The World on Turtle's Back...

... or The Woman Who Fell From the Sky.

There are many versions of this wonderful creation myth that can easily be located online. I told my students the Onondaga version. It seemed a nice way to start the year, which we are beginning in our combined 4/5 grade with a nature studies block essentially, focusing both on plants and animals that can be found on our beautiful rural campus.

Our first painting of the year was a color circle, out of which emerged a tree. Maybe the tree uprooted in Skyland. Maybe Yggdrasil. The life force. That which sustains us. 

This week we painted Tolba, on whose back the world sprang forth. I asked the students to start with a page of lively blue, darker toward the bottom. We then placed the turtle in the water using yellow. From her back brown (mixed on the paint board) tree trunks sprang up crowned by yellow and green foliage. One student preferred a brown turtle with "rainbow trees."

Platypus

Here are some excerpts from Nathan's 4-page Platypus report. (Thanks for the reminder, Paula!) He joined 4th grade a few weeks ago & he loves it there. The basic idea was "do something, or nothing." The assignment directions gave suggestions, but there were no requirements to do anything at all. Nathan chose to do a kind of "traditional" animal report. I think he did a fine job. He really took his time with the research, writing, and - most of all - the illustrations.

The first page with the map of the habitat.

Venom gland detail.

A platypus by the riverbank.

Poetry

Here's a poem Nathan wrote a few days ago in class. He joined the 4th grade after the midwinter break (long story) & things are going well for him there. Knock on wood! They are currently in a "The Human Being & The Animal Kingdom" block.

A Salmon (by Nathan)

How big you are
In the rivers of Alaska
From where you go
Down the river
Over the rocks
Up the stream.

Leaping above the water
Until you reach the ocean
And back, back, back again
To come to where
You were born,
And then you go
In a different direction.

Any Australians?

Nathan is doing a kind of animal report on the platypus. In researching this animal he learned that the Australian 20 cent coin has the image of a platypus on it. He'd love to have one when he presents his project, which is soon... April 1st to be specific. We can't get foreign coins at the currency exchange here.

Anyone willing to send such a coin in the mail? We'd send you a little surprise in exchange. Please e-mail us at chocolatelilies [at] gmail [dot] com or leave a comment with your contact e-mail.

Nathan is so excited about this project. This would make his day! Thanks!