Last week I completed my first year with Muddy Sneakers. I have learned more this year than in the passed 16 years of being an educator. Not only have I become a better naturalist but I have learned a lot about myself as a teacher. Below are some highlight of this winter/spring season.
A small turtle found in a pond in February.
The students were asked to build a mountain during their Landform expedition. This creative student made a human mountain in her hair. After the mountain building, we had to create a natural disaster that would effect the land. We made an earthquake on the "hair mountain" and we gently shook the student. It was awesome.
During silent reflection time, which I always incorporate in my lessons, this student created an anemometer to check for wind speed. It was during the weather expedition which he was very in to. A teacher told me that in the classroom this student was very reserved and didn't participate much. Look what he did when taken into an outdoor classroom! Nature inspires creativity.
A group found this scorpion during an SC expedition on a terrestrial ecosystems expedition. It was hiding in a rotting log. They are only found in a small band in the upstate of SC.
Accidental twinning on site
A chaperone took several photos of me while I was teaching
Eastern Fence Lizard
Teaching terrestrial ecosystems
A creative boat made during a forces and motion expedition. We build boats, calculate speed, talk about mass and properties of water
This was a lesson that explains the difference between a mixture and a solution.
These were examples of mixtures
I don't think you can find a better classroom
Dupont State Forest
Luna Moth
Tiger Moth
A workshop on wild edibles
I'm so happy that my kids love and respect nature too.
Ready for work
Dusky salamander
Mayfly nymph we found during aquatic ecosystems
A group of spiderlings
We thought they were eggs until we looked closely. Oh, the amazing things you can find in the woods if you just take the time.
This was cool! It's a freshwater lamprey
During our expedition to McDowell County (lower elevation) they were having the 17 year cicada hatch. It was the coolest!!
They were dropping out of the sky.
I also had lizard on my butt
The kids were laughing their heads off
Cute little fence lizard
An American Toad
This cool minnow was found during a stream survey
Northern Watersnake
Eastern Box Turtle
I didn't find this with Muddy Sneakers. Kirsten found it on a field trip. A friend identified it as a hammer head worm. An invasive species in NC
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