Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Art class

Scout and I have stumbled upon the most amazing art class ever.   Candace, the teacher,  has the most amazing techniques for bringing out the original creativity of each person.
We are so honored to have found this gem.  She doesn't advertise,  and if she did,  she would soon be overrun with interest and the class would lose the feel that makes it so incredible.
I hope all my friends will come and join the class too - check out her WEBSITE!

Tuesday, July 9, 2013

Graduation Day

Eco Academy and Wilderness Conservation Graduation Day
 

 Alexandra and Panama handed out certificates.
Scout was the only one in ALL THREE classes
and got 3 certificates! 


 Way to Go!
Chocolate Milk was taking a final at the university, so he couldn't make it, but he called and left a message for us to hear.   What a great year it was!

Sea Turtles





 Our Adventure began with the class heading to the Beach on Key Biscayne.  We went to the nature center and listened to a presentation on turtles, then went out into the bright sun to find our own nest.

 Panama led us down to the water where they had previously buried "eggs" and created nests for us to explore.  They marked each nest with a post and divided us into teams.
There were a few kite boarders out too.  It was the perfect day for learning.

 Scout brought her friend Eva along.


The guy in the brown shirt looked like Panama's twin! 
 He works at the nature center with the turtle rescue.  They aren't even related!!
 Each group of kids started digging while the moms took pictures.


We were digging up the "eggs".  Each ping pong ball was numbered. 

 We had to spread them out, putting the male eggs in one pile and the female in another.  The turtles get their gender based on temperature. So the eggs on top of the nest where its warmer are girls and the eggs on the bottom are boys.
 There's about a hundred eggs in each nest.



 When all the eggs were found, our teacher, Alexandra, read off numbers.  Each group found the number and brought it up to her basket.  She read the demise of the poor turtle.  Some were carried off by raccoons, some drown in the ocean, others were eaten by sharks.


 Each egg came up one by one, representing another baby turtle that didn't survive. 
In the end, there was just one egg out of 100 that made it to maturity. 

This was a great hands on lesson, and Scout remembers every detail.  I often hear her teaching other friends about it.


Banyan Tree Fun

There's a big Banyan tree in front of our classroom at Deering Estate








My friends and I like to play in it.



 Chocolate Milk, Panama, and Alexandra
 Our teachers are going to prepare more things for class.  Sometimes we meet in the old pump house.

Mummies and Ancient Civilizations

MUMMIFYING OUR CHICKEN
 
First we learned about hieroglyphics and what the symbols stood for.  Then we decorated our shoe box with symbols of our own.  Scout's says "Bird" across the top.

We washed our dead bird really good with water.
Then dried it as thoroughly as possible.

Next, we poured salt all over it - even on the insides.

The salt will draw out all the moisture in the meat and skin.

Next we covered it with cinnamon to help control the smell as it becomes mummified.  The Egyptians did this too - adding spices to their mummies.

Last, you wrap it in paper towels and place it in a zip lock bag.  Every few days you will need to check it.  When you see the salt looking damp, you will need to change it.  Never wash it or add water, as you are trying to draw out all the moisture with the salt.  After 5 weeks, your chicken should be completely dry.  Wrap it in linen and cover it with a wax or resin coating.  The Egyptians used tree sap as it hardened into a strong resin. 

Topography

Today we created maps of the United States using glue and toilet paper.  When it dried it was as hard as a rock. 






Snorkeling at Pennekamp State Park

For our Wilderness Conservation class at Eco Academy we went Snorkeling at Pennekamp on Key Largo.


We started out talking about the kinds of things we would see.

Chocolate Milk was our teacher today.  Ms Sherry was there too.




Then we went through the aquarium there.  We saw lion fish, star fish, lobster, and horse shoe crabs. 




Sea Star


 Then we all got in the water.  IT WAS COLD!!!!

 Scout wore her wet suit.

 

 Even Ms Sherry was cold.  Who ever heard of snorkeling in December! 
Water temperature was in the mid 70s.