Mokos4-5

A group of magnificent kids learning together at Seaforth PS!

[Anish Moonka @anishmoonka]

Finnish scientists trucked in real forest dirt and grass and laid it over the gravel at four daycare yards. They let the kids dig around in it for a month. The blood tests came back with changes the researchers hadn’t expected to see so fast or so clear.

The study ran at ten daycares in two Finnish cities with 75 kids aged three to five. Four of the yards got the forest treatment: about a tennis court worth of soil and grass laid over the gravel, plus planters and peat blocks the kids could dig and climb on. Three others stuck with their normal gravel yards. The last three were daycares where the kids were already visiting real forests every day.

After one month, the variety of bacteria living on the kids’ skin shot up, and the kind that helps train the skin’s immune defenses jumped the most. Their gut bacteria started to look like the gut bacteria of the forest-visiting kids. Their blood showed more of the immune cells whose job is to keep the body from freaking out at harmless stuff like pollen and peanuts, and overall inflammation dropped. The kids on the plain gravel yards showed none of this.

Childhood asthma in the US doubled between 1980 and 1995. Food allergies in kids jumped 50 percent between 1997 and 2011, then jumped another 50 percent between 2007 and 2021. And peanut allergies in one-year-olds tripled between 2001 and 2017.

The Finnish researchers think one of the reasons is simple: kids today don’t get dirty enough. 37 percent of American preschoolers now spend an hour or less outside on a normal weekday. Their immune systems are getting trained in environments stripped of the bacteria humans have always lived around.

Aki Sinkkonen, who led the study, put it in plain words: “It would be best if children could play in puddles and everyone could dig organic soil.” The Finnish government is now helping pay for daycares across the country to make the same changes.

[Jonathan Haidt @JonHaidt]

If you come across someone asserting there is "no scientific evidence" that social media is causing harm, please send them this link.

We lay out seven lines of evidence, including RCTs, natural experiments, and testimony from victims & perpetrators of harm

https://t.co/lZsNalKZE5

[Mokos4-5 @Swan4_5]

@MrPitbull07 Pop and chips

[Jonathan Haidt @JonHaidt]

"Early data on the effects of school phone bans confirm what teachers and administrators have long suspected—that phones in the classroom were the primary culprit behind bad behavior and low engagement."
From @juliejargon at @WSJ

https://t.co/LigL4Jd0ns

[Ausable Bayfield @AusableBayfield]

Learn more about proposed regional consolidation of local conservation authorities and other #LocalConservation news for #YourWatershed in our latest e-newsletter: https://t.co/8eOoD31XCn

[Mokos4-5 @Swan4_5]

@sizzle_sarah 3 - finished high school in 1991

[CKNX News Today @cknxnewstoday]

A Huron County man has been charged following a months-long sexual assault and luring investigation and OPP believe there could be more victims. https://t.co/dZaiOkMrGH

[Mokos4-5 @Swan4_5]

@doom_cassandra @normsworld Factor in increased rates of absences by students and limited home support for kids who need extra practice with skills. If kids don’t come to school…

[Mokos4-5 @Swan4_5]

@normsworld Anyone who thinks current EQAO scores say anything about education is fooling themselves. Comparing the test from 15 years ago to last year’s would be a much more interesting exercise!

[Mokos4-5 @Swan4_5]

@mpershan @DKThomp Perhaps it’s the parents engagement with social media helping to decrease their interest in robust educational outcomes for their kids? I’m not sure if I’m expressing my idea correctly.

[Mokos4-5 @Swan4_5]

@Travisdhanraj Well, we are all wondering where the EQAO scores from last year’s test are. Why aren’t they being released?

[Mokos4-5 @Swan4_5]

https://t.co/1eoqGbEwMQ

[Mokos4-5 @Swan4_5]

Moving my classroom acct over to insta, which coincides nicely with my name change! If anyone wants to keep following the adventures of grade 4 at SPS, the class created the handle @swan_silly_smarties which fits perfectly! @yourschools

[Mokos4-5 @Swan4_5]

Some very happy kids enjoying our annual playday with their class buddies! The weather cleared just in time! @SeaforthPublic @yourschools

[Avon Maitland District School Board (AMDSB) @yourschools]

The Métis Nation is known for its distinct fiddle-playing and dancing. They make their fiddles out of the wood that is available in the area including birch and maple. The jig is learned from watching and dancing with family, friends, and community members during celebrations.

[Mokos4-5 @Swan4_5]

Fabulous day @uturnranch The kids learned about horses, orienteering, and archery. Dallas is the frog whisperer. Here’s one of his finds. Liam is a master bull rider @SeaforthPublic @yourschools

[Ausable Bayfield @AusableBayfield]

During Pollinator Week (June 17-23, 2024), check out Living with Nature native plant guide. Read it now for free: https://t.co/ElOpEVUmSb Or, get a printed copy (limited number available) for only $5. Contact Rosalind to get your copy: https://t.co/3FdpLkf385 #PollinatorWeek

[Mokos4-5 @Swan4_5]

@Hopkins_UTES @SeaforthPublic @yourschools Of course! I’ll dm you tomorrow with my info! We are also making solar cookers soon ❤️

[Mokos4-5 @Swan4_5]

On Friday we explored potential and kinetic energy by making cup cars! So tricky and so fun! These kids rocked it! Thanks Mr. Tam for helping source the hex nuts for us! @SeaforthPublic @yourschools

[Mokos4-5 @Swan4_5]

Perfect day for outdoor Jenga! @SeaforthPublic @yourschools