End of Quarter Revisions

The following student writing pieces (posted November 4, 2009)were part of the Walking Naturalist class during Quarter One of the 2009-10 academic year. Students in this course participated in a pilot experiential learning program of cross-curricular work. The intention of the program was to introduce or re-connect students to the natural world and elements of eco-ethics.

"Stay together, learn the flowers, go light."

We tried to follow these words penned by Gary Snyder as we walked in the woods, constructed our reflections on Aldo Leopold's A Sand County Almanac, and sat around the camp fire discussing concepts of community and love of the land.

"Be the Animal" by Heidi

Spring Peeper

In early spring from March to May, I am laying my eggs. My eggs are really small, smaller than a grain of rice. I lay up to 1000 eggs and attach them to sticks and then brush them underneath the water. Even though I am a tree frog, I don’t climb above knee level. I am not that noticeable to a lot of people. I am about the size of a nickel with an X on my back. Since it has been about a week since I laid my eggs, they have hatched and are bigger than me, but they don’t have any legs yet. I live in and around woodland ponds that are full of shrubs, branches, and twigs. You can also find me in puddles, fields, and other low places, clinging to stalks of grass or perched on the edge. I don’t just eat flies, I also eat insects like ants and water bugs. Even though I am very friendly, I have a lot of predators. When I’m a tadpole I have to watch out for the diving beetle larva and when I’m an adult I have to look out for skunks, snakes, and even larger frogs.

Damien's Response to Aldo Leopold

"Now we face the question whether a still higher 'standard of living' is worth its cost in things natural, wild, and free."

Leopold means that we don’t recognize or acknowledge the beauties of nature until we find ourselves trying to do away with them, as Leopold said in the Forward section. I couldn’t agree more with Leopold’s statement. He states that “for us the minority, the opportunity to see geese is more important than television.” People may disagree with this quote, but I find viewing a flock of geese to be very graceful and calming and more epic to watch than most television shows these days.

Martha's Perspective on Nature

Martha sketched these nature images in response to Aldo Leopold's August, September, and October entries in A Sand County Almanac. She researched the characteristics of plant life mentioned in those 3 entries and added quotes of relevance from AL's text.

"We abuse land because we regard it as a commodity belonging to us. When we see land as a community to which we belong, we may begin to use it with love and respect."

"There are two spiritual dangers in not owning a farm. One is the danger of supposing that breakfast comes from the grocery, and the other that heat comes from a furnace."

"Roadside beautification is a far cry from harmony between man and land that Aldo Leopold knew and taught."

Julia's Ode

Ode to the Speckled Alder
The way your green leaves explode out of your branches
And the way your tiny little buds burst into flowers
Makes me excited.
How your flowers are a warning for spring, but also for your green brilliance
Amazes me.
I love the way your smooth bark feels against my rough hands.
Oh, speckled alder.
How beautiful you are.

What is Nature? by Jaz

What is Nature?
A Reflection By Jaz

Nature is that which occurs naturally without human help. It can also be considered to be assisted by humans, but can carry on by itself after a time. People seem to have an innate affinity to nature while growing up. We are deeply rooted to nature as children. However, when we arrive at a certain age, our curiosity and desire to explore seems to fade away into what becomes “civilized human nature.” With the age of technology, cell phones are replacing echoing caverns, electric stoves and microwaves are replacing traditional open fire pits, and computers are becoming more engaging than thunderstorms. The worst part of this is that we are forgetting where we came from: the natural world around us.

Diamond's "Be The Animal" Entry

The Red Fox

In early spring, around April, I finished my breeding period. My mate has left me with our eight kits while he go off to find food. Most people think we foxes are sly and sneaky or tricksters, but we do what we have to do to get our food. It’s just that when you hear your prey you don’t just get loud and run because you will scare it away. To get your prey easy and quick with no hassle, you lay low, quiet, and listen. Once they are there and don’t notice you, you crouch a little bit lower and then POUNCE on them. See, right now I won’t be able to go out and get food because I have to stay here with the kits because they are blind for the first two weeks. But soon, in five weeks, they will have taken their first steps out of the den. We live in a den that I created out in this woodsy area. The den we are in now is one of the biggest. The other small dens are usually used for emergencies and food storage.

