Younge House

WOW! Our trip to Black Rock Forest on Wednesday was awesome! The ride up was spectacular. We could see acres and acres of changing trees – it really looked like fall. When we arrived at the Black Rock Forest science center, we were greeted by our guide, Jack. In the science center we learned how to use a tree identification guide and how to identify a tree by its leaves and branches.  We also looked at minerals like granite, mica, and hornsblend which could be found all around the park.  Next we took our tree identifying skills on the road. There were five mystery trees and in our small groups we examined their various parts and using the identification guide, decided whether they were a sugar maple, a chestnut oak, a red oak, or another kind of tree. Then it was time for the solo hike. Each student walked alone along the path following a series of trailmarkers (of course the chaperones were “hidden” just in case anyone headed the wrong way). Walking alone made it very easy to concentrate on the sounds and sights of beautiful Black Rock Forest and everyone was proud of themselves for following the trail on their own. Many thanks to Evie Langteau, our science teacher, and Jack from Black Rock Forest for a great day!

CLICK HERE FOR MORE PICTURES!

We are currently preparing for our concluding E.B. White project. Many of us have read all three of E.B. White’s novels for children, along with several articles and essays by and about the author. We have started to look for similarities in theme across all three novels. We first met in book groups depending on whether we had focused on Trumpet of the Swan or Stuart Little as our second EB novel. We created charts that showed the similarities and differences. Then as a class we developed a larger Venn diagram that looked at all three books.

So what did we decide these books have in common?

• Each book features many different types of animals
• There are many birds
• There are many animals described as “white” (Wilbur, Snowball, and the Swans)
• The animals display human characteristics
• The animals have friendly relationships with humans and humans who take care of them
• In each book, a life is saved
• Each book has an element of adventure and adventurous characters
• There are deep, caring friendships
• Each book develops the themes of change and life and death
• E.B. uses lists to make his writing descriptive

Next we will take these ideas and, inspired by the work of Joseph Cornell, create E.B. White themed collage boxes. Stay tuned for some well-thought out art work!

WE CAN DO IT! Practice at home with:

1. http://www.sense-lang.org/typing/

2. http://www.typing-lessons.org/