet, you could always adopt a virtual one; click here, here, or here for my top picks. Another option is to allow your child to help you plant something and be responsible for helping it grow.
• 2nd grade: We finished our meteorology unit by learning about wind and making an anemometer. We also talked about a case of extreme wind -- tornadoes -- and how to keep ourselves safe. Home extension: Your student got to take home his/her own anemometer and wind speed scale this Wednesday. Encourage your student to measure and track the wind speed for the next week.
• 3rd grade: We finished our three week study over simple machines today by focusing on pulleys and wheels. Home extension: Go on a "simple machine scavenger hunt" -- at home, at a store, or wherever! -- and see how many simple machines you and your child can find.
• 4th grade: Since we are still studying circuits in our force, motion, and energy unit, we did a fun little activity this week that involved making "quiz cards" with circuits on the back. Students had to come up with 4th grade math questions that would help them study for their STAAR test, and they had to make sure that the correct answer created a complete circuit on the back of the card. We used multi-meter testers to quiz ourselves afterward. A few quiz cards and multi-meter testers are now in the 4th grade math rooms so that students can quiz themselves during their free time. Home extension: You don't have to have multi meter testers to do this activity! Students could create their own quiz cards at home and test them with a light bulb and D Cell battery -- they know how!

 Green Thumb Club members: Our next meeting is Tuesday, March 26. Hope to see you there!

Week of February 18 - 22

Here's a review of what happened in the Science Lab this week:

• Kindergarten:We explored a different kind of energy today: heat energy! We performed a quick experiment to find out how heat affects hard and gummy lifesavers before playing a sorting game with heat source cards. Home extension: allow your child to join in the cooking fun with a meal that involves a microwave or oven. Seeing that heat helped transformed the ingredients into a delicious  meal will help solidify our knowledge of heat energy.
• 1st grade: We learned about heat energy in the form of friction today. We learned that rubbing our hands together creates friction, which creates heat. We tested various objects around the room to see which caused heat from the friction. Home extension: allow your student to continue this investigation at home by encouraging him/her to test various items for heat from friction. You can also play the mini-friction game we played online by clicking HERE.
• 2nd grade: We focused on light energy today and performed a series of activities to investigate it. You can view the activities by clicking HERE. Home extension: Play the Prezi presentation with your child close by, and ask him/her to describe the activities to you. Most can be recreated at home, which would be so fun!
• 3rd grade: We did an investigation about gravity today; we tested various objects to see which would fall first. We also learned a little bit about Isaac Newton and his 3 laws of motion. Home extension: allow your student to do some independent research over Isaac Newton to see how else he contributed to science. 
• 4th grade: We learned more about the water cycle, its source of energy, and the fact that water molecules are constantly moving through the water cycle by playing a game. Home extension: Ask your student to describe our water cycle movement game and what they learned. Do water molecules always follow the exact path of the water cycle? What makes the water in the water cycle move?

Green Thumb Club members: our next meeting is Tuesday, February 26. Hope to see you there!

Donations: We would greatly appreciate any Kleenex and/or empty syrup bottles that you could donate!

Week of February 4 - 8

This was our last week in StarLab for 2013, and I think it's safe to say that everyone had a great time! StarLab is so much fun and a great learning opportunity for all that get to go inside. I can't get enough of it!

Students were able to see the constellations again this week -- both in the "real" sky and in the "dot to dot" version of the sky -- and hear some more fun stories about each. Students have been reminded that these stories are just pretend, much like Spongebob or Cinderella. Still, it's fun to learn the stories associated with each constellation.

Ask your student what constellations we were able to find the StarLab this week, and then take your student outside to see if he/she can spot them in the real night sky. I think you'd be surprised and impressed about how many constellations OUES students can name!

Green Thumb Club members: our next meeting is Tuesday, February 12. Hope to see you there!

