SAND Club Trees Unit, weeks 1 & 2

The SAND Club visited two native Minnesota habitats during our Native Habitats and Trees unit. We visited the St. Croix Savanna Scientific & Natural Area (an oak woodland and oak savanna in Bayport) and also the Falls Creek Scientific & Natural Area (north of Marine on St Croix). (FYI: These SNAs are so much fun to explore if you haven't already, check out this DNR link: http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/snas/index.html

We enjoyed some pretty steep hikes and the beauty of these woods, as we learned what two native habitats were like. The savanna/prairie habitat is typical of what the natural vegetation was like south of Stillwater before settlement by Europeans, and the white pine-hardwood forest we visited was typical of vegetation north of Stillwater. I'm proud to say that my daughter identified some white pines as we headed home!

Time Travelers Club Studies the Life of Jesus in Week 2

The Time Travelers have been going back in time to study the life of Jesus. The kids spent a lot of time studying Jesus's parables and miracles, acting out some of them. ("Kateria" looked great in a St. Peter mask!) (Did I mention that we all have Latin names, now?) We also meditated on and discussed a virtual Stations of the Cross---with 14 beautiful masterpieces and works of art for each of the stations. "Marcus" had some great observations about several works of art!

Starting Out Learning about the Messiah Week 1

We all trekked out to the Boomsite (on the St. Croix) north of Stillwater for a retelling of the baptism of Jesus at the Jordan. This was very very cool.