This week John Latimer visited our science classes. John is a rural mail carrier who also happens to have a radio program on KAXE (91.7) radio in Grand Rapids. His program is called the Phenology Show and is aired every Tuesday morning. So what is phenology you ask? It is the study of how nature changes as related to climate. It is when my class notices the first snow bunting of the year. Or realizes Hill Lake has frozen over. Every day in science class we keep track of all these events and we report them to John. One of my students gets to be on his radio program reporting our weekly observations.
John came in to talk about how to be a better observer. We all walk through our busy lives without noticing what is going on outside our door. My hope is to help kids become aware of what is happening in nature every day. I also hope to build an appreciation for all things natural. I want the fifth grade boy to think, "What a beautiful bird! I wonder what kind it is?" Not, "There's a bird! I wonder if I can hit it with my bb gun."
Thanks, John, for taking a day off of work to come talk to my class. We really appreciate it.
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