Simone, does it really feel like you've been gone and now it's almost over?? My students have a difficult time thinking I will be gone 6 - 8 weeks. They wonder, as does some of my family, what will I do away from home that long? I will be interested in hearing about how you feel about the time spent in the field and how your students relate what has happened to them while you were gone. How have their understandings of science exploration changed having you the field. Also what video camera did you end up using? Great journaling!!!! Gary Wesche

Simone Welch

Hi Gary!  Sorry it took so long to write back!  The last few days of the trip were a total whirlwind of activities and excitement!  I have only been home a couple days now and haven't even seen my classes yet.  Some of my students emailed me on the page but many of them wrote to me through my gmail also.  I used the video camera on my Canon Elf although I had to have someone shrink the clips waaaay down before I could send them.  Thank you for the positive feedback on my journals. They were fun to write!  I'm excited to follow your trip as well!
Simone 

Gary Wesche

Simone,
I bet you're in the fray of the last days of school.  Hope your reentry was smooth.  I would love to read a journal about how your students reacted to your return.  What excited them the most?  What were some of their questions?  How has it changed your teaching? I am hoping to motivate my peers in the lower grades to follow journals next year with their classes and I will be using your journals as examples.
Thanks Simone

Simone Welch

Pictures, pictures and boots!  Showing the kids lots of pictures helped them to envision the unimaginable.  I brought what gear I still had for them to try on too.  They loved that.  Among the most powerful bits of feedback I have gotten was a parent that came and thanked me for instilling in her kids a desire for adventure and an interest in the unknown. I hope to keep the spirit alive!
Best of luck!
Simone