November 16, 2011

3rd Grade Field Trip to Culvert Canyon

For Moab's Helen M. Knight Elementary school third graders, the fall field trip is one that is talked about for a long time after it is done. We did this field trip 6 days-- and I must say that it was definitely the most fun to teach! Our stations are talking about the concepts of simple machines, like levers and wedges. We also talk about the classes of the machines (first, second and third) and how the ancient people used them to make their every day jobs easier. 
Ranger Kelly talks to the kids about using your whole arm when throwing something in order to get the most force out of the action. She taught the Atlatl station that day, and this was a test to see if the kids could follow instructions properly.
Ranger Karen shows the kids how to make fire with a hand drill and a fire bow. The kids each got a chance to try and make their own fire, but mostly we only got smoke.
The third graders try to make fire using a hand drill.
At my station, we discussed different things that the ancient people used rocks for, and then we talked about how they used a mano and matate to grind corn. A mano is a first class lever, and the corn is the load. We talked about how grinding corn was a big part of Anasazi life and how much corn it would take to feed a family.
Here I am showing the kids the proper way to hold the mano and how to grind the corn. Each kid got a chance to grind the corn, and they really enjoyed it.
Each kid got the chance to grind the corn and we talked about how the women in the family would do this all day in order to make sure that their family would be able to eat that night. We also talk about how there are certain foods that we as humans cannot properly digest unless they are ground up or boiled. Wheat and rice are two examples of that. The Anasazi would grind corn into powder and make it into other food items because it was easier to eat it that way.
"Would you want to grind corn all day, every day? Do you think you'd get bored really quickly?"
So now that we spent all that time growing our corn, collecting the seeds and grinding it into powder to make it into food, is it important that we collect everything and keep it until we need to use it to cook food?" We collected the ground corn in my 'ancient' cottage cheese container. Collecting the powder also gave the students an opportunity to see how much sand got into our corn. The Anasazi had many dental problems because of the amount of sand that got into their food from grinding.
Now it's time for the kids to make their own stone tools. We talked about how arrowheads and scrapers took a lot of time and skill to make, and how a lot of times we fail to notice that the ancient people also used tools that did not take a long time to create. The kids each put on safety goggles and find a rock. When you take a rock and smash it against another rock, if you hit the rock just right, it will create a weakness within the rock and the rock will break, hopefully creating a flake or a 'wedge' that could be used as a tool. After the kids show me that they can follow instructions, we throw our rocks.
"Okay, so you are going to take your rock in your hands and wait until I say one, two, three, throw!" When I say the word 'throw', you are going to take your rock, hold it over your head, and throw it as hard as you can against the other rock. Then, you are not going to pick up your rock or the pieces until I say the words 'ALL CLEAR'."
The kids patiently wait for me to say "all clear". Some kids made some really cool tools, while others didn't have very much luck. It was fun having them show me their rocks (broken or not) and for them to tell me what they would use them for if they were part of an ancient tribe.
Here I a leading the kids to their next station!
At Ranger Heidi's station, the kids learn about how the ancient people used digging sticks to pry tubers out of the ground. The digging stick is a lever, and the tuber is the load. We hid clay 'taters' in the ground and the kids have to find them and pry them up with their digging sticks. 
The kids search for the tubers, count them, and then hide them again so other kids have a chance to find them.
Ranger Kelly talks to the kids about how to use atlatls. Unfortunately, my camera died before we could get any pictures of her doing the Atlatl station. I got a lot of pictures when I taught it, though, so be on the look out for those!

November 14, 2011

Around Arches NP and Klondike Bluffs

I got the chance to go roving in Klondike Bluffs, which is an area of the park that not a lot of visitors go to. This part of the park has the original Arch, named Tower Arch, that the "founder" of Arches NP found while exploring the area. This was the original "Devils Garden", but now it goes by the name Klondike Bluffs.

Tower Arch Trail - This moderately strenuous trail leads to Tower Arch, a spectacular formation nestled among the fractured rocks of Klondike Bluffs. Look for prospector Alex Ringhoffer's 1922-23 inscription under Tower Arch. Because of his interest in the Klondike Bluffs area, Ringhoffer was instrumental in having Arches designated originally as a national monument.
Yucca plants along the trail
The "Marching Men"
Tower Arch
Ringhoffer's inscription - he is credited as being the Father/Discoverer of Arches National Park
A view from behind Tower Arch
The Bust of Nefertiti - Park Avenue
I will be honest with you. Once, while Danielle and I were managing weeds in this pull off, a man approached me and asked me the significance of the sign. He asked specifically why the pedestrian had a hula hoop on his hips. I admit I laughed and tried to explain to the best of my ability that Arches is pro-hula hoop-- but only after 1000 feet.. Just kidding! I helped him understand that a visitor probably put that sticker on the pedestrian to be humorous. Visitors do strange things and ask strange questions...
The Three Gossips
The Three Gossips and Sheep Rock
Close up of Sheep Rock
The trees at Lower Courthouse Wash were beautiful as they were changing colors.
Far away shot of the Windows Section of the park
This is a rock formation called The Typing Toad
I tried my very best to capture the beauty of Arches National Park on my camera, but the truth is... there is no greater feeling than waking up every morning and being able to go into one of the most beautiful places in the world and call it your workplace. What is even better? Being able to take kids who go to school in Moab who have never even been to Arches into places that visitors normally can't go. I will be sad to leave this place-- I will miss my red rock backyard and being able to drive 40 minutes and be in the snow and mountains.

November 12, 2011

Moab's 6th Annual Pumpkin Chuckin' Festival and Wiener Dog Races!

On October 29, I was able to attend Moab's 6th Annual Pumpkin Chuckin' Festival. It was a lot of fun, and for a good cause! I took a bunch of pictures, but here are the best ones. I know October seems like it was a long time ago, but I had to share my experience!
The entrance to the Festival! A lot of people, children and dogs wore costumes and it was funny to see everyone out all dressed up.
The Awesome Schedule of Events for the day! I got there right around 1 pm, just in time to get a good seat for the Wiener Dog Races!
I only got to see the air cannons... but oh well!
Caution indeed!
They were taking this wooden catapult down when I got there.
The picture is pretty self explanatory... Dick Cheney's Wild Safari. Pretty darn funny!
"I love the sound of 'Smashing Pumpkins' in the morning" -- so clever!
The air cannon on the right was made by a team from Colorado. Can you see the pumpkin in the air?
There they go, shooting another one! The two brown looking things in the background of the picture are old cars covered in carboard boxes. The goal was to hit the cars, but the air cannon on the right would shoot the pumpkins clear over into the next state. If you took your eyes off the pumpkin for a second, you'd lose it.
Can you see the pumpkin chunks flying through the air?
The Wild Safari trying really hard to hit the car...
Giving it one more try...
This time, the pumpkin flew over the car. Maybe next time?
Maybe if they aim the cannon lower...
Maybe if they aim the cannon higher??
The Wiener Dog Race

The sign up sheet... note the names like "Hot Mustard" and "Poker Face Patsie"
The teenie-weenie contestants take a few practice runs.

On your bark, get set, GOOO!!!!!!!!!!!

The winning wiener was the one dressed like a skunk!!
Familiar Faces
Jeff, who works in the Arches bookstore, was a volunteer at the event.
Gretchen Wise, me, and KJ Lies hang out under the Canyonlands National Park - Island in the Sky District tent where they educate people on common spiders in the area.
I couldn't leave without a picture with the Black Widow Bean Bag Toss game that they worked so hard to make!
On my way out, I got to watch "Kurt Cobain" and someone else go against each other in the pumpkin pie eating contest!