Our First BIG Field Trip

Xander and I had the pleasure of accompanying Mikaela's class on her first big field trip. We went all the way to Atlanta. Yes, folks - into the city we went. As if the highway experience wasn't enough of a thrill, we spent the day at the Fernbank Museum of Natural History!
http://www.fernbankmuseum.org/

The day began with a green and furry class. Green - plants! We learned about all the things that plants need to survive. Our energetic teacher showed us how even cacti have leaves, how trees are fierce competitors, and how plants are essential to our daily lives.

Furry - animals. We learned about all the things that animals need to survive. We had the opportunity to touch a Madagascar Hissing Cockroach (I won't tell you who didn't touch that one!).


http://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:xj1NvuF-PGxXkM:http://entomology.unl.edu/k12/Croach/roachinfo/hissing_roaches.jpg

Our next not so furry friend was a Corn Snake. Now I will admit to touching that, for pure science's sake!

After our class, we had the opportunity to tour the museum. We began in the exhibit called "Sensing Nature." The kids used their senses to interpret the environment around them. The musical tube was a favorite of ours. Each length of tubing produced a different sound - right up a certain little musician's alley.

Next, it was off to see the frogs. Xander was a man on a mission to find the Red Eyed Tree Frog (for those non Diego watchers, well you just wouldn't understand). We found that frog along with many others. We saw the American bullfrog as both a tadpole and a full grown frog. We saw frogs of beautiful colors, frogs who could blend right into their environment and frogs who frankly looked a little scary!

As we were now hungry, tired tourists, we met up with the class for a picnic lunch under the dinosaur. You've always wanted to eat on the cold floor under the biggest dinosaur you've ever seen right?

Refreshed and refueled we headed to the Star Gallery and the World of Shells. The star gallery was my personal favorite, I took a post lunch moment to lay on the floor with the kiddos and gaze above. Mikaela loved the shells - she even found one that looked like a little mermaid might have lived in it.

We ended our day in the children's discovery rooms. Very cool - we practiced pollinating flowers, blending in with our environment, growing produce, fishing, climbing mountains, riding in boats, and much much more!