Week of January 14 - 18

Here is what we did in the lab this week:

• Kindergarten: This week, we did a magnet exploration. Students were able to rotate to test a variety of objects for its magnetic ability. Home extension: give your student a magnet from the refrigerator and allow him/her to explore the magnetic objects in your home. {Students have already been cautioned to keep magnets clear of computers and other electronic devices, so there should be no worries!}
• 1st grade: This week, we worked on observing and recording changes in the moon. Since our Science Lab lessons take place during the day time, we had to use a couple of videos to show how the moon changes its appearance. We practiced making each moon shape in a pie plate filled with sugar, and then we played some moon games. Home extension: once it gets dark, take your student outside to "moon watch." See if he/she can identify the shape of the moon in the night sky. I've encouraged my first grade friends to keep a moon observation journal at home to document what they see!
• 2nd grade: This was week 2 of our pendulum investigation. We have been studying ways objects move, so we were testing our pendulums this week to figure out if the length of our pendulum affected its swing. Home extension: during daily activity or errand-running, ask your student to be on the lookout for pendulums in everyday life. If you ask your 2nd grader about pendulums, he/she should be able to give you a list of examples of pendulums we see every day.
• 3rd grade: We completed week 2 of our planets in the solar system investigation. This week, we reviewed the planets and the order they appear in the sky. Then we used ratios and our measuring skills to make models of the planets; we demonstrated how far each planet is from the sun. Home extension: ask your 3rd grader to show you how far away the planets are from the Sun and to explain astronomical units (AUs).
• 4th grade: We started our force, motion, and energy unit this week by talking about conductors and insulators. Students were able to use strips of foil, D Cell batteries, a light bulb, and various random items to see which materials are conductors and which materials are insulators. Home extension: If you have some aluminum foil, a D Cell battery, and a light bulb at your house, your can allow your student to demonstrate how some objects are conductors and some are insulators. Ask your student to pick 5 of each and show them to you in a presentation.

Green Thumb Club members: our next meeting is Tuesday, January 22. Hope to see you there!

December 3 - 7

Wow! I cannot believe it is already December! We are having such a blast in Science Lab that time has been flying. :)

Before we get to the weekly update, I just wanted to say an extra THANK YOU to all of those that helped or supported OUES's first annual Super Science Sale last week! It was a lot of fun and a great success! 

Here's what we did this week:

• Kindergarten: We learned about temperature this week. We studied how the temperature changes through the year, how temperature impacts our lives, and how to measure temperature. Home extension: If you don't already, start having conversations with your student about the daily temperature, and let him/her decide what to wear, based on the weather.
• 1st grade: We learned all about air this week. We learned that wind is moving air, and we did an investigation to figure out how much wind it takes to move certain objects. Home extension: Ask your child about the wind investigation and allow him/her to re-create it at home with random, household objects.
• 2nd grade: We learned more about sound energy this week. We saw how sound waves look by modeling them on an slinky, we made "clucking chicken" noises with sponges and cups, and then we made our own cup telephones. It was fun to observe the vibrations and the way sound travels. Home extension: Fill various-sized glasses with water and allow your student to tap them with a spoon to create sound.
• 3rd grade: This was week 1 of our volcano exploration unit! Students learned all about volcanoes and made a model volcano on paper. We are so excited to create model volcanoes with soil and sand next week...and even more excited to make them explode! Home extension: While your driving for errands or the holidays, ask your student to look out the window and identify as many landforms as possible. There probably won't be any volcanoes where you're going (), but we've learned about other landforms, too, that your student could be on the lookout for.
• 4th grade: This was our first week into our matter unit, and we kicked it off with a fun investigation about making potatoes float. We got to conduct an experiment with our table groups to see if potatoes will float in salt or sugar water, and, if so, how many spoonfuls of sugar or salt it takes to make the potatoes float. Home extension: Allow your student to try a variation of this experiment at home by taking something that doesn't usually float and adding salt or sugar 1 spoonful at a time to see if you can make it float. Your 4th grader is an expert at this, so let them show you how it works! 

Green Thumb Club members, if you and your child would like to attend the Tuesday, December 11 meeting at Calloway's Nursery, please arrange transportation for your child. We will begin the meeting at 3:15 pm. If your child can't attend, no worries! We will gladly welcome him or her back at our next meeting on Tuesday, January 22. 

GTC Meeting at Calloway's Nursery

Green Thumb Members,

I wanted to remind you that the Tuesday, December 11 GTC meeting will be held at Calloway's Nursery. Calloway's in Southlake is located at 291 E. Southlake Blvd. Their phone number is 817.416.0736, in case you need directions!

