McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center Field Trip

Our field trip to the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center was a perfect break from finishing up end of the year assessments and a fun way to wrap up our latest studies in science. All 70 + HMS kindergartners took the trip together and did a wonderful job representing our school while at the planetarium. Here are some of the highlights from our trip (pictures were chosen and some were taken by KD students).

Ready to explore at the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center

The Space Shuttle's wheel is almost the same height as a kindergartner.

Before watching The Little Star That Could, we learned about Alan Shepard's
visit to space.

Inside of the dome theater, we watched The Little
Star That Could. We learned about the sun and the
solar system.

Exploring with the infrared camera.

We made paper airplanes and launched them
 through targets to test our designs.

Our kindergartners enjoyed exploring with different
materials to create objects  that would take flight when
put to the challenge.

Noah and Hayden work on getting their creations
to fly.

Our favorite exhibit was where we could work together
and experiment with different designs.

There were lots of laughs and encouragement for
each other's designs.

Kindergartners also created rockets and tested
their design using the rocket launcher.

Our class enjoyed the green screen, predicting the weather and
seeing themselves on TV. It did eventually turn into a dance party...
but there is a lot to dance about in kindergarten!!

Connor practices being a meteorologist and predicts a big storm is coming.

We had fun trying to land the Space Shuttle...it was so much harder
than it looked!

Patiently waiting for our turns at an exhibit.

Checking out the controls of a plane...

...and imagining what it would be like to fly!

Good friends working together.

KD checking out the XF8U-2 Crusader Jet. 

Thanks to all of our parents for sending in snacks and the paperwork for our field trip.  So thankful for such a special trip with an amazing group of kindergartners! 

Our Brockway Field Trip

Our class enjoyed learning about life cycles and metamorphosis. We are so thankful for the Dorthy Osborne Trust that allows our class to work with the naturalists from the Audubon in our classroom and at the Brockway Nature Preserve. Mrs. Chapman from the Audubon has been helping our class learn about vernal pools too as part of our science lessons.

Mrs. Chapman brought a Painted Lady Turtle to our
classroom.  This type of turtle can be found at Brockway. 

We got to touch the shell and feet of the turtle.

The foot bridge at Brockway is a
great way to view the beaver dam.

At Brockway, we caught all kinds of pond life...salamanders, tadpoles,
 minnows, crayfish, dragonfly nymphs and even a whirligig beetle. 

Mr. Montano helped us get an up close look at some
of the creatures we caught in the pond.

Mrs. Chapman lead our group on a nature walk at Brockway too.

We looked for bird nests along the nature path...

...and learned about the different places that birds make nests and why.

Noah and Wyatt work together on our nature walk.

We put picture cards of the Mayflower's life cycle in the correct order
and then looked for them along the trail.

Charlotte and Eden match a Mayflower leaf to the correct picture card.

Peeking inside of a tree bud.

KD is ready to go "ponding".

In the HMS vernal pool, we found interesting creatures
just steps away from the playground.

It was tricky getting what was in our nets into containers!

We found it was easier to work together. :)

Learning to scoop deep in the muck and search for bugs and salamanders.

We even found a red eft!

Thanks to all of our parents for sending in appropriate footwear for the week and to our chaperones!

Contoocook Village Field Trip

We had a great time on our Contoocook Village Field Trip.  Our students enjoyed singing and the Slusser Center, visiting the Hopkinton Town Library and touring the Hopkinton Fire Station. A special thanks to all of the chaperones that joined us.  What made this field trip extra special was that it was our first one of the year!

It's always exciting to ride the bus with friends...
Wyatt and Eden.

Izzy and Charlotte

Camden and Jack

Taylor, Chana and Lily

Noah and Connor

Autumn, Lucy and Brylee

At the Slusser Center, we sang the Rainbow Song.

We read with friends while others found the perfect
 book at the Town Library.

Patiently reading books and waiting for friends to sign their new library cards.

Izzy and her dad pick out a book at the library.

At the fire station, we reviewed fire safety rules.

Corbin practices using the fire hose and aiming at
the tire.

There were so many tools kept on the fire trucks!

Learning all about Engine 1 and the ways the fire department
can help people.

Exploring the fire trucks.

Izzy takes a turn spraying the hose.