Outdoor Discovery Center visits Hamilton El.!

Today we were fortunate to have Mrs. Ruth Cronk from the Outdoor Discovery Center visit our classroom.   She started out reading us a book called, "The Looking Book", in which two boys are sent outside by their mother with special glasses to really see the world outside!   The boys discovered many wonderful things in nature in their own backyards that they never noticed before!  The end of the story is neat because the boys tell their mother that they really do not need the special glasses anymore to see nature, and plan to go out again for more discovery the next day!

Next, Mrs. Ruth took us outside to collect leaf litter and soil samples.  When we came back inside, the children were each given a hand lens to observe the samples up close.  She explained a LOT of neat things about leaves - how and why they change colors, types of trees they came from, terms like 'serrated edges', the veins of leaves and the job veins have, leaf clusters, and much more.  From the soil samples, we discovered an ant, a worm, we felt and smelled the soil, discussed how worms eat soil and fertilize it.

Then, Mrs. Ruth recorded our observations on a chart paper for both the leaf litter and the soil samples. A lot of neat vocabulary words came up and were explained to the children, such as habitat, characteristics, decay, minerals, and more.  We even learned that animal poop is actually called "scat"!  (If you did not know, anytime kids are allowed to discuss poop in the classroom, it becomes even more interesting!)

Finally, we recorded our observations on a paper that came home today.   It was very neat to see the detailed drawings of the children.  Look for those in your child's mail today!   Enjoy our pictures and a special thank you goes out to Mrs. Cronk and the Outdoor Discovery Center for the visit and lesson!  We look forward to another visit in December!

Mrs. Ruth introduces herself to us before reading the story "The Looking Book."
After reading to book, she introduced many new vocabulary words to us.

We go outside to collect leaf litter and soil samples.

Mrs. Ruth explains different things to observe with the leaf litter and soil samples.
She then talks about how to use a hand lens properly.

Observing the samples.

More observing.

Mrs. Ruth shows Josie and Keegan about serrated edges on a leaf.

Mrs. Ruth shows Jordyn and Koltin and Carter something interesting from their sample.

Mrs. Ruth records our observations on chart paper.

The children record their observations on a paper to take home today.

Olivia and Brandon record their findings.

Josie spent a lot of time on her leaves with serrated edges!

Tommy and Vera add creative touches to their observations.