Meet Izzy the Lizzard.  She is a Leopard Gecko.  She eats crickets and wax worms.  She does not have suction cups on her feet, so a quick escape will not happen. She has a blue strip across her nose and she is very curious.  We learned several interesting facts about Izzy – the one most disturbing is that crickets cannot be left in the tank for more than a couple of hours because the crickets will attack the lizzards eyes and eat them.  Gross.  Happy to share this fact with all of you.

I have included a couple of pictures of R playing basketball.  One pic shows R shooting and if you look up near the net you will see the ball – yes, it went in.  R’s team is 6-0 this season.  They play a really tough team next week.  Two of R’s friends are on that team so it will be a great game.

As for the snow pics.  Last night it was coming down so hard.  This morning the weather people said the snow accumulated to 10+ inches and we are looking at about another 6 ” before the day is over.  This is expected in January.  It better not happen in April!!

Today my neighbor and I are baking a Yule Log for L’s Destination Imagination team to eat at their meeting tomorrow afternoon.

Destination Imagination is very similar to Odyssey of the Mind.  It is a “problem solving” competition.  The kids have six “problems” to pick from and they choose one.  L’s team chose to research 6 different countries and 1 tradition from each.  They must incorporate all 5 senses in their description of each tradition.  One of the kids chose France – the traditional Yule Log.  So the coaches are baking the cake so they can be able to fully experience this tradition.  Will include pictures later.  The competition focuses on improv techniques as well as a great deal of team work.  They will also be given random items that they must use to make something that will “transport” them from country to country.  This is a really neat way for the kids to learn about team work, think outside the box and use their imagination. 

L participated in this program when she was in 2nd grade.  The team had to tell a story – at the end of a story.  The team was an all girl team.  They chose Johnny Appleseed as their story.  Logically, a group of 2nd grade girls decided Johnny Appleseed must get married after the story ended!  So they put on a wedding in front of the judges, complete with apple cake they served the judges.  It was very fun.  The other really cool thing about this program is that it is driven by the kids.  They make their own decisions and the adults do not make any decisions, nor do we tell them what or how to do things.  They must figure it out.  -The Yule Log is a surprise.  We dont have to bake this thing – They would be able to describe it – Karen and I think it will enhance their learning.  Besides, when would we ever get a chance to make a Yule Log.

The countries that the team  picked:  France, Italy, Madagascar, Egypt, Iceland and Czech Republic. 

Traditions:  France: Yule Log; Italy: Italian Dance; Madagascar: Cleaning rice with a hand made wicker basket; Egypt: Rolling a Mummy; Iceland: still working on; Czech Republic: still working on.

The group is made up of 3rd and 4th graders.  We are very proud of them.  We are all learning alot!!

That is all for today!  Thank you for visiting!