Check out Monday's Record Courier article for Nature treks:  http://www.recordpub.com/news%20local/2013/11/18/crestwood-students-explore-nature.  Our next trek is Martin Luther King Day to Cuyahoga Valley National Park!  Thank you Hiram Community Trust for making one of my dreams a reality. I love taking kids on nature trips who might not have this opportunity to explore, to experience, and to extend their education.

Third graders have been investigating the traits and characteristics of animals. A highlight of our invertebrate study was performing an original Reader’s Theater by Mrs. Krupar’s class. The script traces four generations of Monarch butterflies and their life cycle as they journey north on their 3000 mile migration. It was written by Rosemary Krupar, Teacher-Ranger-Teacher for Cuyahoga Valley National Park. (CVNP) The site based butterfly project features Howe Meadow, Terra Vista Nature Study area, and Indigo Lake at CVNP.  Special guest appearances include: Ranger Randy, Vicky Viceroy, Willard the Wasp, Bruce the Black eared Mouse, Cadie Caterpillar, Monica's mother, Maria, and grandmother, Maurita.  Students enjoyed integrating reading with science to perform this unique, informative script.  It can be viewed at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7MirQs1x80 or on Mrs. Krupar’s webpage: http://www.crestwoodschools.org/olc/page.aspx?id=26364&s=732.  As lifelong learners, consider establishing a Monarch Way Station in your backyard: http://monarchwatch.org/waystations/.  The Monarch populations have declined due to destruction of habitat, climate change, and decreasing food supplies. To learn more about the problems  facing Monarchs, view: http://www.weather.com/news/science/nature/monarch-butterflies-threatened-logging-20130910  & http://www.weather.com/news/science/nature/monarch-butterflies-mexico-20130314, Future lepidopterists can continue their investigations at: http://www.learner.org/jnorth/tm/monarch/AboutFall.html.  

This reader's theater, performed by my third graders,  traces four generations of monarchs and their life cycle as they journey north on their  3000 mile migration.  The original script was written for Cuyahoga Valley National Park (CVNP) this summer as part of my teacher-ranger-teacher duties. The site based butterfly project features Howe Meadow, Terra Vista Nature Study area, and Indigo Lake at CVNP. Justin Beetle narrates Monica's incredible life.  Special guest appearances include: Vicky Viceroy, Willard the Wasp, Bruce the Black eared Mouse, Cadie Caterpillar, Monica's mother, Maria, and grandmother, Maurita.  You may watch the perils of Monica at: