The Great Adventure

Every day is full of laughter when you are a teacher.  Here is one of our fitness moments.

During morning snack time, I highlight nutritious snack choices the children and their families are making.  One day as we ate together on the playground, I asked them to hold up and call out their healthy snack for this day.

“Carrot sticks!”

“Homemade granola bar!”

“Plum!”

“Lowfat cheese stick!”

Then one smart-alecky voice piped up, “Potato chips!”

And everyone cracked up . . .

With my grandfather’s stroke right after April vacation, my schedule became a bit more overwhelming than usual, and blogging had to be put aside for a time.  It was difficult not to post, for our dear students have said and done many remarkable blog-worthy things over these weeks.  Hopefully, you will still enjoy catching up with these spring happenings over the summer as I post some of them now.  Enjoy!

–Philbrick-Cricenti Bog

–Montshire nature trails

–Saunt-Gaudens National Historic Site

–Valley Quests

–Murdough Experimental Greenhouse at Dartmouth

–Brookfield floating bridge

–covered bridges of NH

–covered bridges of VT

–251 Club of Vermont

–Hood Museum of Art

–walking tour of Claremont Village Industrial District (free brochure from Chamber of Commerce on Tremont Square)

–Things to do in New Hampshire

–Things to do in Vermont

–explore Quechee Gorge

*****

Or borrow one my books for a night or two to find many more ideas:

–Off the Beaten Path:  Guide to Unique Places in New Hampshire

–Insiders’ Guide:  Fun with the Family in Vermont and New Hampshire

–Best-Loved Family Adventures in the Connecticut River Valley

–Vt and NH guides

–Valley Quest guides

April is the month to practice our persuasive writing techniques at home.  My prediction is that you will have a blast on this family adventure.  One reason you will enjoy this assignment is that it gets you out in the beautiful New England springtime to enjoy the fresh air with your family BEFORE the black flies hatch.  Also, who doesn’t want to explore something they haven’t seen or learned about before?  You even get to choose whatever type of adventure you wish to experience!  It can be as simple as hiking in the woods or as fancy as a “tourist trap.”  Finally, I think you will enjoy writing persuasively because you will share what you have discovered with a very appreciative audience.  So off you go!

What?  A Family Adventure

Where?  You choose!  The goal is to find something in your neighborhood/town/community that you haven’t seen or tried before.  See the suggestions that follow to get your creative juices flowing.

While you are there?  Come up with a creative way to show what you did.  Take a photograph, film a little video, grab a brochure, draw a picture, make a collage, or come up with your own idea.  We will look forward to seeing a little something visual when you share your writing piece, and perhaps it could be shared on your blog as well.

Then what?  Go on your adventure by Wednesday, April 24^th.  Fill in the graphic organizer online (http://www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/interactives/persuasion_map/) or on paper with your opinion about the place you went.  Should we go there too?  Or not?  Think of at least three strong reasons for your opinion, and add smaller details about each reason.  Be sure to discuss your reasons with your family and include their ideas as well.

When?  Bring your graphic organizer/planner to class by Wednesday, 4/24.  We will discuss the next steps together after giving each other suggestions about the strength of the reasons for our opinion.

Some ideas to consider:

*Is there a place of physical beauty in your neighborhood that you have not yet taken the time to visit?  (A mountain to climb, a river to explore, a historic marker you haven’t taken the time to read and visit, or a forest to hike in?)

*Is there something that you’ve always been curious about that you have never yet stopped to see?  (A strange looking store, a neighboring farm, the Lebanon Pet and Aquarium Center, a bridge with interesting architecture, a cemetery with very old markers?)

*Explore online to find out what might be in your area that is new to you.  (For example, have you heard of the floating bridge in Brookfield, the bog trail in New London, NH, or the Murdough Experimental Greenhouse at Dartmouth College?)

*Splurge over vacation going somewhere your family has wanted to go.  (King Arthur Flour, the aquatic center, a bowling alley, or the sea)

*Perhaps there is an activity your family has always wondered about.  (Just a few years ago, I took training with the Upper Valley and discovered Valley Quest treasure hunting.  Check out the website or borrow one of my questing books.)

*Try something ridiculous (or don’t!).  I just read about having a Maple Massage at the Spa at Stowe Mountain Lodge, a lovely maple syrup and brown sugar scrub treatment, followed by a shower with seven shower heads, for only $150!  Ha ha.

I’m always on the lookout for novel ideas around me, especially ones that pertain to teaching.  My parents’ newspaper just featured the 251 Club of Vermont, and I was captivated.

The 251 Club was formed with the mission of visiting all of the towns in Vermont, and their website helps you to keep track of each town you visit.  Some members look for different ways to make their visits special, such as going by bike, walking on each Main Street, or taking a picture by a special building in each town.  The article added information about members who have accomplished this mission only to come up with another one to follow, such as visiting all the covered bridges in Vermont, going to all of Vermont’s railway stations, or climbing every mountain.  Another example of “unbored” people all around us.

Imagine keeping a writing notebook or posting all summer on your blog to document a challenge such as this!  For more information, visit 251 Club of Vermont.

A special thank you to Ms. Christine Richardson and her friend Kip from Seal Cove Journeys Kennel, along with Pebbles, Dutchess, and Xander, who topped off our mushing unit with their informative and very enthusiastic presentation.