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Thursday, May 15, 2008

Thursday's Adventures

We started our day with an IMAX movie called The Octopus Challenge which was outstanding as it teaches about how an octopus uses camouflage to protect itself in both skin color and body transformation as well as how intelligent/clever an octopus is.

The octopus is a truly remarkable creature. This amusing and insightful programme shows the octopus in action - squeezing into tiny spaces, sniffing out hidden food, even opening doors. These soft-bodied, boneless molluscs appear to outshine all the other invertebrates, but are they clever or just instinctive? A BBC/Animal Planet co-production.

I thought it would be a wonderful way to jump start our invertebrate study at the beginning of June. We sat and watched it with a school field trip. We cannot escape these it seems. The next few pictures are of the kids exploring a catfish exhibition, they especially loved the huge catfish that they could internally explore.




Here at one of the kids' favorite parks that has been a "treat" for the last 4 years.



We also visited a planetarium and watched a domed show (3-D, awesome!) about the solar system and explored a neighboring science discovery center with sound, magnetism, light and mirrors. We finished our day with our last tour of the aquarium that we've enjoyed at least 6 times since we've lived here. It's amazing how much retention the kids have about what's there, Camille was identifying animals left and right. I didn't take pictures inside because I've taken so many before.

I will say one thing- it seems that after school field trips have gone through, people's patience, care, and attitudes go with them. I don't know if the school field trips are just horrible experiences for the people who work at these places or we are just at the wrong place at the wrong time but I stopped myself from telling someone today that their attitude was very poor, especially for children who WANT to learn. Any-hoo, it's one of those things that I wanted to say something and didn't so I'm writing about it here. How's that for passive aggressive?

 

5 comments:

the striped rose said...

What great experiences for your family!

I know what you mean about the people working those venues. Sometimes they seem to hate kids! I get that at the library sometimes too -- "please do not let them touch our precious children's books!" Ha!


Michele

Anonymous said...

Look like you guys are having a lot of fun! Enjoy every minute of it and have a great weekend!

Anonymous said...

I do think that large school groups can really wear down a staff, whether volunteer or paid. We have been known to avoid certain attractions when the school buses are stacked up in the parking lot precisely because no one seems to enjoy those big trips. The teachers are grouchy, the parents who volunteered to be there are grouchy and the big groups tend to be very pushy to see the "neat" exhibits. Looks like you've had a lot of fun this week!

Paige said...

Looks like you are having alot of fun, thanks for sharing!

my5wolfcubs said...

What a cool park!
Lee