The Green Thumb Club is partnering with Calloway's this year to receive great discounts, information, and fun! All who attend this meeting (parents included!) are eligible to win a $25 gift card to Calloway's.

Because of travel time, this meeting will begin at 3:15 pm and last until about 4:00 pm. You will need to arrange transportation for your child. {Students who do not have transportation will need to skip this meeting and go home after school the way they normally do.} This will be the last GTC meeting until Tuesday, January 22.

We look forward to seeing you there!

November 12 - 16

Here's what happened in the Science Lab this week:

• Kindergarten: We had a shortened class period on this day because of the Veteran's Day assembly (which was wonderful -- thank you to all that were involved, and thank you to our Veterans!). Kinder students explored rocks and used science words to write about them in our notebooks. Home extension: go on a "rock hunt" with your student, asking him/her to find a "cool" rock outside. Then use adjectives to describe the rock with your senses.
• 1st grade: We've been learning about soil and how it's useful for our world. This week, we made "soil in a cup." We constructed this with our table teams, using food to mimic the real-life layers of soil. Home extension: allow your student to make their own version of "Soil in a Cup." Ask your student what edible materials might best mimic the layers of the soil.
• 2nd grade: We learned about the 3 types of rocks and how they're made. We also learned how to make models of these types of rocks using crayon shavings! (We were going to do this activity in class, but due to the Thanksgiving luncheon shortened science lab schedule, we did not have time today.) Home extension: ask your student to describe the 3 types of rocks and how we mimicked them with crayons. Go on a "rock walk" at home or at the park, and try to find each of the types of rocks. Or, if you're feeling particularly adventurous, make your own crayon rocks by looking at the directions HERE.
• 3rd grade: We explored fossils by looking at pictures and models. Then we made our own fossils by pressing an item of our choice into special dough. Home extension: have a conversation with your student about how fossils are formed. You may even consider letting your student make his/her own fossils at home in playdough.
• 4th grade: I did not get to see 4th graders this week, due to Dragon Day. I look forward to seeing all my 4th grade friends next week, though!

The Super Science Sale will take place in the Science Lab during our next week of school (November 26 - 29). Read more about the sale by clicking HERE. Sign up to help in the store by clicking HERE.

Our next meeting of the Green Thumb Club is Tuesday, November 27. I look forward to seeing you all!

Have a fantastic Thanksgiving break!

November 5 - 9

Here's what happened in the Science Lab this week:

• Kindergarten: We explored the change in matter when we apply heat or cool. Students played a fun simulation game on the Promethean board, and then we went "ice fishing!" Students learned how salt lowers the freezing temperature of water and why city officials might put ice on the roads after a snowstorm. Home extension: Allow your student to help you cook dinner; he/she can observe how ice cools a drink and the oven warms food.
• 1st grade: We observed 4 different types of soils and learned more about the role that soil plays in our environment. Home extension: Allow your student to explore the soil in your backyard or at the local park. Have a conversation about how soil is necessary.
• 2nd grade: We observed a change in matter when we added salt to ice and formed a mixture; we made homemade ice cream! Students were permitted to take one bite of the ice cream in class so that we could observe the matter with all 5 of our senses. Home extension: ask your student to bring home the ice cream recipe and make a batch for the whole family.
• 3rd grade: We learned about 8 different types of landforms. Afterwards, we created the landforms at our tables with special "moon dough." Home extension: ask your student how a picture of a dinosaur could help him/her remember the types of landforms.
• 4th grade: This was part 2 of our living adaptations project. Students were able to bring in their own craft supplies (and use mine, as well) to construct a unique living organism with at least 3 adaptations. Students could use construction paper, cotton balls, beans, beads, pipe cleaners, glitter, sequins, etc. The students did a great job; I was so impressed with their creativity and innovation! Below is a video slideshow with several students' final products:

The Super Science Sale is quickly approaching! Read more about our sale by clicking HERE. Parents, if you are available and willing to help, we could really use an extra hand! Click HERE to go to the volunteer sign-up form to pick a date and time that is convenient for you.  

