Hello GAP families! Happy May to everyone...I can't believe how fast Spring term is flying by. The past three weeks have been filled with hands on learning around indigenous foods, crafts, and storytelling, Earth Day celebrations, and an exploration of insects in the garden. During week 3 we learned about some of the Native American tribes of the Pacific Northwest through traditional stories and myths, following characters such as Raven, Coyote, and Bear. We harvested and brewed Douglas Fir and Spruce tip tea, a traditional recipe that provided local peoples with vitamin C before citrus was introduced to the Americas. We closed our week together by cooking bannock bread (a sort of cross between a pancake and a scone) with local huckleberries. Week 4 was possibly the most beautiful week of weather we've had yet this year, and in GAP we took full advantage of being outside as much as possible. Students created giant bubbles, and made fresh strawberry ice cream from scratch. We also talked about the meaning of Earth Day, and how each of us helps care for our whole community, including nature, animals--and our families and friends. On Earth Day we created a large poster that collected all of the ways we help take care of the earth, and hung it in the gazebo to help inspire the Abernethy community. Week 5 began our exploration of the small but hugely important world of insects and pollinators! Students observed and sketched live ladybugs before releasing them in the garden to help keep harmful insects in check as the weather gets warmer. Students also created their own hypotheses about where the most insect life can be found on the grounds, and then investigated and took inventory of how many and what types of insects they found in each place. Hot spots of diversity included areas such as the compost bins, the herb garden, and some of the flowering trees. This week we will be learning about the importance of pollinator populations and how they can help us support healthy ecosystems and local food. One last bit of news: With only 6 more weeks before summer break, we are starting to plan a small end of the year celebration for GAP students and their families. We are looking at Wednesday June 8th from 5-6pm (the last day of school is Thursday June 9th). We hope you can join us for some delicious snacks and fun activities that let students share what they've done this year in GAP! All the best, Brynna
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