I survived the zoo!

What a super fun day I had with Zack and his two buddies.  We headed over to the North Carolina Zoo in Asheboro, NC super early this morning and got home just as planned.  We spent a great deal of time walking, looking at animals, and just enjoying a beautiful day!  I think the boys enjoyed all of the statues because we had to stop at each one and take a picture.  So be prepared, there are a lot of pictures!

Zack and his friends with the bison

We did see some wonderful animals and learned quite a bit, since that is what field trips are all about, right!?  This was such a great way for the kids to learn.  I think they got more of it than sitting in a classroom. If only everything could be learned this way!

So, we saw a lot of animals, like the ones below.

Alligators and Crocodiles

Cougar, the school's mascot

Gorillas

Giraffe

Had some fun!

Trying to pick up a "rock"

Pretend flying a copter

Ice Cream!

But for me, I enjoyed the bonding!

So, now after a super long day, I am ready for some much needed rest!
Until next time!

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Field Trips

Being a reading specialist doesn't always allow for field trips, but I have been lucky this year to go on several.  A few weeks ago I went to Washington  DC with our sixth graders.  I love going there and enjoyed showing them around a little.  Knowing this will probably be their only chance to go there made it more important to make it enjoyable.

Yeseterday I went with the third graders to Thomas Jefferson's Poplar Forest, his retreat home.

One of the best things about this home is that it is under restoration.  I have been going there for my entire 15 years of teaching, and every time you see something different.  I went last summer, and today, not even a year later, there has been more restoration.  How cool is that!  If you ever get out to Bedford County, VA, stop in at Poplar Forest.  You will be amazed!

The kids had a wonderful time too.  They loved looking at all of Jefferson's ideas but were quite intrigued by the "necessaries".  Thomas Jefferson had an eye for detail, and he did not skimp on anything!

They also enjoyed going to the "ghost house" which is just a structure put up to look like the old slave houses.  The funny thing is the "for sale" sign in the background.  Since the grounds back up to a neighborhood, you get to see these kinds of things.   The teachers joked that the slave quarters might be what is really for sale!

After the tour, the students went to the Hands on Tent, where a carpenter bee landed right in my lap!  Wow!  They made bricks and got to "dig" for artifacts.  This was all by team effort, and they had a blast!  Here they are making bricks.

I don't think any of them will be brick makers, but they sure did have a good time doing it!

I enjoyed going on the field trip and just being another adult.  I had no planning to do for it, so it was quite enjoyable!  I just hope I get to go on more in years to come!

Andrea

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