Forget All Your Troubles, Forget All Your Cares and Go Downtown!

In third grade one of the big social studies units is communities.  The heart of many communities is their downtown.  The students took a field trip to our downtown.  They visited with four local businesses.  They learned how the businesses got their start and what they do to keep their business running.  They had some really great questions they asked the business owners.  

Ella's group started with The Canvas on Broadway.  At The Canvas you paint pictures with the help of artists.  Their second stop was American Shoe.  American Shoe is a family business that has been around for close to one hundred years.  The family that owns the store has a child in Ella's class.  They gifted each child with a pair of Choco sunglasses that the kids all loved!  Their next stop was Harold's Doughnuts which is a newer business downtown.  They enjoyed Harold's and learning about making doughnuts.  The final stop was the park where a manager at Shakespeare's came and talked to the kids about their business.  

After the talks the kids played and had lunch in the park.  They were able to eat Shakespeare's Pizza and Bucks Ice Cream.  They enjoyed the day and learned a lot of wonderful things.  Maybe we have some future business owners in the group!  

Ready to hit the town! 

Listening to the owner of The Canvas.

Learning the history of Harold's Doughnuts.

Class photo

They learned about Shakespeare's then had it for lunch! 

Urban Farm

Ella's class had some visits earlier in the year from the people that run the Urban Farm in Columbia.  They worked with them in the outdoor classroom at their school then invited them to come see the Urban Farm in the center of Columbia.  The kids learned about the farm, some of the vegetables they grow and the lifecycle of many plants.  They were also able to help prepare lunch.  They harvested spinach, peeled and cut carrots, peeled oranges and sliced bread.  After their work they were able to enjoy lunch with their friends.  It was a great morning! 

Learning about knives and knife safety from a local chef. 

Peeling the carrots for lunch. 

Making her mom nervous with that big knife.

Enjoying the fruits of their labor. 

Lunch at the farm.

A Hiking We Will Go!

The second grade field trip this year was to Runge Conservation Center in Jefferson City.  Ella and I had never been so we were excited to go exploring.  Ella was in a group with three of her friends and two of their moms.  We spent the morning hiking the trails.  The girls had a scavenger hunt they were following on our hike and were able to cross everything off of their list.  
After a morning of exploring, we headed indoors for a presentation by a conservation agent.  She was a great speaker and taught the kids all about food chains and food webs.  They really enjoyed it and learned a lot.  After the presentation we headed back outside for a picnic lunch.  Following lunch we had about forty-five minutes to explore and do another scavenger hunt inside the conservation center.  We had a great time in the great outdoors and learning more about the outdoors inside. 
Ella left with me from the field trip and we took advantage of a little time we had to hit up a favorite in Jefferson City, Central Dairy.  It is another place we had never been but always heard about so we wanted to give it a try.  It is an ice-cream shop where we each ordered smalls but got huge cones and enjoyed a cold treat after all our hiking.  One of Ella's friends also happened to be their with her mom and brother so we got to share our time with friends.  It was a fun way to end her field trip.  

Ella showing the worm she dug up to find an animal that lives underground. 

Our field trip group posing for a picture.

The conservation agent is letting the kids look at a red tailed hawk nest he found. 

We found the girls' teacher, Mrs. Howard, and stopped for a picture. 

Ella climbing down from the fire tower. 

The kids loved the hole in this tree trunk.  Ella and Aubrey climbed in together. 

Enjoying our ice-cream at Central Dairy!

The fire tower we climbed. 

Gone Fishin'!

Ella's class went to Little Dixie Lake for their field trip.  They spent the morning fishing.  The Department of Conservation had poles set up for all the kids and they were there to assist them in catching fish.  Ella didn't catch any fish but a lot of the kids in her class did.  After fishing they stopped and took a break for lunch.  Everyone had hotdogs and chips in a little picnic area at the conservation area.  After lunch, one of the conservation agents took her class on a hike.  She pointed out a lot of interesting wildlife to the kids. She had even caught some toads, salamanders, and fish to show the kids on their hike.  It was very informative for the kids and the adults.  It was a great day spent  in the great outdoors! 

Ella fishing with her best friend Jessie. 

The girls enjoying lunch together. 

Ella touching some salamander eggs the conservation agent found. 

Ella with a tent caterpillar the agent pulled off a tree. 

Fishing with Mommy. 

Ella and her teacher Ms. Ragsdale taking a selfie. 

