Final Post!

Floating Mat!

I wasn't quite sure what Bio 340 would be like or what would be expected of me. I wasn't quite sure what the set up would look like or what the expectations of me were. I am sure that Bio 340 was the most engaging and exciting education class I have taken at GC. This class showed me how funnel and focus intense student energy into something educational. This class showed me that even things that are hyped up by society to be disgusting are just trying to live their lives and are not that bad (ticks, snakes, coyotes...). This class showed me it is okay to come back with a group of students that are a little dirty. Most of all, this class was an exercise in attention. It was an exercise in paying attention to what all your students are doing, what is happening in the environment, what is in the environment that may heed your attention (which ties back into what the students are doing), and what you are doing. 

More Floating Mat!

Snake Show!

Final Blog!

I started today out with some great adrenaline for the final session! Stacy Squirrel and I partnered up and we had an awesome hike. The kids were so excited and the parents were asking just as many questions. We even got to practice our Spanish in some explanations! The sun was great to us and it was a perfect closing hike.

And what followed after, was just as awesome. In the midst of the trampoline like ground, with water all around me, I was not sure if I enjoyed mat hiking. But upon completion, with my soaked shoes and my sweaty face I felt accomplished and unbeatable! Hiking on water was about the coolest thing ever.

Beyond today, I know that I will miss my time at Merry Lea and will treasure the skills it has taught me. Each day I acquire more ideas for the class room as well as knowledge about the outside. I have also been reminded of the sheer joy of playing! All month, after classes I get a chance to play outside with my friends and it is just great. This class as a great reminder that you are never to old to play!

Thanks Paul!

Thursday Third-graders!

On Thursday, we had a huge group of third-graders for an exploring nature hike. It was a great 'almost end' to Merry Lea, because it felt classic. Returning to the exploring nature hike, like we started with, seemed to give the experience great closure. We ran it solo and I felt in control and connected to my energetic group.

We started the hike with one of my favorite observation ideas: taking photos! The kids take turns making each other into cameras in order to to share a beautiful sight with someone. Then about half way through I tried something new and had the kids find an observation spot! We sprawled out across the shoreline of onion bottom and the students shared their stories of peaceful spots and great discoveries! We even ended the hike with the classic predator/ prey game.

 Walking the trails with third graders and answering their numerous questions, I was also able to reflect on how much I had learned and how much the trail was changing. Even though, we were learning so much about the area, it was a great reminder that the learning never stops.

Pictures!

I've had a lot of trouble getting my pictures to post.  So here they all are in one blog!

1.  Kayaking.  I used this as my cross training workout for track.  It was both a workout and relaxing.  It was nice to take advantage of a free afternoon at Merry Lea.

2.  Kayaking with Emily was really fun.  It was great to catch up.  We were on a mission to find the goslings.

3.  We found the goslings!  They were so cute.  Definitely one of my favorite parts about Merry Lea.

4.  Listening to Stacy talk about Don, while Emily waited to talk about Obsy.  I love how engaged and excited the kids were about the snakes.

5.  Ryan got Sippy out early because we had never used her in a snake show before.  Don was at the farm.  She must have really liked him because she knotted herself into a heart on his lap!  

6.  I held Sippy for a long time after the snake show.  She was so chill!  I am over my fear of holding snakes!  For now...

7. We found a turtle with our first group today.  The students loved it!  Unfortunately we only found it with the first group and not the last three.

8.  This girl was awesome.  She asked a lot of questions and was really into everything.  She was with the central noble seventh graders.  She wanted me to take a picture with her.

9. Learning how to peel trees.  This was really neat.  We were at the point where he wasn't sure how well it would peel.

10.  It ended up peeling really well.  This is such a cool process.  It was really fun to watch.

11.  The day Ryan first discovered bed straw.  Technically, Paul started it all.  Such a proud face after successfully sticking bed straw on every member of our class.

12. Paul collecting methane gas.  Despite seeing this multiple times, I still think it is really cool every time.  And the students love it!

13.  We found a baby turtle after the swamp gas on my last day.  Under the tree on the hill ryan almost stepped on it but I noticed it before he did.  We named it Troy.  He was really, really fast.  And adorable.

Ride on Nature's Trampoline!

Starts with an S

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txG5XPD1GBQ&feature=youtube_gdata_player


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0JDc7v2-Sk&feature=youtube_gdata_player

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5rV6nVuruY&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Forever Young

So, here it is. My last day of school ever. I am not a processor, so this moment is not hitting me as dramatically as it may seem. But 18 years in school! That is a LONG time, and I do not really know what is next for me.

What I DO know is that I had a great final class of college. The group today was awesome, with lots of little smarties. We had fun hiking and I finally got to see (and almost catch) a snake. We also saw lots of other kinds of critters, and learned a lot together. It was a good way to end the class.

