Science and Pineapples?

We have begun a project in science that is intended to help students develop a scientist's curiosity and openness to the new and the unexpected. Today, we began by looking at a common fruit -- the pineapple. Students read the Wallace Stevens poem, Someone Puts a Pineapple Together, and then worked to begin developing their own "Stevens" style poem about a common, everyday object. Over the next couple of days, we will share the poems, and then move on to an exploration that revolves around looking at an object "as if we had never seen it before." Someone Puts a Pineapple Together By Wallace Stevens 1. The hut stands by itself beneath the palms. 2. Out of their bottle the green genii come. 3. A vine has climbed the other side of the wall. 4. The sea is spouting upward out of rocks. 5. The symbol of feasts and of oblivion. 6. White sky, pink, sun, trees on a distant peak. 7. The lozenges are nailed-up lattices. 8. The owl sits humped. It has a hundred eyes. 9. The cocoanut and cockerel in one. 10. This is how yesterday’s volcano looks. 11. There is an island Palahude by name – 12. An uncivil shape like a gigantic haw.* *haw = a spring flowering shrub

Happy New Year!

"HAPPY NEW YEAR!" That was the greeting that I heard the principal give to a very cute first grader today, and it really is true -- this is the beginning of our new year together. It was a full day as we met one another and started to get acquainted; a day to put away supplies and organize lockers and begin to learn new routines and customs.

I really enjoyed meeting my new classes. Each student seems kind and gentle and interesting. I can't wait to see where the year will take us all as we work and grow together. The weather was kind as well -- cooler than it has been the last few weeks. The new ceiling fans, installed in my room during the summer, kept the air moving and the sunlight filtered so that we stayed pretty comfortable throughout the day. All good. We'll reconvene again tomorrow and dive headlong into new ideas and new things to learn.

Happy new year, indeed.

Remodeling

School will start next Tuesday. I always love the beginning of school. It is exciting to come back together with a whole new year waiting to be discovered between us all. It is my habit to work really hard to get my classroom all set up -- warm and welcoming and clean and shiny for the new students who will find it on that first day morning. This year, however, things are a little different. The classroom has been getting a remodel over the summer. There is new paint and new carpeting. There are new lights and new ceiling fans. The old closets have been torn out to make room for new cabinets and shelves. A lot of people have worked and donated their time and treasure to make it happen. It is going to be wonderful... But it isn't quite done yet. Soon, but not yet. So, all the classroom supplies and materials are stacked in the hallway... The new fans are in and working... The new lights are freshly installed. The space for the cabinets is all ready. The plan, at this point is to meet on Saturday morning with an absolutely wonderful group of volunteer parents and students from my last year's class, and work to get things in and unpacked. I am so grateful for their willingness to pitch in and help. I am not surprised -- they are the very best! One way or another, things will be ready for Tuesday, and we will share the adventure of another year. I cannot wait!

Zedonk?

I bet that many of you saw the news reports on this very rare occurence... It seems that a donkey and a zebra, living at a wildlife preserve in Georgia, mated and produced this cute little female 'zedonk.'

Officials at the Chestatee Wildlife Preserve, where the little crossbred was born, are as surprised as anyone by the very rare coupling. "The animals have been running (in the fields) together for more than 40 years, but this is the first time that this has happened here," says the preserve's founder. "We never suspected that they (had mated), so it was quite a surprise when the zedonk was born." With the distinctive black stripes of a zebra on her legs and face, and the narrow head of a donkey, the wildlife preserve's newest resident looks to be a perfect hybrid. When it comes to temperament, however, it seems the five-day-old takes more after her dad, preserve general manager C.W. Wathen told the Gainesville Times: Usually, a foal will lay over on its side, sunning itself. But the zedonk sits up at all time -- like she's on alert looking out for predators. She's still got some of her wild instincts. Chances are the baby zedonk will never meet anything quite like her -- the infertile hybrid is actually quite rare -- though she'll have no shortage of companions at the Chestatee Wildlife Preserve, which is home to a variety of animals from around the globe.

Wind Power

Finding ways to produce energy without harming the planet is an important challenge for our world. On my recent trip to Denver, I took this photo of a wind farm in Kansas. It was pretty impressive.

Some questions for you:

1) What are some advantages of wind power produced energy?

2) What are some problems or disadvantages of this kind of energy production?

3) If wind turbines like these could be built in your neighborhood, would that be a good thing or not? Explain.