SPIDERS!!!

This week kids were really excited about Halloween!  Don't you think this would be a really great time to learn about SPIDERS???  We read about and looked at lots of pictures of spiders.  We even caught a few and kept them for a short time in our little "critter bin"!  At the end of the day, one lucky friend brought them outside to resume life in a more natural habitat!  After learning about spider body parts, each child designed their own spider using the criteria that make a spider a spider...and NOT an insect!  Each spider needed to have two body parts (cephalothorax and abdomen) and eight legs (insects have only six).  I encouraged the children to also include spinnerets and pedipalps (pincer-like pieces in the front of the spider) as well as several eyes.  The kids were excited to learn so many things about spiders that most grown ups (myself included until I did some research) don't even know!  For instance, did you know that most spiders have eight eyes, but some have only six or four or two or even none?  And did you know that spiders have sensitive hairs on their legs that help them "hear" through vibrations?  Well, we learned more about spiders than I ever thought I'd want to know!  Check out a few of these spider creations and be on the lookout for your child's artwork and spider report!

Officer Anthony Visits!

Today we had a very special visitor.  Hineburg's very own Officer Anthony came to talk about Halloween safety!  We were told it was his first visit to our school so they class tried to be very polite!

Officer Anthony offered to answer any questions they had and they had lots!  They wanted to see all of his equipment...his tazer, bullet proof vest, gun, handcuffs, baton, radio, and flashlight.

They wanted to know if his cruiser had a computer in it like the one we saw in the book we read.  He very patiently answered all of their questions.  At the end, he gave each child a very special Junior Officer sticker, a pencil and a trick-or-treat bag.  Thank you, Officer Anthony, for taking time out of your day to visit us!

Four Winds-Rotting Logs

Yesterday, our class had our second Four Winds nature experience, this time with rotting logs!  Our Four Winds leader, Jen, brought in several rotten logs to explore.

After the puppet show, small groups had the opportunity to pull apart rotten logs and look for creatures living inside the logs.  The children were really excited to get to work!  

They were able to put specimen inside observation jars to share with each other.  

As they worked, they kept a visual journal of the things they found inside the logs.

It was a fun afternoon!  Thank, Jen!