Our new family members have arrived!

I love my exotic pets and I've always wanted to expand. On an impulse I went out and bought two new pets. They're cute! They're sort of furry! They're a pair of arachnids! One is a Chilean Rose Hair Tarantula appropriately named Aragog and the other is an Emperor Scorpion named Ceaser. We thought about calling it Nero at first, but the real Roman Emperor was just plain evil and the girls and I couldn't bring ourselves to honor him in any way whatsoever. My daughter was so happy she just hugged my arm and sort of jumped up and down saying, "Thank you, thank you, thank you!" I guess it runs in the family. I have just set up their new pet homes and didn't want to disturb them with portraits, so I added clips of what the species look like instead.

I have to say that I am just SO EXCITED!! It's so cool to have a large spider or a ferocious looking scorpion crawling over your hand. These guys do have another purpose besides my own selfish entertainment. They will help educate children at science classes, camps, and workshops. They are also part of a live animal birthday party business here in Orlando. If you have any questions about these fascinating creatures, post them and we'll respond soon.

Science Camp was AWESOME!!

All I can say is...what a great group of kids! We had between 40-50 students attend who were between 1st and 6th grade. They were both enthusiastic and polite--a teacher's dream! We covered the seven days of creation, completed a notebook for the students to keep, and had a hands-on activity each day. Some highlights were the Diet Coke and Mentos explosion, plant dissection, and observations of a dissected frog, fish, crayfish, heart, lung, eyeball, and owl pellet. I've included some photos, but the picture of the Diet Coke fountain doesn't do justice to the 20 foot peak we achieved!! There is quite a trick to sticking an entire pack of Mentos into a 2 liter bottle of soda before it erupts up into your face. The first time you do it, you get this feeling of trepidation as you wait for the unknown...the volcano of fizz threatening to dampen your spirits (literally). Now I'm pumped for next summer and more camps!!

Since the camp was in the morning, I had the afternoon free to hike in the Smokey Mountains, drive through Cades Cove, go tubing, horseback riding, and shopping in Gatlinburg. The highlight for lots of people seemed to be spotting a bear in Cades Cove. At the very end of the driving loop, a bear was seen and lines of cars had pulled over while passengers and drivers jumped out searching for the elusive creature. Not to be outdone, I pulled my van over to the side and jumped out with my camera, hopping gingerly on the gravel and looking into the darkened woods. Not a great photographer, my first five pictures were pretty much black except for a few trees caught by the flash. At this point the rangers had arrived and were directing vehicles that had stopped in the middle of the road. Fortunately, I was on the wildlife viewing pullover area and had a few minutes left before we needed to move on as well. Just then, the bear clambered out of the woods and I took my best shot. Now I have my picture of my bear in the Smokey Mountains (even though it really looks like a blackish lump). My husband looked at me and asked, "Why did you want a picture of a bear anyway?" I honestly didn't know. We have so many black bears in Central Florida that are invading neighborhoods that they have lost their charm around here. A dear friend of mine has a video of a mother bear and cubs that were trapped in her backyard earlier this month. But for a science teacher who is passionate about life science, it's always a thrill to see a magnificent creature in his own element!

Microscope Activities

As the new school year draws near, many parents want to purchase a new microscope for their students. The best microscope for young students is the Brock Magiscope. It is virtually indestructible, portable, and does not require electricity or batteries. In the rare event that a piece is broken, it has a lifetime warranty from the manufacturer. For high school students, a more traditional scope will provide an experience that prepares them for college level science courses.

Consider having each student keep a science journal for drawing pictures of specimens. Let them draw what they see for a few minutes. When they are done, instruct them to look again and draw a little more for a few more minutes. Some may complain, "But I don't see anything else!" Do not engage in a debate, just repeat the instructions to look, study, and draw some more. When they are done, have them repeat the study and drawing exercise for a thrid time. In the beginning, this may truly be difficult for some students. Encourage them to find just one more detail to add. Soon, they will gain confidence and find more details each time they study. They will also realize that you are not asking them to stare and draw indefinitely, but for just a very short period of time.