When Lauri Bradt asked me to teach first grade Science this year, along with my other positions,  I was overjoyed. I have such a passion for hands-on, Biblically integrated, real-life learning. After all, that’s what Science class is all about!  Needless to say, I had no idea how exciting it would really be until we started Distance Learning!  

Teaching Science class through Distance Learning is definitely a challenge, especially when we are studying plant growth!  But I have always loved a good challenge! We started two weeks ago, monitoring our school-grown brassica plants. Each child planted his/her own mustard seeds before we left the school building.  Since then, I have been recording videos twice every week of the students’ plant growth! The students took their plant journals home and they record the growth of their plants and draw what they observe each time they watch my Science class video. We have watched our minuscule mustard seeds grow to tiny sprouts; our tiny sprouts grow to small seedlings, and the seedlings grow to larger vegetative plants with stronger stems and large leaves.  The students are excitedly waiting with anticipation for the budding and flowering stage of our brassica plants! Our discussion of germination and pollination will come to life as they observe their plants flower and reseed.  

In the meantime, the students have searched their yards for emerging buds, sprouts and seedlings of their own. It was so exciting to see the signs of life that each child discovered, as they took pictures of the plants and sent them to me.  As I created a video of a montage of all the plants and emerging life they found, I was reminded of the sovereign God of creation who is still in charge. Even in these unsure times, Spring is here; life continues everywhere around us; God continues to work in his nature.  Grace sent me a picture today of a perfectly sewn robin’s nest, filled to the brim with delicate, blue, speckled eggs with baby birds just waiting to awaken to a new day. The same God who is watching over those bird eggs is caring for each one of us, holding us in the palm of His Almighty Hands.   

Written by: Ingrid Veldhuis, 1st grade science teacher