Signs of Spring

The JK students finally got to see some signs of spring on their nature walk last week.We heard birds chirping and singing,saw earthworms crawling on top of the damp ground, observed tree buds in all different stages of opening, noticed purple flowers in full bloom, and many other signs of spring. The spring rains had subsided enough that we could walk on the trail and observe many different kinds of animal tracks. We even found lots of rabbit fur in a pile. We also noticed some signs of erosion that the torrential rains had caused, and even found turkey tracks in the soft mud. There was also a pair of mallard ducks leisurely swimming in the roadside ditch. Please check out the individual teachers' blogs for pictures. I was so busy with everything the children were finding that I forgot to take pictures. The 4th graders finished their poster boards and presented their findings at the Science Fair on Wednesday, May 1st. The students were most impressive with the knowledge of their topic of investigation and did a beautiful job presenting it to their teachers, parents, and friends. Great job, 4th graders! The 2nd graders went to Camp Minikani on May 2nd and 3rd. Guess what? It rained almost the entire time except for the 1st morning. But the children and their parents were real troopers and had a marvelous time despite the weather conditions. The campers made clay pots, flower prints, UV bead bracelets, a wigwam, went on a nature hike, and played games. A good time was had by all, and it is hard to believe that another camp season is completed. Where did this year go? My 1st grade friends will be finishing up their year of science with an earthworm study. They will make observations of their earthworm, and then design several experiments to test the worm's reaction to light, dark, wet, and dry. Students will also be looking for adaptations that the worm uses to survive.