How Do You Use Math in Banking and Birdwatching?

Last Wednesday's field trip served two purposes: it was the culmination of our Lenten service project, and an activity for our new project about birds.

For the four weeks leading up to Easter, the children in the Rivers Class helped at home and organized a gallery opening to earn pennies for their Lenten cans. Once the cans were returned to school, the class sorted the coins before counting the pennies. We learned how to use a "ten frame" to count and roll fifty pennies.

Our trip to the bank helped the class reflect on why we started this project and who we are helping through our hard work. We reminded the children that once the coins were deposited at the bank, the bank could help us send the money to help the children who are in need.

We had perfect weather for our trip. At the bank, each child deposited two rolls, one dollar total, with the teller. For many children, this was their first time inside a bank.

We walked on to Stevens Park, enjoying a short time at the playground and a picnic snack on the grass. 

"Who's that trip-trapping over my bridge?"

The adults commented on how the children have grown in size and bravery since our trip to this park in the fall.

After snack, we handed out a pair of binoculars for each child to use when birdwatching.

We kept a tally of the number of birds we saw from four different species; 

sparrow, pigeon, starling, and robin.

We may also have seen a blue jay and a toucan!

Thank you to the parents who helped chaperone this trip. Your handholding helped us be strong walkers. 

As we continue our bird study, I am interested in hearing from any parents who grew up in a place with different common birds, perhaps a different area of the US, or a different country. We would love to have you come and share with the class about the birds you saw regularly when you were growing up.