Wonderbugs: Lizard Wizard

Dear Wonderbugs,

This is a bittersweet week for me since it is the last week of spring classes. I said goodbye to some friends who will “graduating” from Wonder Bugs. Other friends are signed up for the 4-7 year old summer camps so I will not be seeing them either this summer. Finally, once my baby comes (August-ish!) I will be taking some time off from Wonder Bugs heading into the fall session.  I have enjoyed getting to know each and every one of you.  Thank you for coming, singing, and playing. It has been an absolute delight!

There was no disguising the enjoyment this week! Aside from the goodbyes, we had a blast!  We learned all about chameleons AKA lizard wizards.  I wonder what makes chameleons so special.  For one thing, they can change the color of their skin!  Their mood, the temperature, and the amount of light can initiate the change from green skin to red, blue, black or a mix of colors.   

To help them hide in the trees and leaves, they have y-shaped feet; three toes are fused and two toes are fused.  Chameleons can also see in more than one direction at once! That’s right, their eyes can move independently of each other in different directions. This helps them find their favorite food- insects.  Chameleons are slow-moving, though, so to catch the insects they use their super-long, sticky tongues to slurp them up.  

Our tongues are not nearly as long, but we practiced using them at snack time anyway to “catch” our food.  Outside we had a fun time taking turns playing hide-n-seek with our transparent chameleon friends. I wonder what the chameleon would look like on my pillow. What about in my sandbox? Has your chameleon friend been to any new places since you took him/her home? 

For more fun, check out these lizard wizard stories!  The Mixed-Up Chameleon by Eric Carle; AColor of His Own by Leo Lionni.

Don’t change too much until I see you next and have fun this summer with our other Wonderbugs teachers! If you have any pictures or suggestions to share, please contact me at tara.vondollen@gmail.com. I hope to see you around the nature center this summer!

All my best,

Miss Tara

Click here to see the Wonderbugs programs this summer!

Sprouting Grass...Hidden Ginger

Photo Credit: Althea Dotzour

Dear Wonder Bugs,Signs of spring were sprouting up all over this week!  Grasses, flowering plants, weeds, and even ginger were showing their green colors. It was fun to “plant” dandelion seeds by blowing on the seed heads! Creeping Charlie and mint had interesting smells that some of us liked better than the smell of wild ginger.

Wild ginger is a fun, native plant because the flowers are like little surprises. Wild ginger flowers hide under the tall, heart-shaped leaves right along the ground; you have to carefully push the leaves aside until you find them.  I wonder why the flowers would be so close to the ground and not up in the air like the dandelion flowers?

There are insects that like the flowers and use them for different reasons!  There is a certain type of fly that lives underground through the winter. When it emerges in the spring, the flowers provide a warm and dry place to hide during the changing and surprising spring weather.  Once the flowers make their seeds, ants are attracted to a special part of the seed that makes a delicious food for the ants. So the ants follow the scent to the wind ginger seeds, carry the seeds back to their homes, eat the special, fleshy part, and leave the seed. If everything goes well, the wild ginger seed will sprout the next year into a new wild ginger plant!But the fun doesn’t stop there! Wild ginger can also sprout from their special root called a rhizome. Wild ginger makes a great ground cover because of its spreading ability!

Find that spring in your step!  There is more sprouting than grasses, dandelions and wild ginger- you just have to get outside and look. Create your own scavenger hunt sheet or fill up a page by drawing what you find.  Or try to sprout some seeds inside and watch what happens.

Over and sprout,
Miss Tara 

Remember to join us to share the Wonder Bugs experience with your entire family at our NEW Family Camps! Here are the details:

Evening Family Campfires (2 days each)
Wednesday & Thursday June 20-21 OR Tuesday & Wednesday July 31 and August 1
6:30-8:30 pm

Family camp is NEW for summer fun with grandmas, grandpas, parents and all the kids! If you have found yourself jealous of your kids going off to camp each summer, this one is for you. Bring the whole family for 2 evenings of nature activities, singing, storytelling, and stargazing around the campfire on a summer weeknight. Can you think of a better way to spend a summer evening?

Overnight Family Camps (AT our Black Earth Campus)
Friday, July 20-Saturday, July 21 OR Saturday, August 18-Sunday, August 19
6 pm-10 am

Bring the whole family for an overnight campout at our Black Earth Campus filled with nature activities, singing, storytelling, and stargazing around the campfire on a summer night! Bring your own sleeping bags, pillow (required) and tent (if you have one). Please indicate when registering if you would like to use an ALNC tent (limited supply available) or if you will be bringing your own.

Caw, Caw, Hello!

