Owl pelltes at Bois’ D arc

December 23 we went to Bois’D arc to dissect owl pellets. We have learned about owl pellets at school. A owl pellet is a pellets that is coughed up when it can not digest it like the fur,and bones.  When we arrived at Bois’D arc we where greeted by Mr.mike.We got inside we had a small review on owl pellets,finally we go started. We got special  tools to getting the bones out . We got the owl pellet and a diagram with bones. We gently took off the foil and begin doing the dissecting. We found numerous types of bones and often fur/feathers. If you were not careful you would break the bone, as it is very delicate. This was a very exciting opportunity for WOLF to have and thank Bois D’arc people for the expericance. Maybe we can go do owl pellets again.

by Vanessa Gilbert/Caroline Langley/Maddy Ouellette

Notes 3/13/09

Howls from the WOLF Pack

Friday, March 13^th

MAP Testing

Although you will receive more detailed information next week, we wanted to remind you that MAP testing will begin the week after Spring Break. The first week we’ll be taking the Communication Arts portion of the test. Week 2 will focus on Math, and we will conclude week 3 with Science. Please be sure your child is getting a good night’s sleep as well as a high protein breakfast. We’ll be organizing a snack schedule for those parents who are interested in helping. Please continue encouraging your child to read silently on a nightly basis.

REVISED Schedule

Wednesday, March 18^th: Going to Sunshine Elementary to take the Star Math test and P.E. assessments

Friday, March 20^th: TBD, End of 3^rd Quarter

Monday, March 23^rd – Friday, March 27^th: Spring Break

Week of Monday, March 30^th: MAP Testing Begins

“Ask Me About…”

What did you learn about Katrina and Gabe from their ‘About Me Bags’?

Tell me about Turkeys and your experience at Bois d’Arc.

What did you learn in animal handling this week?

Why is it important to reduce, reuse and recycle?

Notes 2/27/09

Howls from the WOLF Pack

Friday, February 27^th

Website Updated

The WOLF website through the SPS district site has been updated. You can check out photo galleries and link to our blog! Special thanks to Beth in Community Relations for all of your help.

SPSWOLFPACK.WORDPRESS.COM

Be sure to check out our WOLF blog at the address above. Get a ‘kid’ perspective on our field experiences through weekly updates! Thanks to our editors, staff and guest writers for all their hard work.

Middle School Orientations

It is that time of year when middle schools invite 5^th graders to visit and get acquainted with their new school for 6^th, 7^th, and 8^th grade. Orientations will take place throughout the spring, and we recommend you contact the school counselor to discuss dates and times. You could also contact your child’s home school and ask to speak with the counselor. Transportation will not be provided.

Hoodie and T-shirt Orders

We have people who have expressed an interest in ordering t-shirts again. We have sent home another order form with each student. Please return these order forms by Monday, March 9^th.

Thank You, Belayers!!

Thank you to everyone who helped with the rock climbing. It was an awesome experience for the students. We think many of them will be interested in continuing this activity. For those who were actually there, you could see that their climbing experience was greatly enhanced by the presence of our own belay team. It allowed them to climb consistently until they literally “gave out”. We don’t think we’ve ever seen them so tired. Thanks again, WOLF teachers

REVISED Schedule

Tuesday, March 3^rd: Early release for students (teachers’ meetings)

Friday, March 6^th: TBD

“Ask Me About…”

What did you learn about Cameron and Sierra from their ‘About Me Bags’?

Tell me about your animal track t-shirt.

What else did you learn at Bois d’Arc?

What did you learn in animal handling this week?

Tell me about your yearbook page.

A One Girl Climbing Machine

Hey it’s SPSWolfpack again…and we went rockclimbing (see Rockclimbing) at Petra rockclimbing gyms inc. And let me tell you about my (Maddy) new hero, Vanessa Gilbert! She was the only girl in Team Dyle to climb a VERY VERY VERY  complicated wall! It started out straight then it had a big poped out peice, then straight, then back out, on top of that it was as high as the ceiling. She climbed it! She did it! Although Dakota and Austin climbed it too, I’m going to interveiw VANESSA!

Maddy- “So Hero of mine, how did you do it? I wimped out at the beginning!”

Vanessa-” I just kept going and beliving  in myself and my belay person. It hurt my arms but I did it.”

Maddy- “Are you scared of heights? If I were up there I would freak out, although I did climb the slanting high easy one.”

Vanessa-”No, but when I was at a football game and went to the top of the stands, I fell out from the underneath and had to go to the emergeny room, but I love rock climbing.”

Maddy- “Oh my gosh! OW! How did you do the transition from the straight part to the bump?

Vanessa-”Well I leaned in towards the wall.”

Maddy- “Are you sore?”

vanessa-”Yes, I am sore to the core of  my body. Especially my arms.”

Maddy- “I hear Kelsey climbed the wall, would you ever want to team up with her and possibley concour MT. Everest?”

