Day at a Local Nature Facility!

HELLO!
It's the eve of Halloween!!!

Today we spent the day at Barkhausen Nature Preserve.  MUD, MUD, MUD, and of course more mud.  We were head over heals in nature-man, did we love it.  The big questions for the day:  "Will I catch a fish, Where is the Tarantula  What time is lunch  What's this?"  All I can say, is I am exhausted; fresh air is nature's best sleepless night remedy!!!

Start of our day!

Sharing our items that smell.

I guessed what was behind my back!

Nature smiles,

First Field Trip-Check!

HELLO!!!  So this morning I completed Mid-quarter grade reports..yes, I said Mid-quarter.  We are 1/2 way through 2nd quarter.  YIKES!  or EEKS!  We are also getting ready for our first possible snow storm of the season-Snowstorm Andy!  We have a possibility to get 5-6 inches of powdery white flakes!  Do you have snow?

Yesterday we went on our first field trip of the year!  We visited   Earthaven Museum  Must I say, it is rockin!!!! (pun intended)  Gold, silver, diamonds, and mammoth tusks galore!  It's a rock and gem paradise!
My students and I were mesmerized with their extensive collection of our beautiful Earth's resources and our eyes were wide open for 2 hours!  Our eyes had the accompaniment of our ears which were tuned in to hear another story by the two field trip guides and collector.  They have been to many digging hot spots to search for the biggest and most wanted gems, rocks, minerals, and fossils!

Here are a few photos to give you a snapshot of our trip:

 tools

clear Quartz

pressed Gold and Silver

ahh the collections

tell me more

I'll take that one!

House on the Rock-A MUST VISIT!

Have you been here?  If not, please go!  What am I pushing on you? The House on the Rock; a place where Alex Jordan created an architectural wonder and awe!  Mr. Jordan built this house on a sandstone formation!  Although he never intended it to be a tourist attraction, it now attracts thousands of visitors from east to west (yesterday I met people from many different parts of the country). Today, the house has 14 rooms and is now a complex of many buildings, exhibit/displays and flower/garden showcases!  You can choose from three unguided tours or choose two or all three.  Of course, I picked all three!  I spent about 3 hours there and must say, it was an unbelievable 180 minutes!  Although Mrs. Jordan is no longer with us, he definitely left a part of him with us in his creation! (I do not have a picture of the GRAND CAROUSEL-sorry I only have it on video).  I will definitely share Mr. Jordan's work (via pictures, video, experiences, stories) with my students! Click Here to read more!  I hope you will find information to share with your students!  Doesn't a field trip to Spring Green, Wisconsin with your students sound alluring and attractive?

If you go, or have gone, please leave me a comment; I'd love to read about your experiences!
ENJOY and SMILES!

The Infinity Room

A Log and Ticket Stubs

The Infinity Room from Afar

Built Right into the Rock!

Longer than the Statue of Liberty is Tall!

Doll Homes