Fall themes make their way into Nassau classrooms

The autumn air inspired many local teachers to give lesson plans a seasonal spin.

Long Island schools hosted everything from pumpkin-themed science experiments to apple-related art projects in an effort to infuse classrooms with unusual learning opportunities.

At Bayville Primary School, kindergartners learned about the life cycle of an oak tree by first becoming familiar with related vocabulary words — such as "acorn," "seedling" and "trunk" — and then heading outside to observe the trees in their natural setting. They also identified which were oaks and drew their own versions, to be included in a book they are working on throughout the school year.

"This is part of a larger study of seasons and life cycles," Bayville Primary School librarian Stefanie Lipsey said. "There is no better way to learn about nature than observe it, take notes on what you see and keep track of the changes as they occur."

In Syosset, volunteer firefighters helped high school students drop pumpkins from the top of a fire truck's ladder as part of a physics lab experiment to calculate the rate of gravity. Meanwhile, fourth-graders at Irving Baylis Elementary School used a pumpkin in a lesson about various math tasks — such as measuring the pumpkin's height, weight and circumference — before turning it into a jack-o'-lantern.

Kindergartners at Forest Lake Elementary School in Wantagh explored the properties of various types of apples by graphing their similarities and differences and testing whether they would float or sink. They also assisted with making applesauce by helping to separate the core, seeds and skin.

In Bellmore, second-graders at Charles A. Reinhard Early Children Center created apple-themed artwork, making designs and patterns with paint and apples that had been cut in half.

LONG BEACH: Ugandan pen pals

More than 100 seventh-graders at Long Beach Middle School are learning about Uganda through a pen-pal project initiated by English teacher Jessica Vetter, whose son is teaching in the country during his involvement in the Peace Corps.

The Ugandan theme has spread into the school's other classes — with science classes teaching about the country's nutrition, health classes teaching about its culture and history classes teaching its geography.

"These days, as our world gets smaller because of travel and technology, it is crucial for our students to develop a better understanding of the international community of which they are a part," Vetter said.

LYNBROOK: Young Hero

Raymond Mohler Jr., a Lynbrook High School junior, was one of 25 finalists nationwide for the Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes for making a "significant positive difference to people and our planet," prize officials said.

Mohler was selected for starting the Little Saint Nick Foundation, which he created in 2003. The nonprofit organization provides entertainment for hospitalized children, such as providing toys and books and arranging visits by professional athletes. He also has created teen lounges and mobile entertainment centers complete with iPads, computers and DVD players for sick kids.

The top 15 prizewinners, which did not include Mohler, each received $5,000 to support their work or education.

PLAINVIEW: Space tablets

The Plainview-Old Bethpage Central School District recently was among a handful of districts nationwide named to pilot the use of three-dimensional zSpace tablets in its science classrooms this school year.

The technology allows students, using a stylus, to manipulate, grab and "lift" virtual holographic images off the screen to display their work to the rest of the class, district officials said.

The tablets, which the district debuted last month at Plainview-Old Bethpage JFK High School, will be used for lessons in science, technology, engineering and math, such as those that involve motion, circuitry and Newton's Law.

ISLANDWIDE: ExploraVision

The National Science Teachers Association, in partnership with Toshiba, is accepting 2015 entries for ExploraVision, a K-12 science and technology competition that challenges students to design inventions that could exist 20 years from now.

Participants must simulate real scientific research and create a website to illustrate their concept.

Teams of two to four students compete based on grade levels: primary (K-3), upper elementary (4-6), middle level (7-9) and high school (10-12). Two dozen regional winners will receive a Toshiba laptop for their school and additional technology for themselves.

At the national level, first- and second-place winners will receive United States savings bonds of $10,000 and $5,000, respectively. Entry information is available at exploravision.org. The deadline is Jan. 30.