Allison's Response to Aldo Leopold

Allison wrote this short piece as a response to the June entry in Aldo Leopold's A Sand County Almanac. AL's entry presents one of his favorite pastimes -- fly fishing. Students were asked to write about an activity that they love as much as AL loved fishing.

Spending time here is one of my most favorite things in the entire world. I don’t care how much mud, slobber, snot, or dirt I get on me or my clothing, my goal out here isn’t to look pretty and more often than not I never even think of it. I don’t mind numb fingers and toes, just to come out in the middle of winter snows to warm up cold bits and condition dirty leather straps and boots. Watching their ears perk forward and eyes light up at my familiar call-and-whistle makes my heart sing with love and pride. They weren’t bought for $15,000 or registered with the top pedigrees and bloodlines, and that’s just fine with me. Even on the days they’re spunky and hyper because the seasons change, I still make sure I devote my time every week to come see my boys.

Some days, they don’t want to listen, they don’t want to cooperate. Domino decides he is going to buck and yank his head around when he doesn’t want to canter. Floyd decides he doesn’t want to go slowly around the arena, or stand still in the cross-ties. I expect it from both of them. They, like humans, have their “off” days. They’re not perfect all the time, and we can’t expect them to be.

Also like humans, they have their own distinct personalities. Domino is a cuddly horse who prefers to take it slow; he’s very patient and calm, but he is also slow to trust. Floyd is overly curious, proud, excitable, and just plain funny. Gripping hard-bristled brushes is a familiar routine to clear off clouds of dusts from their matted coats, and burrs out of their tangled tails, and picking rocks and muck out of their hooves. It’s certainly not for everyone, but I appreciate every moment with them.

I love to teach, and be taught by them. I love to grow and learn as they do, both of us learning how to effectively communicate and understand once another, even when it is frustrating. Going on the trails is utterly relaxing, and letting my horses gallop through the field in pure excitement is the most satisfying and thrilling feeling in the world.

Emily's Response to Aldo Leopold

While reading Aldo Leopold's A Sand County Almanac, I fell in love with the line “called sawdust by woodsmen and archives by historians.” This line shows that some people do not understand the history behind nature. The trees and all other surrounding nature has seen more history then my past history text books. So why do we cut down these pieces of our own history?

Brenna's Response to Leopold's March Entry

"Is education possibly a process of trading awareness for things of lesser worth?" - Aldo Leopold (A Sand County Almanac, March)

Yes and no.
To me there are two types of education: one you get in school, and one you get outside watching events happen. When you see geese flying south is a sign of fall. I wonder if we used to rely on this type of situation so we would know when to get ready for winter. Will we have to relearn the way things work in the world? When I think of it, this way the education of natural events is definitely worth something. The education system of technology is taking away from the awareness of nature; we pay more attention to technology. If we dropped all our technology, I don't think most of use would live. I noticed this year when fall came, it didn't creep in slowly, instead one day I just realized “Oh! That tree has changed colors.” Where as animals all around me had already been preparing for this. We have now become so dependent on our urban lives that we almost don't even need to focus on nature anymore. In fact for most of our lives we ignore nature and do with it what we please.

Datondra's Favorite Pastime Writing

Datondra wrote this short piece as a response to the June entry in Aldo Leopold's A Sand County Almanac. AL's entry presents one of his favorite pastimes -- fly fishing. Students were asked to write about an activity that they love as much as AL loved fishing.

