Mrs. Cahn’s kindergarten at Orange Beach Elementary School is exploring Christmas around the world and using their five senses. They looked for objects with their eyes, sounds with their ears and smelled mint when they made peppermint candy canes.

They touched with their skin and discovered sticky oranges, sharp clove seeds and smooth cinnamon bark when they made pomander balls. They tasted sweet icing and cookies when they constructed gingerbread houses.

Mrs. Cahn’s kindergartners are learning to estimate and measure in math. They get a picture of an amount in their head and then compare that amount to a new set. They decide if there are more, less or about the same number of objects. A “good guess” is an estimate.

The third grade has been learning lots of information about different landforms around the world, as well as how to help save and conserve our natural resources. The Alabama Coastal Foundation will be coming to do a presentation on Tuesday to teach them how to “Be a Bay Buddy!”

Students will learn about basic conservation principles such as water and energy conservation, recycling, and putting litter where it belongs.

The third grade will also be taking a field trip to the Mobile Exploreum on Wednesday to learn more about landforms. The exhibit and IMAX film to be shown is called “Kangaroo Kraze,” and will focus on the life and landforms in the land down under — Australia.

Students are still learning their multiplication facts and doing a fantastic job. As a specific factor is mastered, they get to add a body part to their personal snowman, in hopes of having a completed Frosty by Christmas break.

Kindergarten students in Mrs. Brantley’s Sea, Sand, and Stars classes have been studying shells. They are practicing sorting, grouping, and graphing their data.

First grade has been studying soil. After collecting soil samples, they investigated the contents of their soil and recorded their findings. Dinosaurs and fossils has been the focus of second grade’s study. Students have measured and compared the length and width of sauropods, elephants, and humans. After learning about track ways and fossils, they made sponge fossils using salt as the minerals to harden the “bone.”

Third grade has completed their study of rocks and minerals. They tested 12 minerals to determine streak color, luster, light, magnetism, hardness, and shape. They have concluded the study by making crystal snowflake ornaments.

A mixed bag of science continues for Mrs. Allen’s upper elementary at Sea, Sand and Stars. Fourth grade classes are identifying and studying the ecology of plankton, fifth-graders are engaged in the study and dissection of squid, and sixth-graders are investigating parameters of water chemistry relative to aquaculture.

Field trips continue this month at Sea, Sand and Stars with third grade classes visiting from Robertsdale Elementary, and fourth grade classes from Christ the King and Magnolia School.