Zoo Pic's

no small task is watching kids watching animals


fun in the tropics


Emma and Aaron watching and enjoying the gibbons


coral reef from above (from right to left, Susanna, Jordyn, Mrs. Gauger)


inquisitive porcupine fish


watching the feeding of the fishes in the coral reef


We had toads in the classroom, this is definitely a frog.
He looks like he sat out in the sun and began to melt.


Evidence of Mikayla


so many reasons to visit the zoo


Painted reflections


Korbyn pointing out a bowfin


Jordyn and Bri at the wolves


watching the wolverine (rather upset wolverine)


Emma checking the map


Keeping up appearances











We got to watch the dolphin show. It was amazing that the dolphin didn't pop that ball with his teeth. He would even swim underwater holding it in his teeth.













Tide pool exhibit (left to right and in focus, Aaron, Korbyn, Nolan)


We separated into different groups while at the zoo. I found out going through the pictures that I didn't have many images with Mikayla and Andrew - but they were there.


capturing the movements of the day (and one more shot of Andrew)


Another shark touching attempt (another wet t-shirt sleeve) (from the left, Michela, Susanna)


Touching sharks, or playing in the water - either was fun. (Michaela)

Terrarium drama

This week, due to the generosity of a student, toads were introduced to our classroom terrarium. Overnight we discovered that toads are efficient predators. They reduced the population of bugs in their new environment to the large katydid the first day. The class continued to supply bugs as they were able, but I am quite certain that the toads need to be out and about getting ready for hibernating. They were released today down near the lake. Upon return to the classroom there was a significant reduction in interest in the now ravaged terrarium.
I underestimated the amount of ongoing interest there would be in the bugs in the corner. When there is any lull in the classroom activity or an perceivable movement amongst the bugs, at least four people will rush to the corner to see just what it is that is going on. Due to their careful watch, they have been able to witness the demise of a couple of the bugs. This is, of course, 'the point' of the whole project. It is good for them to be curious and observant and interested. It is probably even good for them to move across the room periodically as long as they return to their seats just as quickly.
We are looking to evacuate the terrarium for the winter however. I suppose a few bugs could stay, but I wouldn't expect them to live long. We would appreciate a caterpillar choosing to spin up its cocoon for us to observe, but as of yet, the caterpillars have merely disappeared (consumed by crickets?) and have been quartered in separate containers.If the kids continue to memorize their verses, the 'memory tank' will continue to gain components and we will, soon enough, have a whole new world to observe.

Collecting Specimens

We went to collect specimens to bring back to the classroom to practice our observation skills. Each student was assigned to collect one leaf, one critter (they were hoping for frogs), one flower, and one seed. We had read some of the important tools a scientist uses are his/her senses. We would be writing sentences about the smells, sights, touches, and sounds that we encountered while gathering our specimens. These sentences may refer directly to the specimen, or to the environment (specifically smell) in which we found it. This practice stems from the field notes that would be necessary for a scientist's collections.
The class as a whole was optimistic that they would find a critter more interesting than the 'moth in hand', and they were determined to gather their necessary specimens as close to the time that we would be leaving as possible. An unfortunate encounter with a bee shortened our time in the park and we returned to the school in a bit of rush without each person's quota. We were able to complete the assignment by sharing critters and heading out to the playground to bring in dandelion leaves. The class continued to impress as they wrote their observations down and demonstrated continued enthusiasm. Our critters are now housed in a fish-tank terrarium in the classroom. With the addition of a substantial wolf spider to the cricket/grasshopper population, there has been much classroom interest (concern?) regarding the whereabouts and actions of all of the tank's inhabitants. If I could only be as interesting as a spider I would have no worries regarding maintaining interesting lessons throughout the day.All ready to go. (left to right: Nolan, Korbyn, Andrew, Aaron, Emma, Mikayla, Jordyn, Michaela, Susanna)

We ate snack when we arrived at the park. It was a little early, but I figured that once wrist-deep in mud, we wouldn't want to be eating with our hands. The kids said that walking out on the dock felt like sailing. They didn't even mention that it would have been sailing though something that had died last month. (the bay was putrid)

looking for frogs (Nolan, Aaron)

Decisions being made regarding whether everyone should be looking in precisely the same spot.

The girls found mud as they walked along this lakeside path.

After damselflies (Nolan, Korbyn)

Such teamwork!

Checking to see what they've got.

and then - a bee ended it all. (The victim handled her first bee sting quite bravely - the bee did not survive the encounter.)