Mrs. Cronk's final ODC visit

Today we were both happy and sad to see Mrs. Cronk from the Outdoor Discovery Center.  We were happy because we love when she visits and teaches us so many neat things about animals and nature, but we were also sad because it was her final visit this year!  

Today's lesson was about Spring changes outdoors.  Enjoy the photos and be sure to read the captions so learn all about our special time with Mrs. Cronk.   A big thank you to Mrs. Cronk and the ODC for spending so much quality time with us this year!   We truly learned a lot and enjoyed every moment with you!

Mrs. Cronk began our lesson by asking the kids to 'brainstorm'
a list of words or ideas that reminded them of spring.

Mrs. Cronk brought in a plant she purchased over the weekend.
She told the kids that when she brought it home, the buds were closed and green.
The warmth of her home helped the Tulips begin to bloom!   She also talked
about other early spring bloomers such as the Crocus and a Snow Drop flower.

Mrs. Cronk brought in a taxidermy animal today.  This bird is a Red-Winged
Blackbird.  It is sitting on a Pussy Willow plant, which is also a spring bloomer.
She then discussed how birds migrate south for winter and back north in the spring.

Mrs. Cronk brought pictures of two types of frogs - an Upland Chorus Frog
and a Spring Peeper.  She showed us a quarter and and half dollar coin and
told the kids that those types of frogs are about the size of them.    She then
showed the kids an 'Identifier Tool', which will allow us to hear different bird
calls such as the Robin, Red-Winged Blackbird and the Cardinal.  This tool
also played the frog calls of the two types of frogs she showed us.

Mrs. Cronk showed us an old bird's nest.  She told us that Robins don't really
care much about what they use to build them.  She also gave us a few ideas of
items we could place in bushes and trees in our yards to attract birds to nest there.
These objects include cotton, string, yarn, twine, and even hair from your hairbrush!
It is also important to have a water source (such as a bird bath) so that they can make
mud to use as 'glue' to keep the nest together and attached to the tree or bush.

Mrs. Cronk read us a story called "It's Spring" by Linda Glasser

We went outside to collect garbage to help the Earth.  We also checked some
thermometers at different locations to see how the temperature was different
from the last time Mrs. Cronk visited in the Winter.

We saw a few types of plants that are early bloomers.  We saw some buds on
the trees and some weeds.  We heard birds chirping and lots of decaying leaves.
Sadly, we even saw a little bit of snow left as well!  Go away already snow!

We walked around a large area of decaying leaves.   Mrs. Cronk told the
kids that they should lift a few leaves in their own spot to see if they can find
some small bugs or weeds.   

After we finished searching for bugs and small plants, we went inside and
washed up.  Then, Mrs. Cronk finished the lesson by having the children
add to their list of Spring ideas to wrap up the lesson.

Thank you again Mrs. Cronk, for spending time with us this year!  We loved learning about nature and getting to know you as well!  We certainly hope you and the ODC can partner with us again next year so that we can learn even more!  

Please visit the ODC this summer with your family!   We have a wonderful resource right in our own backyard!   I know Mrs. Cronk and the rest of the staff at the ODC would love it if you spent time getting to know nature there as well!