Dear Wonder Bugs,

We all know that crows can make loud, sometimes annoying sounds.  We listened to crow sounds and discovered that they do more than caw. They make a rattle sound that reminded us of a woodpecker and they also make softer noises like coo-coo. It was great fun practicing the sounds while acting like crows!  We pretended to be smaller birds (like sparrows) who “attack” crows in order to scare them away from their nests. The wonder bugs then formed a flock of crows to frighten the sleeping owl (me!) out of the tree.

Are you smarter than a crow? The wonder bugs certainly are!  They showed their intelligence by working puzzles, playing crow memory, completing mazes, and sorting crows by size. It was impressive to see everyone working so hard on the activities!  We also had fun pretending to build a crow’s nest and hatch some eggs. Crows are quiet once they have baby birds to feed so we stopped cawing for a few minutes at least.

This book is the one I wanted to read for snack but accidentally left at home. (My daughter pulled it from my stack and has been enjoying it quite a bit.) It is called Crow by Leo Timmers, and it teaches kids of all ages the importance of acceptance.

Mr. Nathan taught with me on Tuesday and took my place on Wednesday. He also helped take some pictures on Tuesday; you can see a couple in this post. Thank you, Nathan!

Don’t be “caw-tious” about it- have a great week!

Miss Tara

Get in on the fun! Join us for these fun upcoming Wonder Bugs sessions:

LAND, HO!
Tuesday, April 10 & Wednesday, April 11, 2012
9:30-10:45am
Registration Deadline: Friday, April 6, 2012
Oceans may be far from land-locked Wisconsin, but the wonders are ever so close. Splash into a fascinating, briny world. You’ll sea and learn amazing things!

SPROUTING GRASS...
Tuesday, April 24 & Wednesday, April 25, 2012
9:30-10:45am
Registration Deadline: Friday, April 20, 2012
...Hidden ginger. Come scavenge for signs of spring that are sure to be pushing up all over! Explore new games and songs. You’ll burst with bliss!

TREES PLEASE!
Saturday, April 28, 2012
9:30-10:45am
In honor of Arbor Day we will reach for new heights. Come get up close and personal with trees. Stories and games will branch out your knowledge, and at the end of the day you’ll be asking for more!

Me & My Shadow Wonder Bugs!

Dear Wonder Bugs,

Groundhog’s are chuck full of surprises! I bet you didn’t know that they sleep all winter long and don’t eat or even breathe very much. It’s true! Their breathing slows way down and so does their heart rate.  

Before they go to bed in the fall, they have to make sure that they ate so much that they are super fat! In fact, did you know that groundhogs weigh twice as much in the fall compared with when they wake up in the spring? Can you imagine?!

We had a blast tunneling like groundhogs, popping out of our underground homes and trying to make shadows of our own.  We also made our own puppets to take home with us complete with a yarn tail (thanks to Miss Sue!)! That way when we see the stringy tail we know it is a groundhog and not a beaver.
 
This is the book we read in class: Go To Sleep, Groundhog! By Judy Cox  Read it again at home!

Sing along with the song we sang in class and then get ready for Groundhog Day. I realized that I was “missing” the second verse after Tuesday’s class; the version below is the version I modified to account for a cloudy Groundhog Day.
 

I’m a Little Groundhog (Tune: I’m a Little Teapot)
adapted from the song found at http://www.everythingpreschool.com/themes/groundhogsday/songs.htm
 
I’m a little groundhog, short and stout.
On Groundhog Day I pop my head out.
If I see my shadow I don’t come out.
I stay in my hole and then I pout.

I’m a little groundhog, short and stout. 
On Groundhog Day I pop my head out. 
If I don’t see shadow, out I’ll stay. 
A smile on my face cause spring is on its way!

I hope to see you and your shadow again in a couple weeks!
 
Bye, Miss Tara

Also, remember to join us for these upcoming sessions:

WINTER WONDER BUG SESSIONS:
Prices for Wonder Bugs for all individual sessions:
ALNC Members: $6/child; Non-members: $7/child

KEEP ON TRACKING…
Tuesday, February 14 & Wednesday, February 15, 2012
9:30-10:45am
Registration Deadline: Friday, February 10, 2012
While the snow is stacking! Discover what it’s like to walk in someone else’s shoe (prints). Practice counting the toes- they always knows- and you’ll be able to guess the animal who walked there since.

MICE ON ICE
Tuesday, February 28 & Wednesday, February 29, 2012
9:30-10:45am
Registration Deadline: Friday, February 25, 2012

For birds of prey, this is a delicacy in the winter! Explore the predatory world of raptors in winter. Songs and games are sure to keep you roasty toasty.

