A Season of Learning and Adventure at the ELC

Fall 2024 has been an exciting and enriching time at the Elementary Learning Center! Over the past few weeks, our students have embraced a variety of hands-on learning experiences, outdoor adventures, and opportunities to demonstrate kindness and teamwork.

ELC Says Goodbye to Semester Buddies. Photo © The Island School

One of the highlights of the season has been our time on the water. Our older students enjoyed a peaceful sailing session, guided by a gentle breeze, while the entire class had a thrilling swim session, accompanied by a curious Lemon shark that seemed eager to join the fun! These experiences not only build confidence in the water but also deepen our students’ appreciation for the marine environment.

Academically, our students have been working diligently in both math and literacy. Each Friday, we take on a real-world problem in our “Flip the Script Math” activity, and this week, students calculated how much lettuce is produced monthly.

Our literacy groups have been diving into exciting new concepts:

Turtles: Recognizing letters, exploring emotions, and engaging in sensory play.

Dolphins: Practicing letter sounds (d, g, u) and developing reading and writing skills.

Lobsters: Learning to sequence events in stories and participating in book “tasting” activities.

Sharks: Deep into their Book Club selection, The Tale of Despereaux, fostering a love for reading and discussion.

In math, each group has been progressing steadily:

Turtles: Counting and recognising numbers 1-10, along with colour patterning.

Dolphins: Representing numbers with Base 10 Blocks (0-50) and practicing single-digit addition and subtraction.

Lobsters: Mastering subtraction with regrouping.

Sharks: Strengthening mental math skills, tackling multiplication tables (2, 3, 4), and refining their ability to add and subtract decimals.

Beyond the classroom, our inquiry-based learning has been flourishing. We recently wrapped up our Aquaponics unit with a collaborative art project. The younger students explored the life cycle of Tilapia, while the older students created artistic representations of lettuce and adult Tilapia, showcasing key facts they learned. Their vibrant work is now proudly displayed in our classroom!

ELC Lettuce Creations. Photo © The Island School

ELC Life Cycle of Tilapia. Photo © The Island School

With the help of Mr. Grant, a research intern, we transferred our lettuce and dill to the water, an exciting moment for our young scientists.

Our students took the lead in choosing our next unit, and after a thoughtful discussion and vote, we are thrilled to announce our next area of exploration: Animals Found in Eleuthera! Over the coming weeks, we will investigate the diverse wildlife of our island, covering ocean, land, and sky creatures. We can’t wait to see where this adventure leads us!

A big thank you to The Island School team members who joined us for our adventure to Schooner’s Cay. Their support and expertise made for an unforgettable experience.

Lastly, our Kindness Jar is nearly full, and we anticipate celebrating as a class very soon!

We are so proud of our students and all they have accomplished this fall. Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to learn, explore, and grow together at the ELC!