A Memory That I Will Never Forget

Doing my first poetry slam meant a lot to me. Because I love writing poems expressing how I feel or just to get lost inside my thoughts. My words are powerful and speak the truth more than actions. I was very scared and shaking in the knees standing up on that stage with the lights dimmed on me. Looking into the crowd full of people made my throat dry, I couldn’t get a word out. My palms were sweating and hands shaking really bad like I couldn’t breathe. I thought I was going to die, feeling like I couldn’t move or utter a word out. I tried to picture my favorite character to concentrate and not stall any longer. I finally got the guts to spit my poem and let the words flow as I go. As I was doing it, my heart beat rapidly throughout my entire body. My mouth felt dry and I started fidgeting, closing my eyes, praying to be done soon and stuttering a little. After it was over, I kind of felt better, because I tried getting over my biggest fear. Also, it helped me to do better the next time and have confidence in myself. But I’m still on the edge of stuttering when I’m in front of people. On the other hand, as I make my way through life I will grow out of that and be proud of myself for doing one my biggest dreams ever.

The Annual Whooping Crane Trip

Check out this lovely little article on the International Crane Foundation's annual migration journey: Crane Trip Article

Also, keep updated on the Migration Operation by visiting the link on the right side of this page. Journal entries are done on a regular basis.

Be the Bat!

Good Evening, World!

It’s such a delicious spring night. My name is Mya Lucifer. Those two legged animals with their cameras and pencils like to call me Myotis Lucifugus, but I think that’s rather formal. They also call me and all of my relatives “little brown bat.” I suppose we are little in comparison to our distant bat cousins. I understand that my self-given name is “devilish” sounding. I like that. I have been known to get myself into a bit of trouble.

Because it is early spring, I have just returned from my winter napping colony in the caves of southern Wisconsin. I feel refreshed and ready to explore the woods and waterways of this glorious area. I love the rivers and hillsides in the early evening. The animals are beginning to move around more, shaking out of their winter coats.

Right now, I feel a little sluggish since I just woke from the winter sleep. And, just like last year and the year before and before and before, I am pregnant again. While my body held onto my mate’s sperm throughout the sleep of winter, conception has finally taken place, and I can feel the little one grow inside of me. Another 3 months from now and I will send off another babe into the world, probably near the start of June. Although twins have been very common in the other women of the colony, I have not had a double birth in the last 15 years. However, since I am only 16, I have ½ of my motherhood years left to see that happen. I hope that I do have several pairs in my remaining years. I have been saddened by losing ½ of my children to cold and prey in their first adolescent year.

For now, I am enjoying the outdoors of spring. As early summer sets in and the birth comes near, I will need to join the other mothers in the nursery colony. I find that somewhat unfair that the men continue to enjoy the freedom of the air and hillside. That issue seems to be up for debate in a lot of the animal world. Those two legged creatures are always arguing…Oh, I just saw a few mosquitoes hatching in my favorite pond; they are early this year since it has been so warm, and the chill of winter is long gone with the pond ice. I also have seen a few gnats and wasps. The menu tonight is rich with fresh blood. I can’t wait until the mayflies are hatched. I have had such cravings for them lately. I better sharpen up my biosonar for the spring hunting season. My favorite hunting path awaits.

Until tomorrow, my friends, happy hunting.

Journals, Journals, Journals

E3 students....please have your journals up to date and ready to turn in for reading.

Thanks!

Course Guidelines -- E3

The Walking Naturalist (E3)
Course Guidelines
Quarter One – 2009-10

"In wildness is the preservation of the world."
Henry David Thoreau

Course Description:
In this introductory English course we will explore a variety of writings focusing on nature, natural history, and our human relationship with our physical environment. The majority of readings will be from the nature essay and personal reflection categories with primary emphasis on Aldo Leopold's A Sand County Almanac. If time permits, articles from environmental magazines, other nature writers, and children’s literature will help to supplement our understanding of our developing nature ethic. Although we will try to do the bulk of our reading and writing during class time, students may have to do occasional assignment homework, especially if they have absences.

