Sure, there were bucking broncos and bulls to ride, but our favorite things at the Rodeo of the Ozarks were the sheep and the goats. Muttonbusting is an event in which little buckaroos attempt to ride sheep. It was a muddy evening when we went, so the kids were attempting… Continue reading
What if you could go on a field trip without losing class time, coming up with funding, or having to carry anyone’s jacket? Virtual fieldtrips give you that option. What’s a virtual field trip? It’s a visit to an interesting place via the world wide web. Here are a… Continue reading
Field trips used to be a major part of school excitement, and they can be wonderful learning opportunities. At many schools, though, the cost of fuel and NCLB have made field trips a rarity, and they have to be defended with strong, clear ties to standards and benchmarks. One… Continue reading
The story of Atlantis, the wonderful kingdom that sank beneath the ocean, captures student imaginations and provides terrific teachable moments for science, literature, and social studies. The only written record of Atlantis, and the origin of the story, is in the Dialogues of the Greek philosopher Plato, where he writes… Continue reading
We enjoyed a visit to the Aquarium of the Pacific. It’s a beautiful space, and it gives visitors the chance to get up close and personal with creatures you just don’t see every day. An aquarium is essentially a zoo of underwater creatures. A good aquarium gives us a… Continue reading
We went to Pea Ridge National Military Park to learn more about the Civil War. We have a couple of battlefield parks here where we live, and we find it sobering to stand where so many lost their lives. It’s also very interesting. Pea Ridge has excellent interpretive exhibits examining… Continue reading
The Osage are a Siouxan group of Native Americans. They migrated from the Ohio Valley down to Missouri, and had their traditional hunting grounds in Northwest Arkansas. In the 19th century, during what was then called “Indian Removal” and is now called “The Trail of Tears,” the Osage moved… Continue reading
A former president once said that it was time for humans to get into the solar system, and we agree (we’re laughing, but we still agree). Our state standards include the solar system from 1st grade (learn the planets in order) to 8th grade (illustrate the solar system within… Continue reading
Do you have public art in your town? We live in towns with plenty of public art, and you may, too. Here are some forms of neighborhood art: statues fountains murals art installations If you can’t think of any examples like this from your town, look a little further… Continue reading
