Mysteries of the trunk

--Revealed!

What's in the box?

It's filled with clues to the mystery place(s) Fluffy and I traveled.

To investigate this trunk, we assembled a team of experts: botanists, zoologists, economists, anthropologists, historians, geographers, and a meteorologist.  Each expert would be searching for evidence related to his/her field of expertise.

  

 Then, we opened the trunk to reveal its contents.
 Aren't you itching to dig in and find out what's in there?

Each child was invited to remove an item from the trunk. 

  

As we examined each object, we asked ourselves, "Of what material is it made?"  "How is it used?"  "Which experts would be interested in this object?"  "What information does it give us about the mystery place?"  Experts were then invited to identify the item and determine in which category the item should be placed.  

Very often, more than one expert was interested in the same object.  The economists, the anthropologists, and the zoologists were all interested in a giraffe sculpture constructed from strips of reused soda cans.  A "Lucky Bean" necklace was interesting to the botanists, the anthropologists, and the economists.  The zoologists, the economists, and the anthropologists were all interested in the Mopane Worms ("Ewww!").  The economist was interested in the Coke can, but the historian noticed that the can featured an important event: The World Cup.  Where did this event recently take place?

The children began to see connections.  A catfish bone tells us something about the zoology of the area. It also gives us an idea of the geography of the area.  Similarly, fibers from a Baobab tree tell us about botany and also give us an idea of the climate.  The children began to realize that one aspect of a place influences another.  The people's art reflects the zoology of the area.  The botany in the place influences the materials used to make baskets,

As students investigated the trunk by sorting objects and asking questions, we developed a “web” on the board. 

We finished up with tea time, sampling sips of herbal "bush tea," also known as "red tea" or rooibos.

Special thanks to Jackie Bohdan, children's librarian and fellow traveler, for sending three children's books after Fluffy and I returned!

Election connection!

"I can't WAIT to vote!" excitedly breathed a child on the way back from lunch. 

Music to my ears. 

As a child, I spent hours coloring at the feet of women engrossed in League of Women Voters meetings.  In our family, not voting is pretty much sacrilege.  I must admit, I am hoping to pass on the conviction.

As citizens of Room 15, all of the children received Voter Registration Cards.  After signing the bottom of their cards, the children joined the long line at Precinct 15, excited and ready to vote.

Each child signed in and received a Kids' Favorites ballot. 

After registering their choices by secret ballot, the children cast their votes in the ballot box.

Results?

Kids' Favorites

Musical Artist: Justin Bieber

Fad: iPods

Websites: http://www.cartoonnetwork.com/ and http://www.disneychannel.com/

Movie: "Iron Man 2"

TV Show: "Spongebob Squarepants"

Electronic Games: Nintendo DS and PSP

What We're Reading:

Granddaddy's Gift by Margaree King Mitchell

Rookie Read-About Holidays: Election Day by Patricia Murphy

Vote! by Eileen Christelow

Lions and elephants

and giraffes! Oh, my!

Happy Halloween!

And happy birthday to the lovely Mrs. D!

(Yes, we dutifully celebrated Pencil Amnesty Day today in her honor.)

A parent reported that when she asked her son if he enjoyed the Fall Festival Friday, he replied dejectedly, "Yeah, I guess so, but Ms. Frizzle didn't come."  It's become a bit of a tradition for me to send Ms. Frizzle in my stead (oddly, right around Halloween).

Luckily, she was available today!  Some funny stuff happens when Ms. Frizzle substitutes for my class.  One of my colleagues was in hysterics after school, telling me, "I saw Ms. Frizzle getting out of her car and I thought, 'Look at that strange substitute.  Oh, my gosh!  What is she WEARING?  Look at THAT dress!  And THAT HAIR--is that a WIG?'"

Ms. Frizzle does make some interesting fashion choices . . . and she delights in the details. 

One student quietly admired, "Oh, I LOVE those earrings."

Another commented under her breath to a friend, "Where did she GET those shoes?"

Some of the children were skeptical about their strange substitute. 

"You laugh like Ms. S." 

"I think I see some blond hair peeking out." 

"Hmmm...You sound just like Ms. S." 

"How come you know our names?"

"Ms. Frizzle doesn't wear glasses."

Most of the children indulged her, though, with "Ms. S___ . . . I mean, Ms. Frizzle" and "I think I see the Magic School Bus!"

Ms. Frizzle is not just fun and games.  She's all about learning.  She brought along a Mystery Trunk, filled with artifacts that provide clues to the mystery of where Fluffy and I traveled over the summer.  Stay tuned to find out what was inside!

Books to love:

The Magic School Bus Lost in the Solar System by Joanna Cole & Bruce Degen

The Magic School Bus Inside the Earth by Joanna Cole & Bruce Degen

The Magic School Bus In the Time of the Dinosaurs by Joanna Cole & Bruce Degen

The Magic School Bus Inside a Hurricane by Joanna Cole & Bruce Degen

The Magic School Bus On the Ocean Floor by Joanna Cole & Bruce Degen

The Magic School Bus Inside a Beehive by Joanna Cole & Bruce Degen

The Magic School Bus Inside the Human Body by Joanna Cole & Bruce Degen

The Magic School Bus Explores the Senses by Joanna Cole & Bruce Degen

The Magic School Bus and the Electric Field Trip by Joanna Cole & Bruce Degen

The Magic School Bus at the Waterworks by Joanna Cole & Bruce Degen

The Magic School Bus & the Science Fair Expedition by Joanna Cole & Bruce Degen

The Magic School Bus and the Climate Challenge by Joanna Cole & Bruce Degen

Ms. Frizzle's Adventures: Ancient Egypt by Joanna Cole & Bruce Degen

Ms. Frizzle's Adventures: Medieval Castle by Joanna Cole & Bruce Degen

Ms. Frizzle's Adventures: Imperial China by Joanna Cole & Bruce Degen