Our North Branch Adventure
What a day!  Each and every Nature Adventure has been magical and wondrous.  This one was no exception!  Well worth all of the cancellations.  It was a crisp and clear day; complete with light snow that blew off the tree branches like sparkly cloud showers; not to mention reaping the rewards  of the Ice on Fire celebration, complete with igloos and pine tree mazes.  Another bonus was mixing up our classes.  I had the pleasure of interacting and visiting with students and parents I don't know very well, if at all.  The whole morning was about connection with each other and with our surroundings.

I particularly loved the fact that there was very little need for management or instruction.  The learning, the self regulation, the social components, the connections (both academic and social) were intrinsic and magical.  
Food for thought...

Mrs. Dostie, Mrs. Wrigley, and our class were part of the morning group. Amy tells us how to be safe and to listen for the river otters.

We combined our classes and then divided them into three different groups: The Mice, The Moose, and The Monarchs.  These are The Mice preparing for departure.

I led The Moose.  Our first stop was the Education Barn and The Critter Room.  This turtle has been there since the Paleolithic era.

Some of us faced our fears and touched snake skins.  This guy wasn't so bad, but that "Albino Snake" ... Jeesh!  Emily M and I stepped out of our comfort zone and acquainted ourselves with him/her.

This guy was happy to see us.  Can't you tell?  Look at that smile!

This was the first group of "Critter Room" tourists.  They learned a lot through observation, wonder, and independence.

Nora curls up like a deer in the tree maze.

Here, we head off on the nature trails to "The Deer Forest."

Tracy, a fantastic parent volunteer, snuggles with the moose, by the fire.

Whilst sitting by the fire, we snack on local cheese, local bread, and fresh apples.

While snacking, Amy regales us with Native American Folktales...

...and some personal stories about camping adventures and mice!

O.K.  I Instagram-ed this guy.  How cute is he?!

They have so much character and expression!  I can't help myself!!!

Instagram-ed this guy too, but it didn't do him justice.  

November Happenings and Quotes

Halloween Night!  Clearly, I have issues...

Taydence loses a tooth!

Seth explores odd and even number concepts.

Happy Birthday, Samuel!

Sophie gets creative with geometry concepts and patterns.

Dylan created a "person" with his geo boards.

Samuel and Ethan read aloud at our All School Assembly.

We created a poster that shows what our C.A.R.E.S concepts we are practicing.

Samuel, Tre, and Alexander sort and group frogs.

They offered the following explanations when asked about how they grouped their frogs:

"By mothers and babies"
"The dads are the ones that have don't have babies"
"Maybe some have been adopted"

"The God of the Sun" - Ethan and Maxine

" I figured out six ways to make 8" 

"I found seven ways to make 10"

"There are a couple of patterns is this one"

Dave Keller spent some time reading our class book ("Charlotte's Web") to the class.  The kids love it when family comes in to read.  All are welcome. 

Dylan brings his mom in for a "share".  He chose  "Where the Sidewalk Ends" , selected a few of his favorite poems , and had her share them with us.  

Pajama Day!

We ended our day with "Charlie Brown's Thanksgiving" - a classic.  A perfect end to a great day.

I visited Halle at her school.  We had dinner in Northampton with her friends.  Due to a hotel reservation mix up, I got to spend the night in a dorm.  According to Hal, it was "the nicest one in the school".  I'm thinking she meant it was the cleanest.

This is her roommate jumping at an event (Hunter/Jumper).
Sadly, Halle dislocated her shoulder (again) during basketball practice and won't be able to ride or play ball for a while.  Luckily, she doesn't need surgery!  Just lots of intensive physical therapy.

This morning we did a "thankful greeting".  Kids had to turn to their partner, say good morning and something they're thankful to that  person for.  Some quotes:  "I am thankful that..."

-you are sillly

-you are in our class

-you love science and you're my friend

-for being nice, artistic, and my friend

-you are really brave

-play tag with me

-you are smart

Lastly, we ended our short week sharing with each other what we've learned as readers and writers during our Daily 5 and FIT.  

-I can read longer books- Ethan

-I can read really well- Idalee

-I'll be a great reader when I grow up - Taydence

-I can read chapter books- Emily and Sienna

-We can write about anything- Maxine

-I write so well it just about makes my brain pop - Trevon

-You can't judge a book by it's cover- Sophie

They slay me...

Happenings and Quotables

Mrs. Giffin joins us at Hubbard Park for NAP and shares a lunch time story with us about ducks, a hungry farmer, and what the ducks must do to be safe.

After learning that our debris huts will need a straight spine, ribs, and skin,  we split into two teams  and worked together  to build our structure.  

This is Team Mrs. F and Mrs. Giffin.  The hut it behind them.  Each child brought a unique talent and/or perspective to the construction.  More than that, they worked together as a team to create something they could step back and appreciate.

I gave Sophie a chance behind the lens.

This is team Angela, Lyn, and Zack.  This team also built a wonderful structure (behind them).   

The two teams then got together and were given an assignment: they had to notice what was alike  and  different  about each of their structures.  Team Angela, Lyn, and Zack, used lots of bark for their hut.  Ours had lots of moss.

A magical day.

Some writing from our NAP journals:

At NAP we heard a story about some ducks and an old guy and he was nice -Taydence
We built a debris hut and I like it - Tre
My debris hut had soss, leaves, a back bone, ribs and skin - Sienna
I loved that we made a debris hut, and I loved that it looked so cool and it was fun to build, and because my mom came  -Emily
It was freezing like pretty icicles.  The fort was pretty like you.  There was fluffy moss -Zaida
We made a debris hut and it was cool when we went inside -  Leo

Help!

In an effort to decrease the noise level in our uncarpeted classroom (aka: echo chamber), I'd like to stick tennis balls onto the bottom of the desk and chair legs.  They'll allow the kids to quietly move in and out of their chairs.  If you've any old tennis balls left over from the summer or some your dog might have abandoned, we could sure use them.

Thanks!

A Wonderful Community!

Thank you to all of your winter clothes donations.  As part of our Community Based Learning, our class took part in collecting and donating over 400 winter clothing items made available, for free to those in need for the annual "Karen Kitzmiller Coat Drive".

In an effort to celebrate and extend the learning, each child donated an item for our classroom celebration. We cleaned our room, our desks, made a centerpiece, arranged food platters, and set a beautiful table.  Family members came and spent a quiet afternoon engaged in conversation with both kids and adults.  We then went outside to enjoy the afternoon sun.

It was the perfect ending to a very busy week and a wonderful way to build community both in and out of the classroom.

Thank you...

Angela, Zaida, Maxine, Owen, and Emily share food and conversation.

Alahna helps herself to some cider from the table the children set and decorated.

Alexander shares some food and a book with his grandparents.

Seth's Dad shares a story with Seth and Trevon.

After playing outside, Dan entertains the children with a wonderful and animated reading of "Scaredy Squirrel". (These books are hilarious.  Run, don't walk, and grab a copy from the library or one of our many local bookstores).