Fire Station, Super U Assembly and our ODC trip!

Last week was a big week for us! We had TWO field trips AND an assembly called Super U!   We began with a walking trip to the fire station just south of Hamilton Elementary School. Mrs. Heuer's husband, Rob Heuer, was our guide.  He showed us the many trucks there, let us look inside at the equipment, and let the kids ask questions about the trucks, fire safety and prevention.  After our tour, Mr. Heuer showed the kids an 'oldie, but goody' movie created by Disney about fire prevention.  Last, there was a special guest dressed in turnout gear!  It was a great review for the kids and lots of fun too!

Rob Heuer on the left, Brian Kempkers on the right.  They were
wonderful hosts on our trip to the fire station last week.

The kids get a look inside the truck at all the hoses and equipment.

Mr. Heuer shows the kids an oxygen tank used when going in to a fire.

This is one of the tanker trucks that holds water to bring to a fire. They have two tanker trucks.

Mr. Heuer asks if the kids know what the tank holds.

Mr. Heuer shows the kids what a fire fighter would look and sound like with the mask on.

This axe could be used to open up walls, ceilings, or doors.

Mr. Heuer show the kids what a smoke detector looks and sounds like.  Every bedroom
in a home needs a smoke detector as well as in hallways on each floor.  Always check the
batteries in your smoke detectors in the fall and in the spring.

A special guest came out dressed in full turnout gear!  Who could it be?????

It's MRS. HEUER!!!  The kids know and love her from school!  What fun!  

Thank you to Mr. and Mrs. Heuer and Mr. Kempkers for the tour and the coloring books!

Later that day, we had a special assembly called Super U!  The assembly was a game show format with lessons about how to be a SUPER U in school!  Students were chosen from the audience to participate in timed games.  Each game was tied to a theme to consider.  One of our own students, Lydia, was invited up to play a game!

In this challenge, the boys needed to race to dress up in super hero costumes. The presenter explained that we all have the "Super Power" to choose our words and actions. When we are careful to make good choices, it is like becoming our own "personal super hero".

Lydia and a partner work together to 'build' a tower of four foam blocks and carry them
to the other side of the gym.  Respect and kindness is something that you have to pass on. You have to give respect to get respect and show kindness for people to show you kindness.

Trust is something that you have to build between your friends, classmates, teachers and family members.
Trust takes a long time to build, but it can be easily damaged.

In this challenge, each team had to work together to transport wiggly tubes from a bucket into the final person's arms.

In this challenge, one member took 'slime' from a bucket and placed it into a container
with holes on the partner's head!  Joking around with a classmate is okay, but if someone asks us to stop
doing something or saying something, we need to listen and respect their request.

Finally, on Thursday, we had the opportunity to visit the Outdoor Discovery Center. Each first grade classroom took a tour with an ODC Naturalist.  She taught us about how plants and animals change in the fall and different habits and animal needs.  We will visit again in the winter and also in spring!

We began with Jamie, the ODC director welcoming us to the center.

Jennifer was our Naturalist guide.

A close up look at plants just off the main trail.  This habitat
would be a field.  We learned about which animals would be best
suited to live and visit the field.

More field exploration!

This is a bird feeder.  We stood very quietly while chickadees visited the feeder.

One of the habits we learned about was the pond.  We learned which animals and plants would be best suited
to live in the pond and surrounding area.

We visited the elk enclosure and noticed that an elk's natural habit is an open field.

This is a large log attached to a chain.  It is used for the male elk to 'play' with.

There are still a few flowers that bloom in the fall!

The kids were told that they could eat one of these berries, but should never eat
or smell plants in the wild without an expert to tell them if it is safe.

Tall Sunflowers

These berries should not be eaten, as they are poisonous!

Our favorite part of the trip was at the end, when we went inside a small building and got to see and learn about a painted turtle, a toad, a garter snake and a black rat snake!

Jennifer shows us how to touch the toad safely.  A toad's natural habitat would
be a field and also near a pond.

Sam touches the black rat snake.  Their habitat would be in a field and they are able
to climb trees to get to birds and eggs as well as eating mice, rats and other field animals.

The kids touch a garter snake.  Named because it resembles the pattern that garters had
in the olden days.  Garter snakes also live in fields.

Better Jennifer holds that snake than me!

The black rat snake is cold blooded, which means it uses the environment
to warm itself.  While Jennifer was holding the snake, it didn't move very much (thank goodness)

Levi is brave enough to touch the snake!  I think almost every student did!  None of the adults chose to!

We had a fantastic week of learning in different ways!  Field trips and assemblies are special treats, but they are also wonderful learning experiences to cement what is learned in the classroom!  Thanks again to Mr. and Mrs. Heuer, Mrs. Klomparens and Mr. Tebo, and the ODC staff for such great experiences.