July 2016

Five For Friday - Some Highlights From Acadia National Park

Hello there! Thanks for checking in today! I'm back from my vacation in beautiful Bar Harbor, Maine and Acadia National Park! I'm excited to link-up with Doodle Bugs for:

We arrived at our hotel last Saturday and headed into Bar Harbor. There's a great bus system up there that helps visitors travel between destinations. Bar Harbor is very quaint and filled with fun stores, restaurants and ice cream stores. We found a boat tour to see puffins and whales so we booked that right away. It was really difficult to see the puffins, but we did see some whales:

My son, Andrew, managed to take this great picture of two flukes!

Inside Acadia, there are endless hiking opportunities. If you like to walk, you'll LOVE this place. On one hike, we went around Jordan Pond:


That's my son, Derek, on the rocks.

The map gave the distance around this lake as three miles. Well, it was a challenging two hour hike. We were all exhausted and starving by the end. Luckily, there's a restaurant in Acadia called the Jordan Pond House that serves lunch, afternoon tea and dinner. We had a delicious lunch right on the lawn. The best part = their specialty is popovers. Click here to read more about this amazing place!

Also, in Acadia, there is a Native American museum. Check out this awesome wetu:

In addition to the museum in the park, there is a larger and more extensive museum in Bar Harbor.

One night we ate dinner at the Jordan Pond House. Then we drove up Cadillac Mountain to see the sunset:

At the top of Cadillac Mountain, you can see the ocean and the forests and lakes in Acadia. It is an amazing view!

Near the Native American Museum, there is a Wild Garden:

The garden highlights different ecosystems and the plants that would live in each one. The most exciting part for me was seeing pitcher plants growing outside. How cool is that!

There is so much more I can tell you about Acadia because there is so much to do there. Some people return year after year. Since this year is the 100th anniversary of our National Parks, people were there from all over the world. If you want to learn more about this beautiful place, click here.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Summer Recharge - Water Aerobics!

Happy (or sad) last week of July! Right now I'm up in Bar Harbor, Maine for vacation with my family, but I'm happy to link up with Jayme of Teach, Talk, Inspire and Diana of My Day in K. for Tell All Tuesday:

During the summer, I "work" in the mornings. By work, I mean that I go to the gym; clean the house; organize my "stuff"; clean windows,....After I eat lunch, I head right out to my backyard to hop in the pool and do my water aerobics:

Here's my pool:

I especially like doing my warm-up exercises because the sun is warming my back while I look at that beautiful tall tree and the blue sky. After doing my water aerobics, I read in the shade. It's totally relaxing and fun!

Have you ever done water aerobics?

Mapping Boston in the Revolutionary War - Five For Friday Style!

It's time to link up with Doodle Bugs for:

http://doodlebugsteaching.blogspot.com/2016/07/five-for-friday-link-up-july-22.html

Last week I took an amazing class: Mapping Boston in the Revolutionary War. Every day we went on a different field trip in Boston. Here are five highlights of my week:

On Monday - the first day - our class met at the Boston Public Library. In the morning, we discussed maps, class requirements, ... Before the class even began, I was enjoying Boston. I met my son, Andrew, for breakfast at the Friendly Toast. Right across the street from the restaurant, we discovered an adorable park with these cool mosaics. After we strolled over to an area right across from the Boston Public Library and hung out with the Tortoise and the Hair statues:

After lunch, our class met at the Massachusetts Historical Society (click here to read more). They were all excited because the date was July 18th, and the Declaration of Independence was first read in Boston on July 18, 1776. In the lobby of the building, several books were displayed including Book of Ages. The Life and Opinions of Jane Franklin by Jill Lepore. Check out the summary on Amazon here. I have already gotten the book out from my library but haven't started it yet.

On Tuesday, we started out at the Old State House - the yellow building on the left. During colonial days, the governor used this building as his office and as a meeting place. The balcony is most important. On the street in front of this balcony and a little ways down, the Boston Massacre took place. Later, in 1776, the Declaration of Independence was first read to the colonists on this balcony. Every year on July 4th at 10:00 a.m., an actor dressed as a colonist stands on this same balcony and reads the Declaration of Independence in full.

The Old State House is also home to several primary sources which include different points of views from several colonists about the Boston Massacre. You can check out this information here; check out the Research and Collections section.

Later in the day, we headed to the Old South Meetinghouse to hear all about the meeting that took place the night before the Boston Tea Party. Most importantly, this year, the reenactment takes place on FRIDAY, December 16th. You can buy tickets for a reduced price for a limited time here - click on the Calendar section to view the information. I'm definitely planning on attending this event, especially since it's on a Friday!

On Wednesday, we had an adventure to the Old North Church. Check it out:

Back in colonial days, people had to purchase pews; the wealthier you were, the more you were able to buy to purchase a well located pew. You can even decorate and accessorize your pew to your liking - see picture on right.

