Sunday, November 28, 2010

Writing Across the Curriculum - Language is Everywhere!

Study of the English language is woven throughout the curriculum at Mountain Laurel Montessori Farm School.  Students read and write in every aspect of their studies.  Here is an example of creative writing as part of a Geometry exam. This story was written by an 8th year student.

The Story of the Points

Once upon a time there was a point named Will.  He occupied no space and had no dimension.  He was very lonely and set out on a journey to find a family  He came to the line family.  He joined the line family which had an infinite amount of points.  This line extended infinitely in opposite directions, but had no length or depth.  All of the line family points were mean so he went to find another family. 

The family he came to was called the plane family.  The plane family was made up of a flat expanse of points extending in every direction.  The plane family, like the line family, had length and no depth, but unlike the line family it had width. Will thought that the plane familty was very nice, and he loved that it had width, so he joined the family.

One morning, Will woke up to see that the plane family was playing collinear / noncolinear.  Collinear / noncollinear is a game like musical chairs.  A point will call out a name such as collinear which means that the points must form a single straight line.  Whomever is the last to get in the collinear line will have to sit out. It is the same for non-collinear.  When the point calls out noncollinear, you must make sure that you are not lining up with any other points, and whoever is lining up will have to sit out. 

During the game, the points got ino a big fight.  Half of the poinst thought that Will was out of the game, and the other half thought he was in.  All of the points were so mad that they split up into different planes: one called Plane 1 and the other called Plane Elephant.  Points would refer to Plane 1 and Plane Elephant as the noncoplaner crazys. 

One day, Plane Elephant wanted to spy on Plane 1.  They sent 5 of their points out in an infinite straight line in the direction where they thought Plane 1 was.  They called this mission (which failed) Mission Ray.  Points were sad that this mission failed, so they sent 5 more points out infinitely in the opposite direction. They called this Mission Opposite Ray. 

The Opposite Ray mission succeeded and they saw that Plane 1 was soing horribly.  There were angles everywhere.  Angles are hated by points.  Young teen points put them up kind of like graffiti.  They are like a bad version of rays, because like rays, they share an end point and extended infintely in opposite directions.  But, unlike rays, they are not straight (plane family points like to be straight). 

The Mission Opposite Ray points came back to Plane Elephant and reported the horror they found.  They sent the 5 points back to talk to Plane 1 about becoming one plane family again.  Plane 1 agreed to come back and they vowed never to leave again, extend infinitely, and to always be straight, creating a line segment. 

The End

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Northern Virginia Daily prints story about the Farm School

Home on the farm

Student-run school combines studies with agriculture

By J.R. Williams --jrwilliams@nvdaily.com
Printed in the The Northern Virginia Daily Newspaper on November 12, 2010. Click here to read the story and see the photos: http://www.nvdaily.com/lifestyle/2010/11/home-on-the-farm.php



Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Students Study Simple Machines

The Mountain Laurel Montessori Farm School students pictured here are getting deep into applied mathematics through their study of Simple Machines. 

The students have been studying various levers, the wheel and axel, the Archimedes screw, and inclined planes. They have been designing and building machines to make life easier around the Farm, and at the same time working out the mathematical equations that explain how the machines work.

The students recently took a field trip to an operating mill to see how a simple machine enables humans to life thousands of pounds to turn a grind stone.

This study of simple machines is an example of an Occupation Project.  Occupations are project-based science classes.  The term Occupations comes from the idea that young adolescents are exploring their identities, testing out what it means to function in the social and economic world of adults - what might I be when I enter this society?  How might I contribute?  What might my occupation be? The projects are based on the real needs of the Farm School Community and on real occupations (beekeper, engineer, botanist, etc.) and change each term.

Sunday, October 24, 2010

Toddlers and Adolescents - a magnetic attraction


Dr. Maria Montessori noted an affinity between children in the 1st plane of development (toddlers) and the 3rd plane of development (adolescents).  Toddlers and adolescents seem magnetically attracted to one another.  It is magical to observe.

