Year of the Rock

There seems to be a confluence of curriculum in 1st, 4th, and 8th grades in the Bloomington Public School system. All three kids are doing earth science this year. Elizabeth's science class began with an overview of the geo-spheres and now they're discussing geologic time. Robert was waxing poetic this morning about metamorphic rocks and just a few weeks ago they were studying erosion. His classroom worked with models of the Elwha Dam so they could predict what will happen when it is removed. Colleen's classroom is keeping it simple and fun by gathering a rock collection.

Speaking of our good earth, what's with the trees this year? Our leaves all turned and fell but our neighbors' trees are mostly still green. Should we be concerned?

Earth Day

Colleen has been asking if she could plant a tree for Earth Day. She settled for planting some Nasturtium seeds for the trellis in the backyard. Both she and Robert had a good time. We let Robert dig because he is so good at it. He got a little carried away for our tiny seeds. Colleen shouted to me, "Mom! Robert's going to China!"

Now we sit back and hope that we've seen the last frost.

Saving the Earth

Shame on Minneapolis North High School for not recycling pizza boxes. Cate and Elizabeth rescued these 56 boxes that were destined for the trash bin following the city-wide fifth grade math competition.

Yes, fifty-six. Cate and Robert flattened them out and bundled them up, and they're going out tomorrow with the recycling. Just in time for Earth Day.

At said competition, Elizabeth brought home an honorable mention ribbon and worked with a team that earned another honorable mention ribbon.

I quizzed her as she came home, and it's a legitimate honorable mention, putting her in the Top 15 of 250-plus fifth-graders who participated. (Division III football fans know how I hate fake honorable mentions that simply honor everyone.) Twenty-three kids from Lake Harriet Community School took part, with one of her classmates taking home some pretty impressive honors.

About the recycling, I can say we've been glad to be in a neighborhood which is part of the rollout for the city's composting program. We generated a ton of recycling when we lived in Virginia and this house generates even more, thanks to the newspapers. Can't imagine that all ending up in landfills.