We even got the go part way up in the steeple to see where the bells are rung. In the basement, there are several enclosed areas where people have been buried. They ran out of space in the cemetery so they buried people under the church:

All burial areas are completed sealed off for health purposes.

Behind the church, you can visit a colonial printing press and chocolate shop:

The printers print copies of Paul Revere's Boston Massacre as well as the Declaration of Independence (which you can purchase for $17.76!). You even get a free sample at the chocolate shop!

To discover more about the Old North Church, click here.

On Thursday, we headed over to the Bunker Hill Monument and Museum:

The Park Rangers led us through a map activity in which we reenacted the Battle of Bunker Hill. This battle was significant because the British realized that the colonists were a force to be reckoned with - even though we lost the battle, we gained respect. Both sides lost a considerable amount of soldiers. The actual battle took place on Breed's Hill, but since the British won, they got the naming rights, and that's why this area is known as Bunker Hill today.

In the museum, there was a display of several famous Revolutionary War heroes, and several students featured Sybil Ludington (read more about her here.) Sybil is also mentioned in one of my favorite read-alouds - Judy Moody Declares Independence.

To read further about Bunker Hill, click here.

This course started and ended at the Leventhal Map Center which is part of the magnificent Boston Public Library. The Map Center contains many historical maps and activities for children. In addition, they offer classes every summer. Some people came from New York City and Wisconsin to take this class.

I'm so thankful that I had so many opportunities to visit and learn more about Boston history. Now I've been on School Street in Boston; I even worked on this street when I worked at the Boston Five Cents Savings Bank. Last week, I learned that the Boston Latin School used to be on this street - that's why it's named School Street!

I'm in Bar Harbor, Maine now for vacation. It's quite beautiful!

Happy Sunday!

Five For Friday - Late Again....

I just finished up my 3rd week of summer vacation (I'm not counting as you can tell.). This only means that it's time to link up with Doodle Bugs for:

Last week I took a Google class in the city where I teach. The class lasted for three days; each day included a three hour class. I included these links provided by the instructor that you might want to check out:

Google cheat sheet

www.teachingforward.net

www.viewpure.com

www.tubechop.com

I am thoroughly enjoying this book which tells about a dysfunctional family obsessed with getting their inheritance:

Click on the book to read more at Amazon.

I ordered this book on Amazon:

Click on the book to read more at Amazon.

While I was ordering my new Debbie Diller book, I decided to order these Dansko shoes:

Click on the shoe to read more.

As I get older, I'm realizing that I need shoes with support, and I love my one and only pair of Dansko. In the fall, I'm always wearing shoes like these, and I fell in love with the plaid and the colors! Plus, they are really comfortable!

Next week I'm taking a class in Boston: Mapping Boston in the American Revolution: http://maps.bpl.org/professional_development

On Monday, the class takes place at the Map Center at the Boston Public Library in the morning; in the afternoon, we're off to the Massachusetts Historical Society. I'm really looking forward to this class!

Before the class, I have homework: write the most important information - other than the Declaration of Independence - that your students need to know about the American Revolution. YIKES - I'm just happy when they know why July 4th is so important. Luckily and hopefully, I'll be able to think of something tomorrow!

Happy Summer Weekend!

Five For Friday - Finally On Vacation!

I'm trying to post on time this week for Doodle Bugs for:

My town, Wakefield, puts on an amazing Fourth of July parade in the afternoon and amazing fireworks at night:

My daughter works at City Feed in Jamaica Plain, and she made these lattes complete with hearts for me and my husband:

My neighborhood is excessively populated with bunnies - especially baby bunnies:

Can you see the 2 bunnies?

The bunnies don't even move when we're so close to them!

I have spent several days in my pool doing water aerobics and making whirlpools. I love feeling the sun on my back! When I'm done in the pool, I read my book. Perfect!

Other exciting events include going out for lunch twice; cooking dinner two nights; going to spinning class; cleaning and organizing my house....I love having time to do everything!

Have a wonderful weekend!

p.s. I think my laptop got another virus because my blog template is messed up again. Any advice on how to fix this?

Pick Three For July!

Happy July 4th Weekend! It's time to link up with Pawsitively Teaching and friends for:

http://www.pawsitivelyteaching.com/2016/07/july-pinterest-finds.html

My vacation just started last Monday, but I've already been pinning items for Back to School. Plus, most bloggers have been writing about Back to School; Target is already prepared for BTS; ....I might as well jump on board, too!

My first pin suggests several great read-alouds for the first week of school:

Click here to see the original Pin or here to go to the original blog post.

Next up is a Pin about how to keep your classroom clean in a few minutes per day:

Your Teacher's Aide: The 3 Minute Classroom Clean-Up:

Click here to see the original Pin.

It takes me a lot longer than 3 minutes to keep my desk neat and clean - let alone the whole classroom. I would love my classroom to look like it does on the first day for longer than one day. Wouldn't you? (I wonder if this would work in my house?)