Monday, October 18, 2010

How's the Water?

Mountain Laurel Montessori Farm School 9th year Biology students investigate the water quality of the school's pond.  

The students used a kick-net to collect samples of aquatic macroinvertebrates.  We found damselfly and dragonfly nymphs and even a mayfly nymph!  Mayfly nymphs will only live in very high quality water with lots of dissolved oxygen.

This aquatic study is part of a species inventory the students are undertaking of the entire property to determine the level of biological diversity of the farm.

Friday, October 8, 2010

Students Bicycle from DC to Harper's Ferry

Bicycle Odyssey
Mountain Laurel Montessori Farm School students and guides cycled from Washington, DC to Harper's Ferry on a 3 day bicycle and camping trip.  
Here's part one of the travelogue:

Georgetown

We love simple machines

Experiencing the power of levers at the locks

The mighty Potomac River

Taking a break to admire the geology of Great Falls
The teepee tent
I love this tent!

A peaceful evening on the river

A Volunteer Park Ranger helps us with the maps

Eggs cooked on the Coleman stove for breakfast by the culinary crew


Carrying gear 0.5 mile to the second camp site


The only hill: from the trail to the camp
Ready to go on day two



Sunday, September 26, 2010

Montessori Farm School on Rappahannock Farm Tour!

Mountain Laurel Montessori Farm School students led tours of the farm and school, demonstrated how to spin and dye wool, served fantastic homemade food, and helped young children paint pumpkins during the 2010 Rappahannock Farm Tour.



Friday, September 24, 2010

Join us for 2 Fun Filled Days on the Rappahannock Farm tour: Sept 25th and 26th

Join us Saturday and Sunday
Mountain Laurel Montessori Farm School is a stop on the Rappahannock Farm Tour again this year.  
Join us any time between 10 am and 5 pm Saturday and Sunday, September 25th and 26th.

Ongoing Events:
Student led tours of the farm and school all day (meet the pigs, chickens, and sheep!)
Paint pumpkins

Schedule (both days):
11:00-1:00  Lunch: Homemade Pork BBQ (made with Farm School pork), quiche (made with Farm School eggs), apple crisp, mashed potatoes and more!

10:30  Learn to spin wool into yarn.
11:30  Learn to dye yarn
12:30  Introduction to Montessori Farm Schools
1:30    Learn to spin wool into yarn
2:30    Learn to dye yarn
3:30    Planting seeds in the Hoophouse for the Hungry

Monday, September 20, 2010

Hoophouse for the Hungry - Students Work Together to Make Fresh Food a Reality

Filling the raised beds with topsoil
Students from Mountain Laurel Montessori Farm School and Rappahannock Public Schools' Farm-To-Table program worked together last week to move a mountain of topsoil and gravel into the Hoophouse for the Hungry.

Connecting the hoops
The Hoophouse will be used to grow fresh, nutritious, produce for Rappahannock Food Pantry clients during colder months of the year.  It will also be used to grow plant starts in the spring so local residents will be able to start their own gardens.

Raking the topsoil smooth
The Hoophouse for the Hungry is a wonderful intergenerational community project bringing together middle school students; Master Gardeners; professional builders, landscapers, gardeners and chefs; and community volunteers.

Friday, September 10, 2010

Old Rag - Traditional First Day of School

Mountain Laurel Montessori Farm School Students begin the 2010-2011 school year with our traditional hike up Old Rag.  It was a beautiful day and we were rewarded with spectacular views.

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

A True Community

This morning at Mountain Laurel Montessori Farm school 15 children and youth (current students, incoming students, graduates, and siblings), 2 parents, and 2 staff members gathered for community work.  Community work is a weekly event - students, siblings, parents, staff members, and neighbors gather voluntarily, taking time out of their summer vacations, to work together at the Farm School.

While we worked very hard moving our chickens to fresh pasture, weeding the garden, mowing paths, turning the compost, and cleaning the beekeeping equipment, it was truly joyful work because we worked together as a community.

