Monday, April 22, 2013

Dear Teach: Earth Day



Hi Boys and Girls,

In celebration of a very special day, Earth Day, I am featuring a portion of my January 14's blog. View the clip below and then think about the following ideas.

In light of oh so many events that have circled our globe in the past few months, and even just days in this new 2013 year, that's not so very new any more, let's stop and think: What lessons have we learned?

What is it that humanity is in desperate need of?

What new idea did Carl Sagan bring to you?

What is it that you as a human being are shown here?

Was Carl Sagan more than a cosmologist? In what way?

Is this important? Why?

Are you more than a 10, 11, or 12 year old? In what way?

Are most people more than who they appear to be? Is there a common thread that binds us all? If so, what is it?

Is there more than one way to view things?

What are your thoughts on his ideas?

This is a day to think deeply about and to reflect upon--Earth Day. What does it mean to you?

Make a pledge to yourself or some small action you can take--on this day.




                                              Cosmologist, Carl Sagan's Pale Blue Dot Earth
1934-1996


  





Be well kids.

The Teach

Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Dear Teach: Pastels everywhere---can you name that blossom?

Hi Boys and Girls,

Well, if you haven't noticed, look around you. Spring is here and it is teeming with a blast of color. Beautiful pastels! They are everywhere. 


These flowering trees put a smile on your face. Besides the fact they help us welcome Spring, just looking at them brings joy and inner peace. 

Future days will be warmer and many more trees will green and others will burst into vivid hues. 

But trees that are blossoming now, in these first few weeks of April are very special indeed. They may be timid, or fierce and bold for they bare the all too unsure condition of, "Is it safe yet, will there be an unexpected frost to wilt our blossoms?" 

Regardless, and as if on cue these magnificent trees bravely open their buds one-by-one, petal by petal for all to see their spectacular display and smell their intoxicating scents!  

But that isn't all, if you stand quietly beneath anyone of these trees not only will you be swallowed up in the sweetness of their aroma, but you will hear the frenzy of busy bees humming in pure delight. 

Now don't move or disturb them, just observe them. These little miracles of nature bring pollen to and from one flowering plant to another and are the gardeners of our fields and plants. 

Tip your head back and look up at the sturdy tree trunk and its graceful limbs which hold hundreds of bouquets of flowers. 

By now we've used most all our senses, well almost except for touch. No need to, unless you have planted trees or bushes for the purpose of cutting and bringing their flowerets indoors.

And, sooner or later you may have spotted or wondered, "Now what is that beautiful flowering tree," or "what's that yellow bush I see everywhere?"

You may not be a budding arboriculturist [no pun intended], but it doesn't mean you shouldn't know the names of the native trees that adorn the North Eastern part of the United States each spring. 


Knowing a few names of trees and what their flowering parts look like may well provide you with a few details to support you and your writing. It'll give your sentences a flair!

So without further adieu, can you guess the names of the flowering images below?

Here's a few to consider:



Forthysia bush with elongated woody stems

Because these grow so prolifically, homeowners will clip a few of their long stems and bring them indoors for a splash of Spring color.

Look closely here, you'll see a perfectly formed star. What tree do these blossoms belong to?
White with ever-so-light pink edges

Strong graceful limbs

Blossoms against green and white clouds

Seemingly, giant cottonballs against blue sky

Have you seen these?

It is the Glorious Cherry Blossom tree!

Deep pink Japanese Cherry Blossoms
Japanese Cherry Blossom tree, one of the first to blossom

Saucer Magnolia bud begins to unfold, 
resembling a large saucer when fully opened

Large Magnolia tree buds waiting to burst




Flowering Magnolia's filament

Magnolias opening up
Stella Magnolia Blossom




Small Stella Magnolia Bush 



Have you seen these?


Here's a close up of these amazing blossoms.


Weeping Cherry tree,
resemble pink clusters of cotton candy!


These are everywhere one looks!


Have you seen them?


They often line the downtown streets
 casting a canopy of whitish greenish hues...
the outstanding and exquisite Pear tree!

So what's blooming in your back yard?

Be well kids!

The Teach



Saturday, April 13, 2013

Dear Teach: A look at the most beautiful public schools in the world


Hi Boys and Girls,

If you were in charge of designing a classroom or even an entire school, what would it look like?

What would you put in it? What colors would you use? Would the roof be made of glass?

Or would you have planted trees that grace the ceiling, retractable skylights to welcome in the first snowflakes, or a menagerie of exotic animals living in a classroom down the hall? 

Or would your school look like the inside of a computer?

What mood would it elicit in you? Peaceful or other world?

Well, here's a look at The Most Beautiful and Imaginative Public Schools in the World.
Ljubljana, Slovenia




Ljubljana, Sloveniaon
Saint-Denis, France
Saint-Denis, France
Saint-Denis, France
Paris, France
Paris, France
The Hague, The Netherlands

The Hague, The Netherlands



Santa Marta, Colombia



Santa Marta, Colombia



Santa Marta, Colombia



Nagahama, Japan


Nagahama, Japan
If you could select one to visit, which would it be? Why? What does it have that yours does not?

We all know that with every school also comes the all favorite time of day, lunchtime. What does your school's lunch offer? 

Does it look like the image below? Check the link and see which country hosted the meal. So what's for lunch today?





Here's a look at lunches from around the world. Which would you choose to have? Why?

Create a super meal you would offer once a year at your school. What would it contain? Would it be health conscious tidbits or filled with delectable treats to tempt even is the finickiest eater!



Be Well Kids.


The Teach