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Have you ever felt the ground beneath you shake and roll during a strong earthquake, braced yourself against the force of 78-mile-per-hour winds, or perhaps even dared to lay down on a bed of nails? Well, that is exactly what the adventurous 2nd grade class did this Thursday! Seems dangerous at first glance, but it was completely safe because they got to experience all this at the Discovery Cube located in Orange County.

Their exciting day began with a demonstration all about plants. Each student got to debate and then decide on the BEST location to plant their vegetable or fruit tree on a mock farm as they learned all about what it is that makes plants grow well. Once they had decided, they followed the path that produce takes when it's harvested by visiting a mock grocery store and recycling center, which showed us a bit about where our food comes from and how recycling works and can make a difference.

Later in the day, the young explorers ventured into the sea lab, where they were able to get up close and personal with a bunch of different marine creatures, including starfish, anemones, and even sharks! Their afternoon also included a dinosaur quest, which helped bring creatures from long ago to life. Don't worry though. Not literally! 

Adding a touch of engineering and a flair for the creative, students even had the opportunity to design their own unique cars and paper airplanes, putting their creations to the test. Does your car drive? Is it fast? Whose airplane can fly the furthest? What a wonderful way for children to experience problem-solving and STEAM in a different environment!

Overall, it was clear that our 2nd graders all had a GREAT day exploring a wide variety of engaging and hands-on activities, making some unforgettable memories, and putting some of the things that they have been learning about in class to the test. Can you guess what a good portion of them reported was their favorite part of the day? Sharks? Earthquakes? Cars? Nope! Interestingly, when asked to pinpoint their favorite part of the day, a surprising number of students exclaimed that the best part of the day was surviving the bed of nails, a “daring” feat involving an astonishing 5,000 nails. Someday they'll remember that moment when they learn more about weight distribution and pressure, but for now, they are amazed at surviving such an injury-defying adventure!