Wonder Bugs - Deer John!

"Deer" Wonderbuggers,

Oh deer me! The fun that we had today was out of control- as were our somewhat floppy antlers. We got to feel real antlers, wrap up in a deer skin, and make tracks outside in the mud with a deer leg. Did you know that deer walk on two toe nails per foot? I wonder what that feels like.  It makes pretty neat tracks!

We learned that there are different members of the deer family like elk, moose, caribou and reindeer. The Deer Family (Zoobooks) by Timothy Levi Biel has great pictures of different deer as well as descriptions about what makes a deer a deer. Some of us practiced matching the antlers with the correct deer; it looked pretty silly to see moose antlers on a white-tailed deer! 

Another series of stories deer to me is “In the Woods” by Carl R. Sams II and Jean Stoick.  Each of the three stories depicts deer on seasonal adventures. We started to read Stranger in the Woods today in class. As the deer walk through the woods they encounter other woodland animals talking about the stranger. Read it to find out who the stranger is!  Apparently there are movies, too. Click here to see more.
Well deeries, it is time to go. Enjoy the holiday break and see you next year!

Miss Tara

 

WINTER WONDER BUG SESSIONS:
Package price for all 6 Winter Wonder Bugs sessions (choose Tuesdays or Wednesdays)ALNC Members: $33/child; Non-Members: $39/child (When registering on-line list "Winter Session" as event/program name and and "Tuesday" or "Wednesday" as the date)Prices for Wonder Bugs for all individual sessions:
ALNC Members: $6/child; Non-members: $7/child
Registration Form 

BEAR-LY BREATHING
Tuesday, January 10 & Wednesday, January 11, 2012
9:30-10:45am
Registration Deadline: Friday, January 6, 2012

Winter is a good time for napping, especially if you’re a black bear! "Cub" and find out something surprising! No bear bones about it- this day will be den-tastic!
Registration Form 

ME AND MY SHADOW
Tuesday, January 24 & Wednesday, January 25, 2012
9:30-10:45am
Registration Deadline: Friday, January 20, 2012

"Wood" you believe that the groundhog is “chuck” full of surprises? "Wood" you come down for songs, crafts, and a chuck-load of fun? I hope to see your shadow while we learn about all things groundhog.
Registration Form

KEEP ON TRACKING…
Tuesday, February 14 & Wednesday, February 15, 2012
9:30-10:45am
Registration Deadline: Friday, February 10, 2012
While the snow is stacking! Discover what it’s like to walk in someone else’s shoe (prints). Practice counting the toes- they always knows- and you’ll be able to guess the animal who walked there since.
Registration Form

MICE ON ICE
Tuesday, February 28 & Wednesday, February 29, 2012
9:30-10:45am
Registration Deadline: Friday, February 25, 2012

For birds of prey, this is a delicacy in the winter! Explore the predatory world of raptors in winter. Songs and games are sure to keep you roasty toasty.
Registration Form

Winter Webs Wonder Bugs

Gr-eight times were had by all this week! Our special guest was a real treat; I held a tarantula for everyone to see. Of course I forgot my camera so if you have any pictures, please email me! Some wonder bugs felt the claws at the end of her leg, and we counted her legs to make sure she had all 8. She did! But did you know that tarantulas can regenerate new legs if they lose one? Wow!

We discovered that winter is too cold for spiders; we only found one dead one tucked in an outdoor lampshade. Spiders either die or head to warmer places- like inside! We found a lot in the basement and in the corners of the building. They were hanging out in their very own webs. So then we just had to make our own webs with yarn, and while we were at it we pretended to stab insects with our fangs and suck up the bug soup. Yummy!

For snack we crunched on spiders! We used two crackers to represent the two body parts, and 8 pretzel stick legs and 8 sunflower seed eyes. Plus a little cream cheese to hold it all together! Voila!



Check out some spidery books from the library to find out more about these spiderific creatures. You might especially like to finish reading Up, Up, and Away by Ginger Wadsworth. A House Spider’s Life by John Himmelman would help you understand the spiders you might find in the corners of your house. There are many, many more!
For those singable moments here’s a new spidery song!

Little Spider Weaves a Web (from Growing Up WILD, page 15)
(Tune: “Twinkle, Twinkle”)
Little spider weaves a web
With some dry and sticky threads.
Her bristled feet keep her free
From getting stuck, can’t you see?

Here comes a fly buzzing by
Inter her web, watch it fly.
Wiggle wriggle. It’s stuck tight.
Spider has her meal tonight.

