WELCOME TO THE SCHOOLYARD!

Today, we had the most amazing visitor in our schoolyard. Right before students lined up to go to classes this morning, this amazing Polyphemous Moth with a six-inch wingspan was sighted on the school wall, right near the kickball field. Mr. Carlisi started taking photos, then Ms. Rubens, and some students ran upstairs to let me in on this great find. Then I snapped this photo!

Polyphemous moths are giant silk moths that are native to our area. The caterpillars (see below) feed on a variety of tree leaves, like oak, maple, birch, and sycamore. Then they wrap themselves in a leaf and spin a cocoon inside, which is where they stay until they emerge. After emerging, the moths mate and the female lays eggs. The moths do not have mouths and do not eat. They only live about a week to ten days.

I believe our visitor was a male because males have thicker antenna so as to detect a chemical put out by the females. This is an ADAPTATION that females use to be found by a mate.

The four eye spots are also an ADAPTATION to scare away predators. The eye spots are transparent! This moth gets its name from the Greek myth of Cyclops Polyphemus, the monster with the one eye. Polypheous moth are usually nocturnal, so I'm not sure why it was flying around the schoolyard in broad daylight today!

ATTENTION SOON TO BE FIFTH GRADERS!

 

The Urban Nature Club is for fifth-grade students extremely interested in nature. Most of what we do is plant and maintain the school garden, so an interest in plants is essential. We may also do some bird watching and other nature activities. Some of the gardening is hard work and you WILL get dirty, so you must be willing to literally DIG IN. While we will spend time outside, sometimes we will be inside planning the garden or learning how to study nature. The Urban Nature Club is fun, but it is also a time to learn. Every student will be EXPECTED to keep a nature journal, which includes writing and nature illustrations. Some of this will have to be done at home. Good behavior and cooperation is a must! You also must be able to follow all instructions, have excellent attendance, and work well with others. Please apply only if you can’t imagine yourself doing anything else. The club will most likely meet on Mondays after school, but that time might change. Thank you for your interest, Ms. Seitz

Please answer the following questions on a clean sheet of lined paper. The paper MUST have a heading with your name and class. The writing MUST be neat and legible, but students will not be judged on spelling or sentence construction. Enthusiasm and commitment is what I’m looking for. The questions MUST be answered fully. In the event that many students submit an application, the strongest candidates will be chosen by lottery.

1. Please explain in two sentences or more why you want to be a member of the Urban Nature Club.

2. Please describe in two sentences or more any experiences you have had in nature or gardening. Don’t worry if you haven’t had much experience. If you haven’t, please tell me what you are most interested in learning from nature and gardening.

3.  What are some of your interests outside of school?

4.  What about nature and gardening appeals to you? In other words, what do you like about these things? Please answer in two sentences or more.

5. Finally, why should you be chosen to be a member of the Urban Nature Club? Convince me that this is a good fit for you. Answer in two sentences or more.

That’s it! Good luck to everyone!

DUE DATE IS WEDNESDAY, JUNE 20, 2012. THEY CAN BE LEFT IN MY MAILBOX. LATE APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.

ATTENTION FOURTH-GRADERS

It was a beautiful day but quite windy in the P.S. 230 Garden on McDonald Avenue. We went out to plant some basil and in the garden saw a young bird not quite strong enough and having a hard time flying in the wind. It would take off and then get blown down or tired. So I went over to pick it up and, well, it was pretty easy. The young house sparrow (I suspect a female) was a little uneasy at first (and yes, pooped on Ms. Seitz!), but then she settled into my hand and the hands of four Urban Nature Club Members. The students remarked how soft and warm she felt and how they could feel her heart beating. Then she was placed in the shrouded safety of one of the garden beds until she was ready to try her wings at flying again.

 

Besides that, we pick our first piece of broccoli, which was shared among us. It had a crisp and tender stalk. Very yummy. There were also a few radishes to gnaw on. The raspberries are little green balls right now. Can't wait for those to ripen up. And the snapdragons are in bloom and well as Lamb's Ear in the herb bed with its pretty pinkish flowers.

We also have three additional raised beds on the Dahill Road side of the school, which are doing really well. We're growing corn, squash, peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers and others delicious things. Speaking of the garden, we are looking for parents and student volunteers to help maintain the garden over the summer. If you're interested, let Ms. Seitz know.




Also, fourth-graders interested in joining the Urban Nature Club next year should start thinking about why they're interested because I will be handing out applications soon. If I receive more than 8-10 applications, winners that display the greatest interest in nature and who have stellar behavior will be selected by lottery.