Short Walks:
By using Leopold's reflections as a starting point, we will try our own hand at writing from a naturalist perspective. To do so, we must get outside into the natural setting through short walks. Urban nature walk participation, rain or shine, is required. Given the fact that we have only a 6th hour class period to experience the outside setting, we will focus primarily on finding elements of wildness in the urban landscape. This may seem contradictory at first. How can one find "the wild" in the city? We will do our best given the resources available to us. It is up to you to sharpen your observation and reflection techniques. Expect to be out walking one or two days a week. I ask that you have reliable, sturdy shoes and a raincoat/umbrella for our urban nature walks. You don't need to have fancy hiking boots, just leave the fashion shoes at home or have an additional pair of sturdy shoes available to wear.

Because we wish to leave the natural setting as we find it, if not in better condition, I'm asking that NO tobacco use occur on our outside walks. Any students smoking on our hikes will be marked absent. Please note, a student's illegal drug use on a fieldtrip will result in immediate removal from the course, as well as the regular Shabazz AOD policy consequences. Respect the class. Respect each other. Respect the natural setting -- it deserves it.

Longer Fieldtrips: Students enrolled in this class and the other E3 courses will participate in a 5-day, 4-night extended fieldtrip excursion to Echo Valley (located near Mount Horeb and Hollandale, WI). The purpose of this trip will be to deepen our relationship with the land and natural world. As part of the Walking Naturalist class, students will hike, observe, document, and reflect in writing upon their experience. This longer fieldtrip will be the core of our naturalist/environmental ethic writings for the quarter.

Writing:
Journal writing will be a required response to readings and excursions. Students will be provided with one journal book for this class. (If you lose it, you must replace or buy another one from Denise within one day.)

All students must be willing to use the full writing process in this class when requested. As time allows, we will draft, revise, peer-edit, and share our writing in small groups. We will work toward a publication goal with the format of that publication to be determined later in the quarter.


Responses to Leopold's A Sand County Almanac:
This class will also give students the opportunity to hone their reading comprehension skills by analyzing Leopold's writing style and naturalist philosophy. Students will be expected to use
in-class reading and work time appropriately. Completion of assignments by deadlines is essential to earn credit in the course.


Basic Denise Class Stuff

Late Work:
Because we will have adequate time in class to read, walk, and journal write, students should not need to submit work late. If a student is absent on an assignment due date, the work must be completed by the end of class on the following day attended. Journals will be checked in and collected each week on Fridays to allow for evaluation over the weekend. (Only documented special education needs defined in the student’s IEP can be accommodated flexibility with this guideline.)

Students must complete ALL assignments to be eligible for credit in the course.

Attendance Requirements:
It is each student's responsibility to ask for any assignments missed due to absences. Please do this at the start of class on the day you return.

The Shabazz attendance policy will be strictly enforced in this class. Students will no longer be eligible for credit after their 4th absence. Remember that all tardies are accounted for (3 tardies = 1 absence). Students arriving more than 15 minutes late to class will be marked absent.

Book Return:
Students must return all books checked out for class to be eligible for credit. If a book is lost, talk with Denise about where you can find a replacement copy, or you may arrange for payment of the text.

*****

"I only went out for a walk,
and finally concluded to stay out till sundown,
for going out,
I found,
was really going in."
John Muir

E3 Sequence

Quarter One -- 2009-10

This course will be part of the E3 (Environmental Education and Ethics) Curriculum Package in the first quarter of fall 2009-2010.

All students enrolled in the course must also be enrolled in the other 5 E3 classes.

We will try to incorporate the field experiences of the curriculum into the one-week extended fieldtrip to Echo Valley Farms (Hollandale/Mt. Horeb) in September, 2009. Additional fieldtrips may be possible if sub coverage is available.

Weekly neighborhood walking excursions during the class hour will still be part of the curriculum.