Join me in two weeks (and all through the winter) for more Wonder Bugs fun!
Miss Tara

WINTER WONDER BUG SESSIONS:
Package price for all 6 Winter Wonder Bugs sessions (choose Tuesdays or Wednesdays)ALNC Members: $33/child; Non-Members: $39/child (When registering on-line list "Winter Session" as event/program name and and "Tuesday" or "Wednesday" as the date)Prices for Wonder Bugs for all individual sessions:
ALNC Members: $6/child; Non-members: $7/child
Registration Form 

DEER JOHN
Tuesday, December 20 & Wednesday, December 21, 2011
9:30-10:45am
Registration Deadline: Friday, December 16, 2011
You are in luck! Deer do not write goodbye letters for the winter. They bed down here and leap over there. Today the songs, games, and fun a-bound!
Registration Form

BEAR-LY BREATHING
Tuesday, January 10 & Wednesday, January 11, 2012
9:30-10:45am
Registration Deadline: Friday, January 6, 2012

Winter is a good time for napping, especially if you’re a black bear! "Cub" and find out something surprising! No bear bones about it- this day will be den-tastic!
Registration Form 

ME AND MY SHADOW
Tuesday, January 24 & Wednesday, January 25, 2012
9:30-10:45am
Registration Deadline: Friday, January 20, 2012

"Wood" you believe that the groundhog is “chuck” full of surprises? "Wood" you come down for songs, crafts, and a chuck-load of fun? I hope to see your shadow while we learn about all things groundhog.
Registration Form

KEEP ON TRACKING…
Tuesday, February 14 & Wednesday, February 15, 2012
9:30-10:45am
Registration Deadline: Friday, February 10, 2012
While the snow is stacking! Discover what it’s like to walk in someone else’s shoe (prints). Practice counting the toes- they always knows- and you’ll be able to guess the animal who walked there since.
Registration Form

MICE ON ICE
Tuesday, February 28 & Wednesday, February 29, 2012
9:30-10:45am
Registration Deadline: Friday, February 25, 2012

For birds of prey, this is a delicacy in the winter! Explore the predatory world of raptors in winter. Songs and games are sure to keep you roasty toasty.
Registration Form

Gobble Gobble goes the Wonder Bug

How do you sing the turkey song? Does a male turkey gobble or does he yelp? Our Wonder Bugs who attended Gobble Gobble can tell you!

Kids, Moms, Dads, Grandpas & Grandmas too practiced doing the waddle and strutting their tailfeathers. As a reward they were rewarded with a "fowl treat" of insect larvae, wild grapes, and field corn. (Don't worry...we use puffed rice, raisins, and popcorn). 

We got to make our very own customized turkey caller that yelped like a turkey hen--sure to bring Mr. Tom Turkey around to investigate! We had to go outside to see if it would work. Yelping, gobbling, strutting - no luck! Oh well, that didn't stop us from playing turkey:


The sun was shining so we searched for turkey food. Then the moon came out and it was back to our "tree" to roost. The sun came out again so we hopped down from the tree to look for food, but this time coyotes, skunks, and eagles that looked a little like Moms and Dads were waiting to snatch up an unsuspecting turkey. It's tough being a turkey! But there's nothing better than being outside, playing with other turkeys, yelping and gobbling to our fowl heart's content.


Thanks everyone for coming to Wonder Bugs the day before Thanksgiving. I sure had a lot of fun. We look forward to seeing you again!


Miss Rachel & Miss Tara

NEW WINTER WONDER BUG SESSIONS:
Package price for all 6 Winter Wonder Bugs sessions (choose Tuesdays or Wednesdays)ALNC Members: $33/child; Non-Members: $39/child (When registering on-line list "Winter Session" as event/program name and and "Tuesday" or "Wednesday" as the date)Prices for Wonder Bugs for all individual sessions:
ALNC Members: $6/child; Non-members: $7/child
Registration Form 

WINTER WEBS
Tuesday, December 6 & Wednesday, December 7, 2011
9:30-10:45am
Registration deadline: Friday, December 2, 2011
Spiders come and spiders go...even in the winter! Discover a web of fun and take home an egg-sac full of memories! Bet you can’t wait!
Registration Form 

DEER JOHN
Tuesday, December 20 & Wednesday, December 21, 2011
9:30-10:45am
Registration Deadline: Friday, December 16, 2011
You are in luck! Deer do not write goodbye letters for the winter. They bed down here and leap over there. Today the songs, games, and fun a-bound!
Registration Form

BEAR-LY BREATHING
Tuesday, January 10 & Wednesday, January 11, 2012
9:30-10:45am
Registration Deadline: Friday, January 6, 2012

