MAY!?  

There are great things that happen in May (Student of the Day starts!) but I'm not quite ready for it.  As it turns out, I better GET ready.  Whew.  It has been a crazy month.  April has FLOWN by and it was fantastic.  
Group A has traveled through most of the U.S. (we will hit the west coast in a few weeks) and have jumped into our Watery Earth unit by spending a day with WATER in it's many forms.  Our field trip on Thursday was OUTSTANDING.  It rained, in one form or another for most of our day...but it didn't stop any of us from learning a TON and having a ball.  They took their Watery Earth notebooks with them - writing in our portable yellow classroom - and taking notes about things we saw, learned, investigated and experienced.  Dave Szczygiel is an Ann Arbor treasure.  He couldn't be any more perfect for his job as an environmental teacher for the Ann Arbor Public Schools.  He knows everything.  It's totally true.  After 15 years of working with him (and going to camp as a kid with his sister) I am constantly amazed by his depth of knowledge and love of all that is outdoors.  What did we do?  Ohhhhhhh so much!  
•  Portage/Base Lakes Sewage Treatment Plant
•  Loch Alphine Sewage Treatment Plant
•  Lunch at Dexter-Huron Metropark
•  Ann Arbor Water Treatment Plant
•  Barton Dam

The amazing Mr. Kangas led our group on a interesting tour of the Portage/Base Lakes Sewage Treatment Plant.  He explained the process of how water enters his facility and then takes 100 days to work through each part of the plant before leaving clean.  He was a trooper, as it POURED pretty much the entire time we were there.  Thank you Mr. Kangas!

Our Loch Alpine trip was shortened as it was closed for the day (for a funeral :(  ).  We spent time at the edge of the facility learning about the cool honeycomb pieces that help clean the water that is processed through the plant.  Our lunch at the metro park was, well, wet.  Many parts of the park are under water (see photos!), but we managed to eat in a covered pavilion - and despite the rain and wind, it was delightful.  We chatted about are morning and then kids searched the surrounding areas for deer antlers.  Bonus:  the heated hand dryer in the bathrooms were a big hit in the middle of our cold day!   

After lunch, we headed back to Ann Arbor and visited our water treatment plant.  What a cool place.  Due to high security, Ann Arbor 4th graders and school staff are the only people permitted to visit during this trip.  The kids were led on another interesting tour (by Mr. Szczygiel) through this enormously important Ann Arbor facility.  It was amazing.  As was the weather when we left.  For five minutes.  There was a large dark cloud traveling east...quickly.  Once we reached Barton Dam, the rain had stopped, and ice pellets began to fall.  Pure Michigan. If you haven't been to Barton Dam - you should go.  It's gorgeous.  Kids not only learned about the dam's history, several of them managed to conquer a few fears as well.  Walking across the dam is an amazing (and high) experience.  I congratulate those who were fearful and walked across that dam with determination and gusto.  As we walked back to the bus, our two fisherman managed to find fishing lures (2!) and the rest of us found Leroy.  He's a rather robust crayfish who had the misfortune of taking a walk near the shore as we walked by.  Dave picked him up and gave us a lesson on crayfish.  One of the BEST moments of the day came next.  "Can we keep him!?"  they chimed. Now, we all know what the answer will be, right?  "NO!"  Instead, they heard "I think he'd make an outstanding addition to the lobby fish tank, don't you!?"  29 kids nearly lost their minds.  They were so excited.  As you enter our building, please take a moment to visit Leroy Barton in the lobby fish tank.  As with all of the tanks occupants, he will be released to his homeland in June.  =)

Enjoy these pictures! 

The search for deer antlers begins... 

Will we find any deer?

 Found one!  =)  

 Mr. Szczygiel takes command of his moving classroom.  He comes equipped with not only knowledge and experience, but wonderful pictures, examples and charts.  

 The wonderful Mr. Kangas.  Thank you for your hard work!

Oh deer!  This poor deer was in the woods near the Portage Lake facility.  Another opportunity to learn about nature...and to say "That's interesting!"

Reason number 234,274,283 I love field trips.  Did you know we have Freshwater Jellyfish in the the Huron River?  Dave is simply amazing.  He found these cute little jellyfish while fishing in August.

During our adventure, we'd take time to sit on the bus (while it wasn't moving) to write.  We wrote while it was moving too, but we often took time to write our thoughts, observations and lists in our notebook.  We were also challenged.  They were asked to write a list of at least 20 living organisms found in or around the Huron River.  A group from Bach School got 130 things on their list.  Not to be outdone, Robert and Zach (from Mrs. Saenz' class) got 132 with the help of their friends.  Lucas and Kwame worked terribly hard on their lists...wahoOoOo!

Loch Alpine

We chose an above water pavilion for lunch.  =)  The river was not only high, it was quite rapid.  Yowsa!

Reason #239,298,598 I love field trips.  The wonder of learning and experiencing life outside of the classroom!  Priceless.  

Top secret!  Entering Ann Arbor Water Treatment Plant.

The man is a teaching machine.  It was raining sideways while he was telling stories, relaying cool information and explaining a variety of things on the dam.  Outstanding!

Leroy Barton

"Can we keep him?"  That's what you always hear when you find, catch or stumble upon something alive.  This is the answer they got "I think he'd make a great addition to the fish tank in the lobby, don't you?!"  29 fourth graders nearly lost their minds.  They were BEYOND excited.  If you get a chance, stop in and see Leroy in his new home.  He'll reside there until June, when he and his other fish tank pals are released back into their habitat.  

Argh!  I have worked on this blog several times today!  It seems to not want to post this!  I have labeled these photos with charming text three times...it's not taking.  I'm going to post this for the fourth time and hope it works.