Going Buggy... Final Edition

And, finally, today was the day to set our ladybugs free!!

Going Buggy...Part 3

On Friday afternoon, the first of our four Painted Lady butterflies emerged from its chrysalis. Over the long weekend, our other three butterflies were "born".

Getting ready to release our 4 Painted Lady butterflies

Our first three butterflies flew away on their own, but our last Painted Lady needed a little extra help...

Loving the Mighty Mississippi!!!

What a beautiful day for a fieldtrip! The third graders did an exceptional job representing River Ridge as we ventured out yesterday to the National Mississippi River Museum in Dubuque.  Here are a few (ok, maybe a few more than a few) photos of our fun and educational day!  

Starting our day off and meeting our tour guide, Inga.

Meeting the 57-year old alligator on her feeding day

In the wet lab, hanging out with snails, crabs, and crawfish

Learning about animal habitats

Listening to Lincoln's Gettysburg Address

Izak, Kamron, Sam & Cora dressing in civil war costumes

Dylan, Cierra & Ella checking out turtles

Camdyn, Cierra & Mia with a turtle friend

Heaven the Turtle

Kamron

Cora, Kamron, & Dawson in the limestone cave

Watching a movie about riverboats

Checking out two bald eagles

Watching an injured red-tailed hawk 

Dawson & Mia pumping water to move a paddlewheel

Elijah & Lebron learning about how boats travel down the river

Loved the interactive river and water cycle exhibit

Those catfish really do get big!!!

All of us! 

Getting ready to walk along the Mississippi

Turtles sunning themselves on the river

Can you name these third graders?

What a fun day!!!

Going Buggy.... Part 2

While our ants have been busy building their colony, our ladybug larvae are growing and will soon enter the pupal stage of their lives.  Meanwhile, our caterpillars are becoming chrysalides! Stay tuned....

Going Buggy in 3S - Part 1

This week we read "Two Bad Ants" by Chris Van Allsburg, and we tried looking at the world from an ant's perspective. Having our own ant colony helped! Here's the latest view of our busy ants....

Building the Statue of Liberty

On Friday, after spending the week reading "The Story of the Statue of Liberty", all of the third graders worked together in groups to plan and build their own Statue of Liberty.  Each group was given different building materials. Here are some scenes during construction: