To Bloom or not to Bloom

“This is for you,” she announced as she handed me a ruby red leaf.

“Why thank you, Cara,” I exclaimed as I received it. “Do you know what kind of leaf this is?”

“An autumn leaf!” was the reply.

“You’re right, it is a lovely autumn leaf, but it’s also a maple leaf.” I informed her. “I’ll place it in this vase on my desk and it’ll remind me of you when I look at it.”

 

When you teach in a primary classroom, you’re frequently presented with special, seasonal gifts and surprises and you never know what stories will transpire out of them!  In autumn, you might receive a pretty leaf or caterpillar.  Winter wonders can include frosty pine cones, or perhaps a sparkling row of icicles might be pointed out during a walk across the yard with your class.  Spring, with new buds and blossoms bursting forth, could bring any number of plants!  

Fistfuls of brilliant blossoms presented by beaming youngsters are as common in my classroom each spring as robins tweeting on boughs and branches.  This year is no exception!  As usual, I stuff the dandelions into a vase, jar or whatever container is available.   We enjoy the blooms for a few days and once they start drooping, we discard them, and they’re soon replaced by yet another bright bouquet plucked by one of my precocious primary pupils. 

Before school let out for the summer, one such posy graced our staff room table; several blooms had sadly hung their tired heads. 

As usual, at the end of the day, my students pick a library book for their home-reading and were now lined up and waiting for me to sign out their selections.  “Oh,” one loquacious lass exclaimed as she gazed at the bouquet, “Your bloomers are down.”

Before I had time to give her the definition of said garment, a young lad peered at her somewhat appalled and sternly stated, “Those are underwear!”

What could I do but shake my head and enjoy a chuckle as I started planning for another school day; perhaps wondering what underthings will be brought to light next.

Numbers in Nature

What do you do when your class size doubles over night?  You have to really think outside the box!  In my case, it was involved going outside the classroom.
Last Friday our kindergarten teacher attended the annual MTG conference, so I was left with her seven Ks in addition to my seven first and second graders.  What to do with those 14 squirming little bodies all morning along?
I decided to take them out to look for numbers in nature.  After partnering each kindy with a first or second grader, I provided each pair with a plastic bag and we set out to collect stuff we could count.
Since were in the midst of fall, we found brightly coloured leaves.  Elm Rivers has very few oak trees; however, our biggest one gave us tons of acorns and we brought back almost more than we could count! We found small discarded potatoes at the potato shed. (since we had rain a few days before, harvest was on hold).  By the la Salle River the students noticed cattails and of course wanted some.  As I walk over to pick some, one of the Ks screamed for me to stop!  She was under the impression that cattails grow in the creek, not along the edges.  I assured her I would be careful to stay out of the water.

Each of us brought along amid-morning snacks, so part way through our search we stopped to refuel.  We gathered at the granaries and enjoyed our munches!
Other objects we collected were a variety of pebbles and plants and even a few Asian Lady beetles.
After we arrived back at the school, each kindergartner and first grader picked an item from the collection.  I took pictures of him/her showing as many fingers as items.  I hope to print produce and numbers in nature book for  our class library.

Agriculture in the Classroom

Manitoba Cooperator

Over the years I've had several children's books and many blog posts published as well as editorials in our school newsletter, the Brennan Bulletin.  This week I can add another feather to my writer's hat.  I had my first article published in the Manitoba Cooperator, a weekly agriculture based newspaper.  I can now rub shoulders with other Hutterite writers such as Fairholme teacher, Dora Maendel, her sister, the late Selma Maendel and my sister, Linda Maendel, for all three of these ladies have had numerous articles published in the Cooperator. 

Agriculture in the Classroom

Click on the link below and scroll down to page 40 to read my article on Brennan School's experience with Agriculture in the Classroom. 


http://static.agcanada.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/MBC160915.pdf#_ga=1.41525025.2057305207.1471018066

Made in Manitoba Breakfast

Making Butter - "It's finger licking good!"

Checking Canola Seed for Ripeness

Springtime Excusion

Last week my sisters happened upon a "chuck wagon" just west of our colony along the La Salle River where our dad used to keep his breeder geese during the summer months.
Today, my sister Sonia took our nephew Jakobi and me out to see this old time mode of transportation.  Along the way, we enjoyed various lovely springtime sights...

Dandelions - Ready for wishing upon

Puffy Cotton Clouds

 

A Pair of Canadian Honkers

Strolling through Fiddleheads

 

All of these spring wonders reminded me of  the beautiful spring song we sang at the Lehr on Sunday:

Schau', mein Geist die Frühlingszeiten,

alles will sich zubereiten,

Gott zu geben Preis und Ehr',

nimm es an zu einder Lehr',

da man alles neu sieht werden;

was für todt lag in der Erden,

das geht wiederum herfür,

grünt und wächst und blüht vor dir.

After trudging though tall grass, dried weeds and uneven terrain, we finally came upon the remains of the "chuck wagon".  Upon our arrival home, my Uncle Dave was there for a visit.  He looked at the picture and informed me that it was a "tupplepax", a double box wagon.  That seems much more reasonable, after all, our people moved to Elm River from Rosedale with trucks and panels and perhaps pick-ups, not Conestoga wagons as the early pineers did.  And... we've been involved in farming since we arrived, so a double box wagon, could have been a mode of transportation in Elm River's early days..

Remains of a Double Box Wagon

In its glory days in may have resembled this wagon. I found the image at Double Box Wagon

  

What did you do and see during your Victoria Day weekend?