Green Thumb Club will meet on Tuesday, November 13th, as it is the 2nd Tuesday of the month. Meet outside by the picnic tables (unless the weather doesn't cooperate -- then meet in the Science Lab). Pick-up is at 3:45. 

Also: Old Union now has a Facebook page! "Like" it by clicking HERE.

Have a restful weekend!

 

Tree Planting Ceremony

Dragons,

I wanted to remind you about the tree planting ceremony that will take place on Tuesday, October 23 at 3:00 pm near the OUES gardens.

Old Union received a generous grant of several beautiful trees from Bob Jones Nature Center. Some of our Green Thumb Club members will speak at the presentation, our boy and girl scout friends will have a part in the ceremony, the choir will serenade us with a fun song about trees, and we'll enjoy some refreshments while we plant those trees!

If your student would like to stay after school to attend the ceremony, we should be ready for parent pick-up near the playground by about 3:45 pm. 

We'd love for you to join us in this celebration!

October 15 - 19

Here's a recap of our week in the Science Lab:

• Kindergarten: We learned more about our senses of smelling and hearing as a way of observing matter. We played a sound egg memory game and did 5 smell tests. Ask your student about their favorite things to hear and smell.
• 1st grade: We did an investigation to find out the effects of heat and cold on matter. Ask your student if food coloring moves faster in warm water or cool water.
• 2nd grade: We had a shortened period due to testing, but we still had fun weighing various objects on a primary balance. Students were able to use hexagram weights to find out the exact mass of objects on our list. Ask your student to explain how to operate the primary balance and how to use the hexagram weights. You could even ask your student to predict the mass of various objects around your house.
• 3rd grade: We conducted a brand-new experiment ("Lava in a Cup") to learn about mixtures. Ask your student to explain their group's experiment and results.
• 4th grade: I was unable to be in class on this day, but we had a fabulous substitute, so I know the students had a great time and learned a lot! 4th graders conducted an experiment about bird beak adaptations to figure out which beak type is most conducive to eating various types of food. Ask your student which bird beak they used in class, and which food was easiest to pick up.

 Reminders:

• Next week is Red Ribbon week. Please refer to the previous post to figure out how to show your support each day! You could even recite the Red Ribbon pledge each morning on the way to school. OUES is proud to be drug free!
• Tuesday, Oct. 23 is the tree planting ceremony. We would love to see you in the OUES garden around 3 pm!
• Wednesday, Oct. 24 is picture re-take day and group picture day. Green Thumb Club members are invited to be in the club yearbook picture! If your student did not get a chance to attend the meeting but is planning on joining the GTC, please feel free to be in the picture! We are wearing OUES t-shirts to support Red Ribbon week.

Have a great weekend!

Red Ribbon Week

Just a reminder: Red Ribbon Week is next week (October 22 - 26)! OUES is proud to be drug free!

Red Ribbon Pledge:

I pledge to be drug free.

I pledge to take care of my body.

I pledge to be myself.

I pledge to stick up for things I believe in.

I pledge to choose good friends.

Monday: Hats off to being drug free (wear your hat to school).

Tuesday: Give drugs the boot (wear your boots to school).

Wednesday: OUES shows good character by being drug free (wear your OUES t-shirt to show school pride). **This is also picture day for retakes and group pictures, including Green Thumb Club!

Thursday: I’m voting for my future -- I’m drug free (wear read, white, and blue).

Friday: Team up against drugs (wear a team shirt and show that you're a team player).

Week of October 8 - 12

 Hello, all! Here's what we did this week:

• Kindergarten: I missed seeing my kindergarten friends in the lab this week! There was no school on Monday, due to a staff development day. Home extension: ask your student about matter and how to observe matter with the 5 senses.
• 1st grade: We learned about volume and found the volume (in beans) of several different containers. Home extension: ask your student to explain volume and give a couple different examples of the types of matter.
• 2nd grade: We did a short activity over sink and float with various brands of bar soap. Then we put Ivory soap in the microwave and watched a fun change occur when we added heat to the soap. Home extension: ask your student to describe the change in matter (soap) when we applied heat.
• 3rd grade: We completed part 2 of our "Milk in Motion" experiment. All the planning from last week paid off as students got to perform their very own experiments. Home extension: ask your student to explain the experiment process and their personal experiment with milk from this week.
• 4th grade: We began our discussion over adaptations with a look at desert plants. We compared attributes of a cactus to attributes of a non-desert plant. Then we did an investigation with sponges and Vaseline to learn more about cacti. Home extension: ask your student how a sponge and Vaseline are like a cactus and why cacti might need a waxy coating on their skin to survive in the desert.

