THE EAGLE HAS LANDED. No, it's not a password for some secret mission. It means Mama Eagle at the Decorah Fish Hatchery has settled down and laid her first egg! I had my students watch this webcam last year after I had heard about it, only she had already laid three eggs. I couldn't have timed it better this year. On Friday, I read my students a story and then we did some brainstorming of what they knew about eagles. (not much) I then told them about the webcam in Iowa. We looked at the map to see how far it is from Nevada. I told them there wasn't anything in the nest yet and the parents were seen just flying in the area. I turned on the webcam and they were so excited to see an empty nest! They could see some feathers tucked in it. They could also hear small birds nearby and the wind against the camera mike. I explained how the camera is operated and that sometimes it moves so that we might be able to see the farm down below and the snow melting on the ground. As if the camera heard me, it started to pan and they got to see the farm! Then, some little sparrows came to the nest. Wow, if they are this excited about "nothing," wait till they see Mama with her newly laid egg. She did this last night. There should be one or two more. These parents have a history of having three eggs almost every year.
We're going to be incorporating math, reading, writing, geography, weather, and life science in the next two months of birdwatching. It's going to be so much fun!
I think this is a great way for children to see nature in action. It is amazing to me that we live in a coastal rural area and some of our children have never seen the ocean or seen tomatoes grow (we are one of the largest tomato producing counties in the state of South Carolina).
ReplyDeleteOur students get so excited when I share anything with them from my personal life. I will bring in seashells, rocks, photos, and also share so many things with them through my flip videos and camera pictures. They always say they want to go on a field trip to my house. To me, all these are simple, everyday things, but to them, it's all new and foreign. I generally tell them a personal story each day. They can't believe that my husband washes the dishes every night. They can't fathom that we don't yell at each other. I'm so happy to be able to bring these things to them. And with technology, they can see and do so much more.
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