HMA of Murphy Summer Program 2012
Biomes around the World
The Ultimate Summer School Safari
Week 1 - June 6 -12
Introduction on Biomes we are going to learn about: Aquatic, Desert, Tundra, Forest and
Grassland. Biomes are defined as “the world’s major communities”, classified according to the
predominant vegetation and characterized by adaptation of organisms to that particular environment.
Create Scientific Journal.
Create a Briefcase
General Video presentation
Week 2 - June 12 -19
Biomes in a Baggie
Field Trip: Heard
Aquatic Biome Introduction
Blubber Mitt experiment
Pond, lake, ocean, rivers, streams, coral reef, estuaries, wetlands
Week 3 - June 20 - 26
Marine Ecosystems Video
Create a Water diorama
Desert Introduction
Rainstick (Atacama Desert Chile)
Sandy Desert in a jar
Week 4 - June 27 - July 3
Hot Desert Plants and Animals
Transpiration, Sunny Hat, Fun with camels activities
Cold desert, cold desert animals
Create a Desert diorama
Introduction to Tundra and video presentation
Week 5 - July 5 - 10
Permafrost experiments
Arctic Tundra plants, snow
Polar Bear, Glacier
Volcano, Seed speed race
Create a Tundra diorama
Week 6 - July 11 - 17
Forest introduction and video presentation
Rainforest “Crunch ‘n’ Munch
Fun with humidity..., Rain Forest Soil
Acid Rain, Past, Present and Future Totem Pole
Create a Forest diorama
Week 7 - July 18 - 24
Introduction to Grassland and video presentation
Savanna plants and animals
Honey Wheat Bread
Create Grassland diorama
Special visitor??
Week 8 - July 25 - 31
Conclusion: Ten tweaks you can make and What else can you do?
Field Trip
Cooking
Cooking
End of summer parties
We will not have Splash Days on Fridays this summer due to the water shortage. This is a city
mandate! Water is becoming a commodity…but we will learn all about it!
Two Field Trips (Primary and Lower Elementary only) - Heard Museum & Dallas Aquarium,
please sign and return authorization form (Children must be wearing uniforms during the Field Trips)
Dates will be announced later.
Last day of the Summer School July 31st.
The Montessori Curriculum will be also taught as normal.
Any work created about these units will be kept in the classroom until the last day of Summer
School.
Parents: If you have any objects, pictures, DVDs, or any items from these Biomes and would like
to lend to us, please let us know. We will be very careful!
Children do not have to wear uniform during the Summer School.
Hot Lunch Service will be offered (optional).
School Hours will remain the same.
School will be closed July 4th due to national holiday.
Start saving your recyclables, we will need plastic bags, paper towel rolls and toilet paper rolls,
just the rolls…We will send a list of things we are going to need later on!
Any kind of parent volunteering will be welcome! Please help us make it an unforgettable and fun
summer for the children!