Our first meeting of the Green Thumb Club was this Tuesday, and we had a great time meeting all our GTC friends and taking a walk around the garden! Parents, please fill out the permission form and return it to me as soon as possible. You can also download a copy of the tentative GTC meeting schedule to hang on your 'fridge.

Group picture day is next Wednesday (October 17)! Even if you didn't get a chance to come to the first meeting, please join in the group picture if you are interested in being a part of Green Thumb Club!

Have a great weekend, Dragons!

Week of October 1 - 5

Time for the weekly catch-up!

• Kindergarten used their sense of sight to observe properties of a liquid form of matter. This involved using a dropper to combine different colored drops of water. 
• 1st grade did a rockin' balance investigation: using 5 rocks, students used their hands to predict which was the heaviest and which was the lightest. Then we tested our predictions by placing the rocks on a balance and comparing their weight to mini teddy bears. 
• 2nd grade had a shortened Science Lab schedule due to testing, but we still had fun! We had a Tic Tac race to answer the experiment question: what is the fastest way to dissolve a Tic Tac in your mouth?
• 3rd graders entered into Part I of their first experiment: Milk in Motion. After a quick demonstration involving milk, soap, and food coloring, students came up with a question and planned the procedures for their experiment. Part II occurs next week when students will be given time to investigate. 
• 4th graders didn't get a chance to come to the Science Lab this week, due to Dragon Day. Don't worry, though -- I have something fun planned for next week! 

Don't forget to visit our class Instagram to view some Kodak moments. While you're at it, check out our tweets on Twitter!

The first meeting of the Green Thumb Club is next Tuesday, October 9. Students can stay after school and meet in the Science Lab at 3 pm. Pick-up is at 3:45 at the east doors by the Science Lab. Parents, please fill out this Participation Permission Form and return it to me ASAP. Also, here's a copy of the tentative GTC meeting schedule to hang on your 'fridge.

Have a great weekend!

Fall Festival at Calloway's

Calloway's Nursery, a partner of OUES's Green Thumb Club, is having their Fall Festival on Saturday, October 6 at all Calloway's locations.

There will be coffee for parents, pumpkin seed tasting, plant displays, a free pumpkin for every child in attendance, and other fun things!

It starts at 9 am and ends at 7 pm. Sounds like a great way to kick off the fall season!

Tree Planting Ceremony

You're invited! Click to enlarge

 The following press release is courtesy of Bob Jones Nature Center: http://www.bjnc.org/

Thank you for sharing this article with us, BJNC!

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Bob Jones Nature Center Wins Grant to Grow People’s Garden

Southlake, TX – September 10, 2012 – The Bob Jones Nature Center (BJNC) announced that it has received a $2,470 grant from the national nonprofit Alliance for Community Trees to plant trees at three Carroll ISD elementary school gardens in Southlake.  The schools are Jack D. Johnson Elementary, Old Union Elementary, and Rockenbaugh Elementary. These sites will be considered local People’s Gardens, part of the nationwide network of gardens supported by the USDA People’s Garden Initiative. 

The Alliance for Community Trees (ACTrees) People’s Garden Grant Program is a new national initiative launched in 2012 to explore and deepen the connection between trees and urban agriculture. With support from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, ACTrees has provided funding to 30 communities in 21 states to plant trees that produce fruit and nuts or provide shelter to community gardens.

“Trees are critical to healthy people and healthy communities,” said ACTrees Executive Director Carrie Gallagher. “We are excited to offer this opportunity to the Bob Jones Nature Center and the three schools to demonstrate locally that trees are an integral part of sustainable community agriculture.”

