Tallgrass prairies have always been a passion here at Willowwind. From our classroom names, to the roof gardens, to our vegetable garden, to the bioswale out front we've had a desire to learn and care for our environment and its prairies. This year, Willowwind is excited to bring our passion for prairies into the classroom more. Throughout the year, the K-6 program will be working together to learn about the importance of prairies and what we as individuals can do to restore and grow a prairie right here at Willowwind.
During Wednesday's GD, the students came together to answer the question: Why is Iowa home to tallgrass prairies? By investigating weather patterns, students learned that the Rocky Mountains play a large role in what our land looks like here in the midwest. The Kindergarten class was enthralled with this topic. They wanted to learn more about the way clouds pick up moisture from the Pacific and then have to drop the moisture (rain) to "lighten their load" in order to make it over the mountains. Our school wide conversation was incredibly meaningful as students began to understand that with help from the Canadian and Gulf westerlies the light clouds and changing seasons make Iowa ripe for tall grass prairies. Ask your Kindergartener for more information. They were excited to pull down our own classroom map to understand this weather phenomenon even more.
Beginning next week, Ms. Christine will be working with the K-6 classes in Movement to bring this weather pattern to life. Mr. David and Ms. Buffy are eager to help, too - bringing music and art to our piece. Students will be dramatizing each part of the weather pattern creating a "Rain Shadow Play" to perform for you at this year's Harvest Fest. Please mark your calendars for Sunday, September 25th at 2:00 where we will kick off our prairie restoration project and you can learn more about tallgrass parries' existence and what we plan to do to bring them back here to Willowwind.
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