Winter is a good time for napping, especially if you’re a black bear! "Cub" and find out something surprising! No bear bones about it- this day will be den-tastic!
Registration Form 

ME AND MY SHADOW
Tuesday, January 24 & Wednesday, January 25, 2012
9:30-10:45am
Registration Deadline: Friday, January 20, 2012

"Wood" you believe that the groundhog is “chuck” full of surprises? "Wood" you come down for songs, crafts, and a chuck-load of fun? I hope to see your shadow while we learn about all things groundhog.
Registration Form

KEEP ON TRACKING…
Tuesday, February 14 & Wednesday, February 15, 2012
9:30-10:45am
Registration Deadline: Friday, February 10, 2012
While the snow is stacking! Discover what it’s like to walk in someone else’s shoe (prints). Practice counting the toes- they always knows- and you’ll be able to guess the animal who walked there since.
Registration Form

MICE ON ICE
Tuesday, February 28 & Wednesday, February 29, 2012
9:30-10:45am
Registration Deadline: Friday, February 25, 2012

For birds of prey, this is a delicacy in the winter! Explore the predatory world of raptors in winter. Songs and games are sure to keep you roasty toasty.
Registration Form

Chew on These Beaver Tidbits!

Dear Wonder Bugs,

Here are some beaver books to devour! 

Beaver Pond Moose Pond by Jim Arnosky (We read this in class!)
Beaver Is Lost by Elisha Cooper (A picture book with only 4 words and exciting yet simple illustrations. You will enjoy this page-turner!)
Old Beaver by Udo Weigelt (A heart-warming young versus old story.)
Busy Beavers
Check out last week’s blog for local places with busy beavers.

As an extra treat, here's a song for your and your wonder bug!

Noble Beaver of the Pond Song
By Miss Tara Von Dollen
(Tune: “Noble Duke of York”)

Oh the beaver chops down trees.
The beaver chews up bark.
He hauls the trees up to the dam,
down by the water dark.

And when you’re up you’re up
and when you’re down you’re down
And when you’re only halfway
up you’re neither up nor down.

*Stand up or crouch down with the words “up” and “down.”

Have fun,
Miss Tara

NEW WINTER WONDER BUG SESSIONS:
Package price for all 6 Winter Wonder Bugs sessions (choose Tuesdays or Wednesdays)ALNC Members: $33/child; Non-Members: $39/child (When registering on-line list "Winter Session" as event/program name and and "Tuesday" or "Wednesday" as the date)Prices for Wonder Bugs for all individual sessions:
ALNC Members: $6/child; Non-members: $7/child
Registration Form 

WINTER WEBS
Tuesday, December 6 & Wednesday, December 7, 2011
9:30-10:45am
Registration deadline: Friday, December 2, 2011
Spiders come and spiders go...even in the winter! Discover a web of fun and take home an egg-sac full of memories! Bet you can’t wait!
Registration Form 

DEER JOHN
Tuesday, December 20 & Wednesday, December 21, 2011
9:30-10:45am
Registration Deadline: Friday, December 16, 2011
You are in luck! Deer do not write goodbye letters for the winter. They bed down here and leap over there. Today the songs, games, and fun a-bound!
Registration Form

BEAR-LY BREATHING
Tuesday, January 10 & Wednesday, January 11, 2012
9:30-10:45am
Registration Deadline: Friday, January 6, 2012

Winter is a good time for napping, especially if you’re a black bear! "Cub" and find out something surprising! No bear bones about it- this day will be den-tastic!
Registration Form 

ME AND MY SHADOW
Tuesday, January 24 & Wednesday, January 25, 2012
9:30-10:45am
Registration Deadline: Friday, January 20, 2012

"Wood" you believe that the groundhog is “chuck” full of surprises? "Wood" you come down for songs, crafts, and a chuck-load of fun? I hope to see your shadow while we learn about all things groundhog.
Registration Form

KEEP ON TRACKING…
Tuesday, February 14 & Wednesday, February 15, 2012
9:30-10:45am
Registration Deadline: Friday, February 10, 2012
While the snow is stacking! Discover what it’s like to walk in someone else’s shoe (prints). Practice counting the toes- they always knows- and you’ll be able to guess the animal who walked there since.
Registration Form

MICE ON ICE
Tuesday, February 28 & Wednesday, February 29, 2012
9:30-10:45am
Registration Deadline: Friday, February 25, 2012

For birds of prey, this is a delicacy in the winter! Explore the predatory world of raptors in winter. Songs and games are sure to keep you roasty toasty.
Registration Form