Hiking to the mat was also awesome. I got soaked, but I loved it all. I could have never imagined something like that even existed.

Lastly, I made lasting friendships and great memories. I really really loved the "Forever Young" song, and even teared up because it hits a little close to home now that college is over. I'm tearing up right now writing this. Thank you, Paul, for a wonderful learning and growing experience. I will take what I have learned and continue staying forever young.

Last Day

Today was a great last day!  I totally enjoyed my last group.  I had all boys and Dan!  I went to school with Dan which was nice to see him out in the real world, and the kids were so excited about everything.  They wanted to explore everything, and the best thing that I could do for them was give them magnifying glasses.  They loved them and used them to look at snails and cool red velvet mites.   They loved going dipping and finding the water beetle larva was a big hit.  Although my low light was the scare of the wild iris.  I know that they are ok but the idea that these little guys trusted me and I led them astray is a hard pill for me to swallow.  Although that experience has showed me how much I need to be more careful about things and to trust my gut.  Other than that it was a great last day and our scat rap went so well!
Another thing I would like to talk about is my spot that I had observed.  I decided to watch the prairie because I was curious how fast it would turn green.  I was amazed how when I first started watching it was completely black.  By today it is almost all green with a few traces of the burnt ground.  This amazed me because I had no idea that the ground could be replenished so quickly.  I also started to notice animal traces.  Some days I would sit there and see foot prints of a deer and some days I wouldn't.  One time the spot I had chose had some damaged grass, meaning either a large animal had stepped on it or a smaller animal had ran through it.  It was eye opening to see something like this and it helped me appreciated nature even more.
Over all this was a great May term and I enjoyed all of my experiences.  Can't wait to take what I have learned and apply it into a classroom.

My Spot

My spot to see change was on a path between Reith Village and the Farmstead. I decided to focus on the cattails in the area. When I first came to this spot I thought that I would be able to see many changes, especially because everything seemed to be quite dead when we came. I hypothesized that more green would be coming to the area. And I was correct! Green (narrow :) ) leaves began to pop out of the water and by the end of our time at Merry Lea I could not believe that they had not been there just three weeks before. They had massive growth in such a short time. I also noticed that the dying cattails really changed and began to fall into the water to decay. The heads on the cattails were mostly brown when we came, and overtime they became much fluffier and cotton like. Eventually the heads were practically gone, and blown away. Only skinny reeds were left to remind me of what had been just days before. It is so simple and so incredible to focus on a life cycle such as this. It really reminds me of my own life and what importance I have to this world.

Gasland

For the documentary project, I watched Gasland. This frightening film helped me solidify my understanding of the fracking that has been taking place in many parts of the United States. I was completely alarmed to see images of water faucets lighting on fire, and wells blowing up in backyards. I tried to imagine what it was like to not be able to have clean water at my own home, and the best example I could think of was my time during Peru. However, during that time we could boil the water and the harmful bacteria would simply be killed off. When natural gas is in the water, the process is not nearly as simple or as easy.

I am appalled that this process can be done so simply in the United States when really hardly any research has been completed on behalf of the government to recognize the harmful effects of such a practice, not only on humans but on the natural environment. I hope that we can stop this horrible pollution contributor before it's too late. Natural gas is not clean. It is, in fact, the exact opposite, especially when we know that over 500 chemicals are used, many of which are carcinogens.

I believe that a documentary like this one is a great example of it being able to be used for education. I learned a lot myself, and I can see how it is an interesting and intriguing format for which to teach kids and adults about the problems our world is facing. Seeing something in movie form can be more inviting and familiar to families and children who wouldn't necessarily research and explore problems naturally.

Day 10: Last Day

It was 3:17 when lightning struck and woke me up. I knew that if the storm didn't go away soon Chandler Elementary School would cancel their field trip. There was still hope and when I awoke at 8:00 a.m the sun was shining and the male birds were in search for girlfriends! Chandler walked in through the Learning Center doors with the same excitement that the others students had done before them. Paul made Jiminy Cricket Brownies which were delicious! Emotions were hard to control as I saw smiles on the students as they found macro-invertebrates in the vernal pond. The joy was continuous as the students used their senses to explore nature. I didn't want the hike to end but I know soon that I'll be placed in a classroom and similar experiences will be repeated. The day ended with the floating carpet which was a representation of the semester. Why? Because first of all, we could of canoed to the floating carpet but instead we made our own trails. The whole semester we could of read articles about the different types of plants and animals that live and grow on Merry Lea but instead Paul implemented activities that are were meaningful (E.g. floating carpet). Second of all, trying to get to the floating carpet wasn't easy and many of us found our own way there and some of use helped one another. We all reached the floating carpet and that's what happened with the semester. We all made it to the end of the semester together, even if some of us missed the pallets and got our boots wet. Some of us had different ways to instruct the students and some of us needed help from others. I just want to thank everyone for a great semester! And most importantly I want to thank Paul for being an Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaamazin' teacher!

