Ms. Yoshida's and Mrs. Fein's students discuss Earth Eay and plant

Today the children discussed Earth Day, planted ingredients for salsa and studied the red wriggler worms in the worm bin. 

Since Earth Day is tomorrow, we discussed what Earth Day is and some ways to take care of the earth. Many children mentioned recycle and pick up trash, others had reduce, reuse, recycle down.

Some other comments: use trash for crafts' projects, carpool, turn off the water when brushing your teeth, take shorter showers. The children wrote in their journals choosing the comments that they wished or composing their own entries.

Here's what Luca wrote on my laptop: "Today is earth day. You can throw trash away. You can also save water. If you want to save water you can try to  leave the sink water and bathtub water off.  You should also not kill animals or drink from Styrofoam. Styrofoam can spread in the ocean and kill animals ! It breaks up into tiny pieces and never breaks up . On earth I am going to do everything I can to protect the earth . Be good for earth day !!!"

Here's what Rastin wrote about their garden time: "Today Jordan, Rastin, Mira, Jocelynn, Henry and Golden planted tomatoes. Today Kevin, Makena, Golden,  Isabel,  Kayla worked with worms."

We discussed how to plant tomatoes: pinch off the bottom half of the branches and plant half of the tomato stem under the soil. The places where the branches were taken off and the small hairs on the stem will grow into roots.

Next fall, when they are in 3rd grade, the children will get to make salsa from the tomatoes, onions, peppers and cilantro that are being planted this spring.

Thanks to Dana and Ashley for helping in the garden today.

These kids aren't afraid of worms!

Ms. Yoshida's students are planting tomatoes

Placing a tomato deeply into the soil after taking off the three bottom stems so they grow into roots.

Mrs. Fein's children are checking out the red wriggler worms