The Butterflies Are Coming!

30 Thank Yous!

Thank you to my students who made my birthday a blast on Tuesday. It's not easy turning 30, but I managed since I had 20 loving kids around me! Thank you all for the sweet cards (bought, homemade, and rapping ones!), the birthday wishes, and the generous gifts. I have to showcase a very clever idea for you all to steal for the future. The LaJeunesse family was quite crafty and filled this decorated vase (thanks Ellie) with 30 pens, pencils, and markers (every teacher's dream). Then they made the pens and such become stems for paper flowers! What a beautiful bouquet!

P.S. My suggestion is IF by chance you find yourself in hot water in middle school, make one of these for your teachers! The will be thrilled and will probably be a little more flexible! It never hurts to try!

Creepy and Crawling to Beautiful

The older I get the more I am amazed by the science you can discover in nature. This is why I LOVE teaching science (this has not always been the case). I am thrilled when a child changes their bad opinion about science into a "this is cool" attitude. Late last week, our larva arrived (as you can see in the picture). Not much to look out, quite boring in fact. We left them alone for the weekend, and by day five (go ahead, look at the picture again) they are larva no longer. The caterpillars are scooting around their "home," and are allowing us to have a sneak peak into this wonderful springtime ritual. What a great way to learn! A big thank you to the Martin Family for sponsoring our butterfly experience and to Mrs. Crowell for organizing this bug extravaganza each year for our students!

Earth Friendly Easter Baskets

We put an Earth friendly twist on the traditional Easter Basket today. Students used shredded recycled papers as their grass, put Earth friendly tips in their eggs, stuck in a CFL light bulb and energy tips (thanks to the City of Tallahassee!!), a pot and seeds, and of course candy! What a great visual to share with our families the importance of making a change in our lifestyles. We appreciate all the donations and I hope that you all "hop" to making Earth friendly changes at home!

My Peeps are Mathematicians

Today my little peeps used their math skills to solve some "fluffy" math problems. They had to use some measurement to figure out length and volume peep problems. We also took a Peep factory tour at www.marshmallowpeeps.com. They had the chance to design their own one of a kind Peep color/flavor. Maybe one of their flavors (i.e. coffee, rainbow, strawberry swirl) will be in your Easter basket of the future!

Welcome Back!

I hope that you all enjoyed your spring break and were able to relax and rejuvinate with your family. Being married to a former farmer, you learn to appreciate rainfall (although this week was a bit extreme). However, it is great to see all the flowers in bloom and the green leaves popping out around town. Tallahassee is truly lovely in the spring. Even Sis can't get enough of heading to our balcony. I look forward to the next couple of weeks with my students as we learn about our precious planet, inventions, and a country far away.

Our Trip to Turkey Hill Farm

I don't think a school bus had ever ventured down the dirt road that lead's to Farmer Herman and Miss Louise's Turkey Hill Farm, but on Tuesday the wheels on the bus went round and round. We made it, and boy was it worth it! We were blessed with a beautiful day, and we were treated to a wonderful tour of an organic farm. Most of our students had never set foot on a farm before, and all of us are pretty far removed from the agrircultural process. As American's we love food, but tend to forget the men and women that nuture the crops that make it to our plates.

Farmer Herman did a fabulous job leading us through the rows of fruits and vegetables, introducing us to the chickens, showing us the fruits of fungus known as mushrooms, and the overall science behind organic farming. I hope that the students took home an appreciation of farming and the knowledge behind the process. Turkey Hill Farm taught us all to slow down and cherish the small things in life, like honey bees buzzing, a new sprout breaking through the earth, and fresh baked cookies courtesy of Miss Louise.