Biztown

I got a chance to go with Sam and his class on a field trip to JA Biztown in St. Louis.  It is a model of a small town where all the students have jobs, learn to deposit and budget their money at the bank, shop at the local businesses, vote and so much more.  Sam's job was the CFO of the University in Biztown.  He ended up being very busy that day because his CEO was absent and he had to work both jobs to make sure the University ran smoothly, he advertised classes, checks were deposited and that the employees got paid.    Because of the great job he did he won an award at the end of the day as the Citizen of the Day for the male student that contributed the most to the town.  
I was assigned to work in the City Hall.  I helped the kids there with all of their responsibilities.  They were definitely busy.  I got to take my lunch break at the same time as Sam which was nice and hear about his day.  It was a really fun experience for everyone. 

Some of the moms helping at Biztown. 

A look at part of the town. 

Sam was hard at work but stopped for a picture. 

Promoting the University on the local television station. 

Sam made a bunny with the help of Nora and Claire at Build A Bear that he donated to a local children's hospital.  

Giving a speech at the end of the day telling how much money the University made.  

Sam with his Citizen of the Day certificate! 

Macaroni & Monkey Bars

Ella's class went on a field trip this last week.  The first stop of the day was Texas Roadhouse.  The kids got to tour the kitchen, play nutrition bingo, climb on a saddle and play with chalk on the floor.  They had a fun time running around and then ate some lunch.  Ella's choice for the day was macaroni and cheese and french fries. 
After the restaurant they headed over to Cosmo Park.  It is a great park but many other school groups had the same idea so it was packed!  The kids had to wait in line to do everything but they didn't seem to mind.  They had a fun afternoon running around and the weather was perfect.  Ella mostly played on the monkey bars and the glider with a few of her friends.  She is a monkey bar expert and flies across with ease! She had a great time.  

Getting ready to eat with friends! 

Playing with chalk on the restaurant floor.

Ride 'em cow girl!

See Saw time at the park.

Ella loved the glider! 

I have been subbing every day at the kids' school and we have been out of town the last two weekends so the blog has gotten a little behind.  I need to fill you in about Sam's field trip to the Capitol Building in Jefferson City.   He learned a lot of interesting facts and took some good pictures to share with us about his experience.  It was fun to see the things that interested him and he chose to take photos of on the tour.  His favorite part of the tour was seeing a courtroom.  Not surprising, his favorite part of the whole day was lunch and time to play at the park with his friends.  He said he enjoyed the day but is not in a hurry to visit the Capitol anytime soon.  

Sam on the way to the Capitol. 

The Capitol Building in Jefferson City

Sam took many pictures of cannons and military uniforms. 

Class Trip

Ella's class took a field trip to Peach Tree Farms to visit the pumpkin patch.  I tagged along for the trip and enjoyed spending time with her and meeting some of her classmates. At the farm we fed some sheep and goats and Ella actually let them eat out of her hand, this is a first for her.  We got to go on a hayride around the farm, the kids played in a small maze made out of hay bales and they each got to choose their own small pumpkin to take home.  This is the first time Ella has chosen a pumpkin off of the vine so it was fun to dig for the perfect one.  In case you are wondering the perfect pumpkin for Ella is really round with no dirt or spots.  It was a fun afternoon.

 Ella and her class

 Ella and Mommy on the hayride

 The perfect pumpkin

Running through the maze

Sitting on a really cool horse they made out of corn stalks

Field Trip and Grandma and Grandpa

Last week Sam's class took a field trip to the Titanic Museum in Branson.  My mom and dad came down and watched Ella so I could spend the time with Sam.  It was a nice trip and the museum was very interesting.  I think I will have to go back sometime when there aren't seventy-five third graders running around so I can soak in more information.  The kids all had a good time and learned something too.

 Sam and his buddies Lucas and Colton enjoying lunch at the park before the Titanic

Ella and Sam were very glad to have Grandma and Grandpa here also.  They were able to go to one of Ella's soccer games and go with us to dinner at Lambert's.  They had never experienced Lambert's and the kids wanted to make sure they went before our move.  It was a nice few days with them and as a bonus they cleaned my garage for me while I was working at Sam's school!  

Field Trip

Ella and I stopped for ice-cream on the way home!

Tatum and Sam on the teeter-totters

Colton and Sam on the merry go round

Sam's class went on a field trip to the Jubilee Theater in Marshfield, Missouri. They saw a puppet show and made their own puppets. There was not enough room for all parents to attend so I took Ella and met Sam and his class at the park in Marshfield for lunch and play time.

A new park is always an adventure and the kids had an absolute blast. It was a warm, sunny day and almost a little too warm but they were full of energy and ran around for over an hour. Two little girls adopted Ella and took her around to all of the different equipment. I enjoyed watching Sam interact with all of his school friends. It was a great afternoon!