Category: Experiential Learning

Save the Bay, Every Day!

3/4/2019

Our natural resources are drastically depleting, and MCS is taking steps to help preserve them! This past week, students and teachers when on a Marsh adventure to study the world around them and plant native greenery to help restore the environment. Knowing the difference between native and non-native plants is extremely important, as planting non-native plants in an already struggling environment could cause drastic damage to the ecosystem. By planting and replanting native plants, MCS students were able to maintain the marshlands without disrupting it's natural ecosystem.

While working in the marshlands, students also learned a lot about the animals and other creatures living there. The Salt Marsh Harvest Mouse, which only lives in the San Francisco Bay, is slowly going extinct because it's habitat is being neglected and in some cases demolished. Currently, there are only 2000 of them left! Hopefully with our help, and that of other concerned biologists, we can save this little creature from extinction. Get involved and sign up to help preserve our wetlands here today!

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MCS Gets Energized at the Exploratorium

2/1/2019

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We're constantly using energy in our everyday lives; from when we wake up in the morning, to writing a paper or playing on the playground. Today MCS made sparks fly by taking a trip to the Exploratorium to experience what gives different objects in our world that unique electric kick.

Through our work in Physics and applied sciences, students were able to discover new forms of energy that flow all around us every day. We learned about gravity and how it is affected in black holes, wind and water powered mechanisms, and even how sound waves travel! Who knew our planet was so energetic!

Not only did we jump into Kinetic Energy, but students also got to experience the travel of various wave energies and their forms. From ocean waves to radio waves, we're saying hello to each and every one! Now that's what we call Physics!

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Catch a Sound Wave

1/30/2019

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Woah, hang loose! This week, MCS students took science outdoors to use all five sense to explore their environment and dive deep into the land of physics. We discovered all kinds of amazing things at the beach (including the a couple big fish off the shore and a clever way to keep our feet sand-free!)

For us, the ocean isn't just relaxing - it's a great teacher as well. Being out in nature, students got to physically learn and observe the moon and tides, water as energy, and even sound waves! Who knew you could get more than just a tan at the beach!

What are some ways you learn outside the classroom? Let us know how you catch your waves!

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Space Travel at Chabot

11/14/2018

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Ready, set, blast off! MCS takes on the big blue sky at the Chabot Space and Science center in Oakland. We had a great time exploring the night sky, and learned all about the cosmos around us. Students got to get up close and personal with the universe, studying how stars are made and even using real telescopes to view objects in space!

Did you know the moon is the fifth largest moon in our solar system? On our journey through the stars, we also learned all about the moon's relationship to our sun, and what happens during different types of eclipses through a wonderful planetarium show. What's your favorite thing to learn about space? Tell us below!

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MCS Takes off to the Capital!

11/6/2018

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It's Election Day, so of course it's the perfect time to take a class trip to the Capital! MCS students got to experience traveling as a group out to Sacramento to take a tour of the Capital building. Students took time on the bus to play learning games with each other, and read their pleasure reading books. Once in Sacramento, the class got to learn about traveling on public transit, and how to navigate getting around a new place by using the train system. It was a long journey, but eventually we made it to the Capital!

On our tour, we learned some excellent facts about California, and how our system of government works. Students discussed how a bill becomes a law, the differences between the House and the Senate, and how our judicial branch functions. We also learned a lot about the physical architecture of the building, and the importance of color coding in House and Senate. Did you know the California State Senate is decorated in red to symbolize the monarchy, but the 2 thrones heading it remain empty to demonstrate our rejection of that system? Who knew those colors were so important!

All in all, we had an awesome day learning, and it was great to explore part of our government first hand. We had a long day, but it was worth it! We encourage you to investigate more about your government too, and become informed as well! You never know what you might discover! Remember, your voice counts - Happy Voting Day, everyone!

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Nature in Navato

5/4/2018

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MCS gets moving on our Human Impact studies with an adventure to the Marin Museum of the American Indian. With our wonderful guide, Alicia, we learned about how the Miwok people treated their environment and conserved the resources around them. We are hoping to bring back some of these ideals and practices to help continue to save our dwindling natural resources!

We also got to learn about the houses, called kotchas, where the Miwok people lived and slept, and the importance of baskets and tools to the tribe. Students were even given a chance to use handmade drills and practice drilling the way the Miwoks would have to make holes to build!

Thank you to Alicia and the Marin Museum of the American Indian for giving us a great experience. We learned a lot and are looking forward to next time!

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This week at MCS...

4/3/2018

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We've had a busy week so far! Students studied outdoors at Muir Beach, improved their Executive Functioning skills in Math and Literature, and even looked at Art History at the Legion of Honor. Check out our adventures in learning below!

MCS students explore geological processes in the real work at Muir Beach for Science!

Field trip! MCS dives into History and Art with a visit to the Legion of Honor to study works from the Middle Ages.

In Math, students create strategy sheets and separate strategy cards intended to be mixed up and paired back together. This separates and supports the visual, language/verbal/symbolic and written portions of learning, which is great for working memory challenged students or for students with attention challenges.

Our wellness classes this week focused on working through situations with friends in need, and how to best communicate in a positive way with one another.

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SFSU Collaboration

11/14/2017

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SFSU's Childhood and Adolescent students team up with MCS to create customized science lessons for each students. After visiting SFSU, MCS students brought back their individualized lessons to class to show their peers.

SFSU students go gymnast and teach using physical movement!

SFSU students and MCS students work together to build a mobile illustrating ocean life.

SFSU students demonstrate how to use color to determine PH levels

MCS student teachers a lesson on water pollution

MCS student gets creative by making a filter system with cardboard and glitter to show how we can approach air pollution

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Getting our Hands On Science

10/2/2017

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Ever wonder how the water cycle works? How about photosynthesis? This week, students took science into their own hands to learn about what makes up our ecosystem, and how living things work together in their natural environment.

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2016-17 Year Highlights

9/6/2017

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A day in the field...making observations, collecting and logging data...

Students present customized Human Impact lessons learned from SFSU CAD student's.

San Francisco Science Fair Time.....Congrats for 4th place and two Honorable Mentions! Great Job Everyone!

Area and Perimeter - Using your feet! Searching for congruent and similar objects.

Applying circumference, diameter and radius, dissecting word problems, tacking History Math and probability.

Lawrence Hall of Science...

Math Warm ups, PEMDAS and Pythagorean theorem

Neighborhood Clean Up, Trash Dissections and Human Impacts Math. How can we remove the trash in the bay?

Did you know only 9% of plastic is recycled! It's estimated that (from a 2015 study) that 8 million metric tons of plastic ends up in the oceans EVERY YEAR!

Let's examine how much plastic MCS uses in 7 days...counting...wow...this is A LOT! 568 pieces from 10 people...biodegradable bags anyone? See our plastic challenge for more details...