What Qualifies as a Superhero?

Finally, a school I haven't been to!

19 kids from Warsaw Christian.

Since we didn't have too many kids today, we all had our separate areas of expertise and just helped each other when it wasn't our turn to be the experts. For the hike, Abby and I had 3 girls and one dad chaperon. We found all sorts of different tracks! Deer, coyote, possum, and raccoon; all in the same spot! Another highlight of the hike was finding a northern water snake curled up in a bush. I was going to catch it, even had it on a stick, but wimped out because it turned towards me and got in striking position. (later on I found out their bites don't hurt...) I then waited for Paul and once he got there he swam away. He must know Paul and is scared of him!

Later on, we went canoeing, made a lesson plan, then went to JRs for a treat. We talked about our favorite superheroes...which brings me to this:

Little rant about superheros:

Batman, Captain America, and Ironman are NOT superheroes!

Superman, Spiderman, and the Flash ARE superheroes!

Batman is just a rich dude who knows how to fight and wears a mask. No superhero abilities.

Captain America doesn't count because he was injected with serum to become a buff human being. He was killed by a sniper bullet if you read the comics. Doesn't qualify as a superhero in my books.

Ironman is the same as Batman: a rich dude with a suit. No supernatural abilities.

End of story.

Oh, and today is my last day...

Day 9...3rd graders!

Today, we went back to my favorite program...Exploring Nature! The morning started off with a great hike to the Learning Center. Once we arrived, we went on a little walk around in the wilderness to take a look at some new plants that have come up since we were there last and talk about plants we know about and how they have changed in appearance. It was awesome seeing the amount of new life around the woods.

The Trillium flowers turn pink as they grow old so we are now seeing different colored flowers!

  

Geraniums are blooming all over the forest!

Even the May Apples have flowers now!

Today, I was given a group of 11 third graders excited to learn and loaded with questions. Most of the students had so many questions that I could not even begin to answer them all. Once this happened, they didn't hesitate to get a sample of the item and then give it to Paul when he came around because they were positive he would know the answer. (and he always did!)

When we were nearing the end of our hike, we encountered a few slithering reptiles! There was a black rat snake laying in the sun on the side of the dirt road. This one was cool because he was finishing molting his skin. We could see where he hadn't gotten the skin off of his face yet. Then, we ran in to Alejandro Apis, who was carrying a garter snake they found! Paul went over and picked up the black rat snake to show the kids. We ended up letting him go right away but not before the kids had the chance to name him Paul! We ended up keeping the garter snake for the snake show and then we released him back into a moist place. I got the opportunity to do the snake show today with Aspen Aspen and I had a lot of fun.

One of the main reasons the snake show is a favorite of mine is because so many people are scared of them and I want to teach everyone about how great they are and that they do not need to be scared of them. I also love teaching them how to treat them so that I can be sure they will be nice to them if they find them in the wild.

After class today, I was the only student walking back so I decided to take advantage of my time alone to do some random hiking. I walked very slowly and even went on a few trails that I hadn't gone on before. I was able to see nature in a totally different way. Many of the animals did not hear me coming since I was quieter than our usual large group walking through.

  

Above is a picture of flock flowers and on the right is what I believe is a black cherry tree.

When I took the trail lettered C, this is where I ended up! It was beautiful!

Then I realized I was on the opposite side of Onion Bottom that I am usually on! 

             
                     Huge fungus of sorts on a tree.

I have really loved coming out to this bench and sitting. If I am extremely still and quiet, some awesome animals come out! 

It's so hard to believe that this prairie was black just 3 weeks ago when we got here!

We ended our night with a group bonfire! It was so much fun hanging out with everyone this May Term...couldn't have asked for better people to share this experience with!

Historical History

I decided to run back to Reith on a trail that I had not yet had the opportunity to explore without others yet. I discovered this water pump that was located a little bit off of the trail. I could have kept running on past rather than treading off the path, but I decided to brave the Poison Ivy in capris and get a closer look. This fascinated me partly because I love the look of old metal. I was also fascinated because it made me wonder what people used the land I trod on prior to my knowledge. Sure, I know it was used for farming potatoes, onions, and mint. I have relayed that information to students countless times. However, that slice of history is just one part of the total time of existence. Land is not merely an inanimate boundary. Rather, land had people that depended on it. Even without human intervention, the land thrived. Critters thrived on the land. Vegetation thrived on the land. I wish I could know the background information of the places I trod. 

My Spot...by the purple tree :)

At the beginning of this May Term, I fell in love with this purple flowered tree. I decided to take pictures of it and document the change over time. In the photos, not only can you see the change in my tree, but also the change in the background! 

Species List!

So, I had been keeping a notebook journal and writing all the species down as I found more. I then took a picture of the pages in my journal and now I'll post them here! I cannot believe how much we have learned!