The Magic School Kayak

Do you remember Miss Frizzle from the Magic School Bus? She is my personal literary heroine. I wish more than anything that I could load you all on a bus (or kayak?) and take you on field trips around the world with just a wink and a nod just like she does. Unfortunately, the reality of the situation is that we will always be limited in time and money, and no one has let me drive a bus yet! But I have to say that this trip is the closest I have come to being as cool as Miss F. I had never imagined that I would get to teach my classes from an actual field site, but now that this has happened, it makes my head spin. Think of all the cool ways we could use this technology to go on virtual field trips or interview important biologists! For your last CHALLENGE QUESTION, I would like you to make a list of 10 ways we could use videoconferencing and/or blogging for our Biology classes at SWJHS.

And here is your last mystery caterpillar—I saved Mystery Caterpillar #5 for last because it was the first and last cate

rpillar I saw on this trip. This caterpillar is everywhere in the city because it loves the huge live oaks that are all over. It drops from the trees and leaves burns on human skin as it has poison sacs attached to its spines! OUCH!!! Write its scientific name in your response journal (don't forget www.caterpillars.org).

I am back in Kansas today and I am looking forward to seeing you all! Here is a link to the article about us and the video segment that was on the news:

http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2009/apr/27/biology-teacher-shares-virtual-lessons-field-er-sw/

I want to thank all of you for your patience when the technology wasn’t perfect. I had a great time and I hope you learned a little and enjoyed our interactions Live from the Field.

THANKS AGAIN TO EARTHWATCH, HSBC, REBECCA HAZEN, AND USD 497 STAFF FOR MAKING THIS HAPPEN!!!!!!

Signing Off!
Ms. Ball