Summer Fun!

Hi all,

Hope your Summer is making you healthy and happy. I hope you are finding good books to read. 

I am enjoying my summer. My two cats, Sylvia and Lucy, are so happy to have me at home.  I have been enjoying reading a few books and getting some chores done and hanging out with friends.

I've taken a few pictures of creatures in my back yard and in my house. I have a new picture of a cellar spider (Daddy Longlegs) with her newly hatched babies. I put that picture in the "Be Kind to Spiders" page (linked on the right of my blog). Here is one of a Swallowtail butterfly on a purple butterfly bush flower in my back yard. I took this one and shared it on public media and then Ms J. Williams shared one she took of the same subject!:

Ms. Wolfsong

Ms. Williams

I have been having the best time of all following groups of scientists on their study of the ocean. This is the Nautilus explorations which they broadcast live via this link: http://www.nautiluslive.org/. They discuss the creatures of the deep and we can watch and listen as they discover species, take samples and just marvel at the richness of the sea.

Here is a shot of "A Swiftia Pacifica stretching out behind a crinoid, with a few shrimp clinging to its structure. A shark, ray or skate egg casing is seen to the left. " This was seen off the Oregon Coast.


Right now the Nautilus (the ship) is off the coast of California. The scientists have their equipment and cameras on board the ship and manipulate the equipment on the diving vehicle, the Hercules. 

Hercules

Go to http://www.nautiluslive.org/  and watch the activities live. Even if they are not diving you can watch the scientists and others working on the ship. 
I have been making lists of some of the creatures I have seen so I can look them up later in Google or a marine web page: Glass sponge; brittle stars; bamboo coral; tunicate; sea pen; black coral; bivalves; sea cucumber; primnoid; basket star cup coral; squat lobster; and sea star wasting disease . . . and more!

Keep enjoying your Summer and keep track of the cool things you see, learn, and do. 

Hugs to all! I will add more here if I come across anything more interesting . . . back to watching the Nautilus activities.

Ms. Wolfsong

Just a Note:

Hi Grout Students and Families,

I hope your Summer is as wonderful as mine! I miss school, and sometimes I dream about being there. I miss all of you.  I hope you are getting a chance to do lots of reading!

I wanted to let you know that I am making changes to the PortaPortal. I don't know if you will notice. Mostly, I am moving boxes around and organizing. I want to make it easier to use.

I have been enjoying lots of time to read outside in the garden. I've also been taking my two cats out there to explore my tiny backyard. I have been teaching them not to leave the yard, and that isn't easy.
Here is a picture of Sylvia:

She can be a little shy sometimes.  Here is a picture of Lucy when she thinks she sees something exciting:

Remember that if you want to contact me, do so through the blog. I get the messages in my email. Do you have ideas for the blog? Did you find an interesting and educational activity or game to add to the PortaPortal? I would like to hear from you.

See you later!

Hugs,
Ms. Wolfsong

P.S. Don't forget to practice reading, math, and writing. 

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