Building community is hard work and a long term process.  It takes dedication by all included.  Joyful days like today remind us what good work it is.

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Mountain Laurel Montessori MOVES

First Lady Michelle Obama is traveling the country encouraging people to move: to walk, run, play, just get out there.  
Mountain Laurel Montessori Farm School 
students MOVE every day!  
We work hard, play hard, and study hard outdoors - 
in all kinds of weather.


This photo was from a muddy spring day's soccer game.  As we hear about the childhood obesity epidemic in the United States, lament the occurence of "nature deficit disorder" among our country's youth, or worry that people don't connect farms with food, I like to look at this photo.  There is pure joy there.       

Thursday, June 24, 2010

Students Perform Music and Drama at Coffeehouse


Mountain Laurel Montessori Farm School students perform at the final coffeehouse of the year. The evening included original songs, drama, guitar, drums, duets, solos, group songs, and more.  The beautiful early summer night was perfect for the outdoor concert.

Sunday, May 23, 2010

Lambs for Sale!

Mountain Laurel Montessori Farm School is selling 5 beautiful Border Leicester ram lambs. 

They are pedigreed with papers. Born in March.  They have been hand raised by the students and are very gentle.  Would be great for 4-H or another setting where they will be around children and youth.

Border Leicester sheep are a dual purpose breed: good for both wool and meat.  These lads would make great breeding stock.

Their fleeces are gorgeous: two black, three white.

Call for more info: (540) 675-1011 or e-mail mlmfarmschool@earthlink.net

As part of the Microeconomics curriculum, Mountain Laurel Montessori Farm School students manage the money that is made through sale of farm products, as well as the expenses generated by the farm.  Raising, breeding, and selling the sheep are part of learning about economics hands-on.

Monday, May 3, 2010

Open House! Visit the Montessori Farm School Friday and Saturday (5/7-5/8)

OPEN HOUSE
Mountain Laurel Montessori Farm School
7th - 9th grades
Friday, May 7th, 9 am - Noon
Saturday, May 8th, 10 am - Noon

23 Sunny Slope Ln, Flint Hill, VA
(on 522 / Zachary Taylor Hwy, just North of Flint Hill)

You are invited to visit Mountian Laurel Montessori Farm School; Find out for yourself why students love going to school here!

Mountain Laurel Montessori Farm School is:

  • An academically rigorous, college preparatory curriculum

  • A strong community that fosters mutual respect among students and adults

  • A safe place to explore self-expression through the arts & sports

  • An environment that encourages a balance of freedom and responsibility

  • A great place to grow into a confident, capable, young adult

Education for a Sustainable Future
(540) 675-1011

Sunday, May 2, 2010

Backpacking the Massanutten


Mountain Laurel Montessori Farm School students backpacked 22 miles in the Signal Knob area of the Massanutten Range in VA.
In addition to helping each other to accomplish a physical challenge, the students learned many other skills.

Here, they learn how to light a one match fire: 


Brandon McCrary of Weasel Creek Outfitters taught us about the geology and the Civil War history of the area:
Students also enjoyed the plants and animals of the mountains:

Friday, April 23, 2010

The Farm School Live On The Air!

Congratulations
to students Ursula Bell and Zoe Pettler
who did an outstanding job in an interview on the local radio show The Valley Today!

You can listen to the podcast online here:
Scroll down and click on
Thursday, April 22nd, 2010: Mountain Laurel Montessori School Staff

The students, along with Farm School Director Susan Holmes, were interviewed about upcoming events and recent happenings at Mountain Laurel Montessori Farm School.

Thanks to Mario Retrosi for inviting us to be on the show.

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Harnessing the Sun's Energy

Mountain Laurel Montessori Farm School students made solar ovens from simple materials: cardboard, aluminum foil, plastic, and black paper.  They applied their knowledge of the properties of heat and light in their designs.  We hope to really get cooking by June!

The solar ovens were part of the Solar Energy Occupation Project (project-based science class focused on the physics of energy).  This project helped us to prepare for the installation and use of the new greenhouse.