Natural Science Museum Field Trip

The third through sixth grade classes went on a field trip to the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science on Tuesday, October 20, 2009. The weather was perfect (not a cloud in the bright blue sky)! All classes were able to attend a hands-on session in the classrooms about reptiles. Cory Wright, and education specialist with the museum, shared turtles, snakes, and alligators with us. He knew a lot about the animals and was able to answer all of the great questions students posed to him. He also encouraged the students to get the most of their education so that they can find a job that allows them to get paid for doing something they love. Mr. Cory clearly loves his job. His enthusiasm is contagious!

Pete the gopher tortoise (in the first photo) was my favorite reptile, but I was amazed by them all. Even Mrs. Luke touched their scaly skins! All classes were able to tour the museum exhibits, and were required to fill out a scavenger hunt to direct their observations. The outside trails were also tempting, but we could not go too far down the bluff because the Pearl River had flooded. One entire observation deck, the newest one built, was under water.

Below is a slide show of my photos.



I left the field trip grateful for the opportunity to spend such a beautiful day learning with the children and teachers of St. Therese in such a quality museum and natural setting. Thank you, also, to all of the parents who accompanied us!

Underground Railroad Quilt

The literature connection project that third through sixth graders have been working on for several weeks will be on display on Friday, February 27th, at St. Therese's Black History Month Exhibition. We worked hard today to finish our quilt blocks incorporating symbols of our knowledge about the underground railroad. I hope our parents and other teachers will appreciate how each block is unique and offers the viewer a different window into history.

I found out today that students at St. Therese have a name for Mrs. Tarleton and me to describe our "team-teaching." We are "Mrs. Towen." I love it!

Also, I was honored to accompany Mrs. Misenar, the "art club," and St. Therese parents on a field trip to Brown's Fine Art and Framing in Fondren today. Here are my photos from the exciting, intimate, and engaging learning experience:

Field Trip to the Mississippi Museum of Art

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Originally uploaded by nolteowen

On Tuesday, August 28, 2008, Ms. Bentley's 4th graders and Mrs. Holder's 3rd graders took a field trip to the Mississippi Museum of Art. During August, Mrs. Tarleton and I co-taught lessons to prepare for the field trip and the special exhibit at the museum titled "The Sight of Music." During library and music classes, we researched musical instruments, listened to recordings of different instruments, and discussed what visual representations of sound might look like.

At the museum, students, parents, and teachers participated in a scavenger hunt to locate musical instruments depicted by artwork in the exhibit. Teachers also modeled different ways of interacting with art by choosing their favorite piece in the exhibit and sharing personal thoughts and reactions. Then, parents led small groups of students around the galleries of "The Mississippi Story." Some students chose to remain in a quiet corner and sketched artwork that they liked, and some students wandered excitedly through every room. Finally, we gathered outside on the patio for our picnic lunches.

In library on Thursday, third and fourth graders reflected on the field trip and practiced letter-writing skills by writing thank you notes to the wonderful parents who accompanied us on the field trip. In addition, students wrote thank you notes to the Mississippi Museum of Art and to the generous sponsors of our trip, Trustmark National Bank and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Mississippi.

Other photos from this field trip are located in my Flickr photo collection for the St. Therese Library in the right hand column.