Vanessa-”No, but Iwill try to get together with her.”

Maddy- “Well Let’s wrap this up so.. How does this connect into the WOLF curriculem?”

Vanessa-”In the field Scientists are presented with challenges, as they need to climb to get let’s say samples of rocks.”

Maddy-“Oh. Makes sense. Well thanks for being a climbing machine, and thanks for letting me interview you!”

Vanessa-”Your so welcome.”

BY: Maddy Ouellette, Vanessa Gilbert,  and C.C. Langley (I’m going to see if she notices that I wrote C.C. instead of Caroline)

Rock Climbing

Today the wolf pack went to the Petra rock climbing  gym. First we got to the gym and put on our harness. Then we partnered up and got with a belayer. Since we didnt have the 2nd part of the belay class we had to go over some things like the commands and all of that stuff. After he went over a few more of the safety rules we started to climb. We had about an hour and thirty minutes to climb all of the rocks that we could.  Rock climbing fits into our curriculam because it has alot of problem solving. Also scientists in the field are presented with rock climbing obsticals all of the time. It is used in caving alot, and in karst ecosystems. Rock  climbing was proabibly the most fun adventure ever!

By: Caroline Langley, Vanessa Gilbert, Maddy Ouellette,  and Slade Lillard

Notes 2/20/09

Howls from the WOLF Pack

Friday, February 20^th

Website Updated

The WOLF website through the SPS district site has been updated. You can check out photo galleries and link to our blog! Special thanks to Beth in Community Relations for all of your help.

SPSWOLFPACK.WORDPRESS.COM

Be sure to check out our WOLF blog at the address above. Get a ‘kid’ perspective on our field experiences through weekly updates! Thanks to our editors, staff and guest writers for all their hard work.

Middle School Orientations

It is that time of year when middle schools invite 5^th graders to visit and get acquainted with their new school for 6^th, 7^th, and 8^th grade. Orientations will take place throughout the spring, and we recommend you contact the school counselor to discuss dates and times. You could also contact your child’s home school and ask to speak with the counselor.

Trip to Bois d’Arc

Next Tuesday (Feb. 24^th) we are going to Bois d’Arc for an experience in identifying animal tracks, and tracking for enjoyment and sport. The students will need to bring a new white t-shirt, or a t-shirt they already own. They are going to be painting and labeling animal tracks on the shirt. Because this activity is labor-intensive, we could certainly use volunteers on that day. Please let us know if you can help. As always, thanks!

Use of Electronics

With the exception of cell phones, which can be used after school for emergency purposes, all other electronic devices should be left at home. It is against school policy to bring these items into the school building.

Thanks! J

REVISED Schedule

Tuesday, February 24^th: Going to Bois d’Arc (volunteers appreciated)

“Ask Me About…”

What did you learn about Mason and Don from their ‘About Me Bags’?

What is one new thing you’ve learned about trapping this week?

What is the name of the knot you tie for rock climbing?

Why is it important to double check your gear in rock climbing?

What does the word ‘belay’ mean?

Demonstrate how to tie in to your waist harness.

List 3 things you learned from Alan at the Nature Center regarding Lewis and Clark.

What did you learn in animal handling this week?

Tell me about your yearbook page.

Belay Certifacation

2/24/09

Today Marcus and Chandler from the petra rock climbing jym came to WOLF to belay certify all of the wolf students . We need to be belay certified because in order to rock climb you have to be belay certified.And the reson that we do that is because it is  related to are curiculim because we can identify the rocks. If we could get belay certified we could go and do it on are own if we wanted to.

written by: Slade lillard, Caroline langley,Maddy ouellet,Vannsa gilbert.

Snorkeling at North Dry Sac

2/17/09

Today we went Snorkling and did a stream team survey at the North Dry Sac river out by the water shead center.  First we got there and split up into 2 groups.  We also had a discution about the stream team survey. We went to the river to look at the aquatic ecosystem, and to test the water quality. The water quality helps us see what invertabrates live in the water to detirmin how healthy the stream is because cirtain animals cannot live in a polluted ecosystem. The most sensetive invertabrate is the mayflie. So my group went snorkling first. We went snorkling to look at the aqutic eco system up close. It was very cool, because the water was mostly clear and you could really get in and get dirty.

By: Vanessa Gilbert and Caroline Langley

rottin’ logs

Today the WOLF students went to the Springfield Nature Center. First Mrs. Dyles class went on a hike which we had to turn around because there was a little patch of ice. On the other hand while we were o our 10 minute hike Mrs. Ziegler class was inside getting a presentation on rotting logs then they got  to dig in the logs and look for animals and then they showed them on the elmo. Then we switched by the way did I say that it was a little cold outside. But cold rain or tornadoes sunshine or snow we will still live.

BY:Ashley Parker,Vanessa Gilbert,Caroline Langley,andof course Maddy Ouellette

KSMU Highlights WOLF on Morning Show

http://www.ksmu.org/content/blogcategory/40/80/