Each selected school includes kindergarteners through fourth graders who participate in hands-on garden activities.  Through these hands-on experiences students recognize the basic needs of plants and environmental factors affecting plant growth.  Each school will be receiving trees to provide a shade component to their gardens. Planting is planned for October 2012. The Bob Jones Nature Center is also working with the Citizen Forester program of the Cross Timbers Urban Forestry Council.  The program presents an opportunity for individuals to become skilled at planting, pruning, and maintaining trees in an urban environment. It also provides interested persons with the chance to get involved with local city and county agencies and help their community take care of its public trees. Tree plantings for Old Union and Rockenbaugh Elementary Schools are planned for Tuesday, October 23.  Johnson Elementary tree planting is scheduled for Thursday, October 25.

About the Bob Jones Nature Center

The Bob Jones Nature Center (BJNC) is a 501c3 non-profit organization working in association with the City of Southlake at the Bob Jones Nature Center & Preserve and is dedicated to the preservation of the Cross Timbers ecosystem and natural resources, offering   programs and classes for all ages.  The Preserve, a City of Southlake park, is located at 355 E. Bob Jones Road in Southlake.  The park is open seven days a week from 7:00am to 8:00pm (during daylight savings time) and is the gateway to miles of equestrian and hiking trails on the Walnut Grove National Recreation Trail. The Visitor Center is open Tuesday through Saturday from 9:00am to 5:00pm. For more information, call 817.939.1110 or e-mail director@bjnc.org.  The phone number for the facility is 817.491.6333.

About Alliance for Community Trees

Alliance for Community Trees (ACTrees) is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the health and livability of cities by planting and caring for trees. With over 200 member organizations in 44 states and Canada, ACTrees engages volunteers to take action to improve the environment where 93% of people live: in cities, towns and metropolitan areas. Together ACTrees member organizations have planted and cared for over 15 million trees in cities with help from over 5 million volunteers. For more information, please visit www.ACTrees.org, follow us on Twitter @alliance4trees, and like us on Facebook at facebook.com/AllianceforCommunityTrees.

About USDA People’s Garden

The USDA People's Gardens Initiative is a national program with the vision that the simple act of planting a garden can help unite neighborhoods in a common effort and inspire locally-led solutions to challenges facing our country - from hunger to the environment. Learn more at www.usda.gov/peoplesgarden

About Citizen Foresters

Citizen Forester volunteers are committed to helping their community take care of its public trees.  Trained to plant, prune and properly maintain trees in an urban environment, Citizen Foresters are involved with many projects, including assisting with tree inventories, training and pruning newly established trees, measuring street trees for clearance, mulching trees in public parks, and participating in public tree planting programs and tree give-away events.  The Citizen Forester program is sponsored by the Cross Timbers Urban Forestry Council.  For more information call (817)392-5738 or visit the Cross Timbers Urban Forestry Council’s website, www.ctufc.org.  The Cross Timbers Urban Forestry Council (CTUFC) is a non-profit organization promoting urban forestry programs, education and awareness in a 17-county region.  CTUFC is comprised of members from various backgrounds drawn to the organization because of a love of trees and the role they play in our urban environment.

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We would love to see you at our tree planting ceremony on Tuesday, October 23, right after school. Students will read portions of the program, the choir will sing a song, and the Boy and Girl Scouts will be there! Refreshments will also be provided.  

See you there!

Green Thumb Club

Dragons,

I wanted to let you know about an after school club opportunity: the Green Thumb Club.

The Green Thumb club will meet on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month (if school is in session), from 3:00 to 3:45 pm. The students get about 10 minutes for snack and circle time, 15 minutes for a nature craft, 15 minutes of working in the garden, and 5 minutes of clean-up and transition time. The other GTC leaders and I have some fun activities planned for Green Thumb Club this year and would love for your student (and you!) to join us!

This year, the OUES Green Thumb Club is partnering with Calloway's Nursery. We will hold at least one club meeting at Calloway's (TBA) this year. In return, Calloway's Nursery will provide two $25 garden gift cards (during the meeting held at Calloway's), discount coupons for members throughout the year, and at least 1 special discount day for garden club participants! If you'd like more information on Calloway's Nursery, please feel free to visit their website and sign up for the My Texas Garden e-mail newsletter.

The first meeting of the Green Thumb Club will take place on Tuesday, October 9. Everyone is welcome to join!

Hope to see you there!