Day #11 of SLA at Pell: this week is about sky animals so we started w/ bird feathers! Read “Feathers: Not Just for Flying” by @mstewartscience, learned about similes, walked to park & drew birds we observed, then returned to make cupcake wrapper birds! #summer2024 #naturesmarts

And the last part of our insect day: actually building an insect out of LEGOs! We focused on 3 body segments, 6 legs, and antennae! #summer2024 #naturesmarts #howtobuildaninsect

Mid-afternoon walk to Miantonomi Park to inspect insects! Partners shared magnifying glasses & completed an inspection sheet together. We also had a bug jar to observe insects before we released! We found mostly ants! #summer2024 #miantonomipark #naturesmarts @ProjectWILD

Day #5 of SLA at Pell: it’s Field Trip Friday! To the beach at Fort Adams we go! This was my first time at the small but safe beach for 85 students! We collected some shells to identify & sort before it rained on us! (We will return them next week.) #summer2024 #naturesmarts

We had the Roger Williams ZooMobile visit our classroom! After a group activity with food chains and webs, students could view and touch a cockroach, a skink, and a boa! @Rogerwilliamzoo @bps_ri #naturesmarts

An afternoon walk around the pond, led by Ms. Burke, to observe & record items in the four spheres of the Earth. We saw ducks & turtles as well as tiny fish & bugs! @bps_ri #naturesmarts #hampdenmeadows

I haven’t had a “February vacation” in 26 years (senior year of HS)! We built LEGO sets, made a pinewood derby car, took some hikes, watched movies, read books, ran errands and checked off some “to do” items! #teachermom @LEGO_Group @boyscouts #wordsmarts #artsmarts #naturesmarts

Last Thursday of the school year started with this frog on the exterior door of the 3rd grade hallway. He stayed there for quite some time before school! ⁦@anesmustangs⁩ #naturesmarts #adventureavocado #newmascot

A repeating patterns activity with Ms. Carson’s 1st grade class. We used the leftover cereal from our 100th Day necklaces! @anesmustangs #mathteacher #room123 #adventureavocado #naturesmarts #reuse

Earth Day clean-up with Henry’s troop on Saturday morning. We actually began where Henry went to daycare, almost 12 years ago! Lots of cigarette stubs, plastic, glass, and wrappers along this street. #EarthDay #EarthDay2022 @boyscouts #naturesmarts #adventureavocado

Last day in Denver: explored Rocky Mountain Arsenal (saw bison, deer, birds, prairie dogs) and then an Easter lunch and egg painting with my Nana, aunt, uncle & cousin Sarah! #adventureavocado #SpringBreak #denver #naturesmarts #Easter #artsmarts

So many Exhibition photos to share but in the midst of a busy day, I saw this group of Earth Day superheroes! They had gone outside to pick up trash. Thank you to Ms. Dorrel’s kindergarteners for cleaning up our school property! @anesmustangs @ibpyp #EarthDay #naturesmarts

Good to be back in a Smithsonian museum! The new-to-us Hall of Fossils was amazing! Still love the Hall of Oceans. Eleanor not impressed by Hope Diamond. We didn’t see everything, so we will return! #adventureavocado #teachermom @smithsonian #naturalhistory #naturesmarts

ANES Summer Challenge: travel to a new place—Eleanor and I went to the Bronx Zoo! We watch “The Zoo” on Animal Planet, so I surprised her after visiting a friend on Staten Island (also a new place for us) #adventureavocado #bronx #Summer2021 @BronxZoo #teachermom #naturesmarts

ANES Summer Challenge: go for a walk—we walked 2 miles on the Chessie Nature Trail, along the Maury River. I vaguely remember dog-sitting one weekend (16 years ago?) & bringing the dog to this trail to get some energy out. #adventureavocado #naturesmarts #4thofJuly @anesmustangs

Summer challenge: spend time in nature. Our weekend cabin is on the Irish Creek in Vesuvius, about a 30-minute drive to Lexington. Lots of trees, lots of furry brown animals, lots of space to explore and wade in the creek! #adventureavocado #summer2021 #naturesmarts

For Memorial Day weekend, we went to the VA/KY border to see the “Grand Canyon of the South” at Breaks Interstate Park. We hiked for 5 hours on Saturday & saw some amazing rock formations amongst the trees. #adventureavocado #naturesmarts #bodysmarts #hiking #teachermom #virginia

May 20 is Outdoor Classroom (also called Empty Classroom) Day! Here are some ideas! #naturesmarts #outdoorclassroom #emptyclassroom #adventureavocado.