tales from a far-land

The entire second grade class at BASIS Phoenix Primary enjoyed their last field trip of the year on the last full day of school.  They went to the Herberger Theater to see Childsplay Theatre's version of the play "Schoolhouse Rock".  Josh was lucky enough to be selected as a chaperone for the field trip.  He and Aiden enjoyed this experience throughly.  Aiden's favorite part of the play was the song "Just a Bill". What a great out of the classroom experience for my kids (and husband)!  On the bus Waiting for the show In the theater Enjoying a picnic lunch Aiden and Josh

In January, I had the privilege of chaperoning my kids and their fellow APA classmates on a field trip to the  Arizona Museum of Natural History .  Grandma Farrell joined in the fun, as well. The main purpose of the field trip was to teach the kids about dinosaurs -- where they come from, how we know they existed, what types of dinosaurs there are, etc. While at the museum, the kids were able to touch fossils, create dinosaur pasta skeletons and wonder around the rest of the museum.   It was a new experience for all of us and well worth the drive to Mesa. The front lobby exhibit Learning about one of the dinosaurs Photo with the dinosaur Checking out T-Rex Listening to the Paleontologist Dinosaur Craft Time More Dinosaur Pictures

Madilyn's classroom at preschool took a field trip to Butterfly Wonderland in Scottsdale this past March. Butterfly Wonderland is an indoor rain forest butterfly pavilion.  All parents are given the opportunity to chaperone and I quickly volunteered (along with my friend Kathleen from California during her visit).  We arrived bright and early at preschool to get all of the kids loaded into the school van and other parents' cars. We then drove across town to the newly opened Butterfly Wonderland.  The first stop once we entered the attraction was a brief 3D movie about the life of a monarch butterfly.  The kids loved it and at many moments during the movie tried to catch the butterflies as they would have the appearance of flying around you.  After the movie, the Wonderland staff move you into a room where you are able to watch the metamorphosis of a butterfly.  I found this exhibit particularly fascinating as I have never watched this occur in real life. ...