(Last update: January 2, 2010)
You might want to download our current activity schedule, which your child also has in his/her notebook, and also read our FYI newsletters, which give a more complete description of what we are doing and why.
________________________
|
|
|
| MONARCH BUTTERFLIES -- Sept/Oct 2009 We've had an incredibly successful experience with raising and releasing Monarch butterflies in our classroom this year. Starting with caterpillars collected from local milkweed plants (some just a day or two out of the egg), we have watched each one become a big and voracious leaf-muncher, then transform into a chrysalis, and finally emerge as a beautiful butterfly. Some didn't make it, and we've had a valuable lesson in how many ways things can go wrong -- parasites, incomplete transitions, and mysterious deaths with no apparent cause. But we've released about a dozen adult Monarchs, who will take about six weeks to reach the mountains in central Mexico, where they will spend the winter. In the spring, they will mate and start north, following the northward march of new milkweed growth. Those who arrive back in our area will be the descendants of those we released, as it takes several generations to complete the return journey.
|
|
|
| In this photo, a butterfly has just emerged from its chrysalis, and there is one very close to emergence on the right. The colors of the wings can be seen through the transparent casing.
|
|
|
| OUR TRIP TO THE MERCER MUSEUM -- September 30 We went to the Henry Mercer Museum in Doylestown to see the collection, much of which would have been familiar to our emigrant families and perhaps packed in the wagons for the journey to Oregon. The Mercer Museum hasn't really changed in terms of how things were originally organized by Henry Mercer in the early 20th century. As we stepped into the main floor, the very high ceiling and the heavy items hanging far above our heads were a bit startling to first-timers.
|
|
|
| Corn shellers, anvils, pickaxes, rifles and muskets and pistols, ox yokes, combs and jewelry and other things that might be family heirlooms, old-time clocks, dishes, Dutch ovens, and much more were on our supply list and on display.
|
|
|
| Because we had 4 adults (Joan, Julia, Diane, and me) on the trip, we were able to travel in very small groups, and everyone was able to see as we looked at the amazingly large and cluttered collection. One of the hands-on things kids enjoyed was "driving" a wagon, feeling the weight of the animals on the reins and thinking about all that dust on the dry parts of the trail.
|
|
|
| In the time we had, we couldn't see it all. I recommend it highly for a return visit by families when they have the time.
|
|
|
| We'll be returning to the "Mercer Mile" after winter break when we are studying structures. Henry Mercer was not only an amateur archaeologist but also a pioneer in building with reinforced concrete. His house is an amazing testament to quirky imagination coupled with major wealth. We'll see it in a few months.
|
|
|
|
|
|
| OUR BUDDIES -- Reading and More (December onward) Much to the delight of a number of our class who have requested it, we have (finally) set up times to get together with our friends in Rich & Katie's group. We've been sitting more or less together at assembly, and some of our group spend choice time playing with kids from this lively bunch of first and second graders, but things have taken on a more complete and positive relationship now that we teachers have put it into our schedules.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Our first meeting happened in our classroom. As Rich & Katie's children arrived, we were singing "You Can't Make a Turtle Come Out" and they quickly joined in. One of the things we will try to make a part of every get-together is at least one song. They brought books from their classroom, and many of our students had brought books from home or the library that they had enjoyed a few years ago. Erica's group was off on a trip, so we had both rooms in our building to ourselves. Pairs and trios quickly found spots to sit down and share stories. In the future, we plan to do a variety of things together: cooking, math activities, games, and -- of course -- more reading.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
