Mike Huckabee Delta Rivers Nature Center

Our class visited the Mike Huckabee Delta Rivers Nature Center recently.  We participated in a nature hike, a tour of the nature exhibits, fish feeding, a "Birds of Prey" presentation, and finally archery!  We learned so much on our field trip!

Alligator and snapping turtle

bald eagle

peregrin falcon

great horned owl

screech owl

This 22,000 gallon tank held many of Arkansas' native fish such as various species of gar and catfish, and large mouth bass.

spotted gar

Class Story Book

Each student authored & illustrated a creative story.  Mrs. Murray scanned the stories and pictures and each student received a book with everybody else's story.  Finally we had a a read-around!

Beware the Dorsal Fin!

^^^^^^^^^SHARK WEEK!^^^^^^^^^

This week second grade submerged into the topic of sharks!  We studied the book The Magic School Bus: The Great Shark Escape.­ We learned many facts about sharks and even chose a species to write a report.  Dive into our reports below (if you dare…)

                           ~~~~Our shark mouth door frame~~~~

…Tiger Shark…

                              By Chandler

           You are about to read about an interesting shark. The size of a Tiger Shark is about 12 to 14 feet.  It weighs up to 850 - 2,000 pounds.   It can eat fish, squid, birds, seals and other sharks, and sea turtles.  They live in tropical waters and coastal waters.           

                 Here are some interesting facts:  It is the    

       2^nd most dangerous shark and most common 

      shark.  Its eye color can change from blue to green 

      which helps them blend in with the water.  It has 

      light strips on its side.  It will eat almost anything.  

      The following items that have been found in a 

      Tiger shark: alarm clocks, boat seat cushions, 

      clothing, jewelry, tires and books.

               I have learned a lot about Tiger Sharks.                                                 

...Bull Shark...

By Devon

My shark report is about the bull shark.  The bull shark can grow up to 12 feet long and it can weigh up to 1,700 pounds!  Its main prey is other sharks, fish, turtles, sting rays, and birds.  The bull sharks habitat is mostly bays, reefs, muddy rivers, and inlands.  It lives in the Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, Arctic, and Northern oceans.  It’s the 3^rd most dangerous shark.  It lives in both fresh and salt water.  It’s been found in the Mississippi River and the Amazon River.  It has a gray top and white belly and can have up to 12 pups.  I learned a lot about bull sharks.                                                                                  

…Goblin Shark…

By Jacob

I’m going to tell you some facts about the Goblin Shark.  The largest Goblin Shark caught was 12 feet long.  The weight of this shark was known.  Its food source is sting rays, mollusks, squid, jacopever, octopi, and crabs.  This shark lives in deep waters up to 1,200 meters down.  The Goblin Shark lives all over the world.  The Goblin Shark is very uncommon.  Not many people have seen one before.  The first one was found off of the coast of Japan in 1898.

          The Goblin Shark It is pinkish-gray in color.  Its snout is shaped like a sword.  Their bellies glow in the dark.  They don’t like to be exposed to the sunlight.  The Goblin Shark is very cool.

 

…Hammerhead Sharks…

By Kailey Grace

        I am doing a shark report on Hammerhead Sharks.  Hammerhead Sharks live all over the world.  They can grow up to be twelve to twenty feet long. They weigh up to about 1,000 pounds.  They eat small fish, sting rays, small sharks, and squid. They live in warm coastal waters and move to cooler waters in summer months. Thankfully, they aren’t likely to attack humans!

Hammerheads have a hammer-shaped head.  This is why they are called Hammerhead sharks!  Like a hammer, the eyes stick out on the ends.  This gives the shark a better view.  They swim 250 feet below the surface.  Hammerheads have a great sense of smell.  They are either a light grey or a greenish in color. Hammerhead sharks are my favorite species of shark.

      …Angel Shark…

        By Lily

This report tells what I learned about the angel shark. Its size is 5 to 8 feet long and weighs 27 kilograms. It eats mollusks, fish living near the ocean floor, flounders, shellfish, and other crustaceans. It lives as a bottom dweller. It is located in the Gulf of Mexico. It has a flat body like a sting ray. They bury themselves in the sand to hide from predators and to hunt prey. Its fins look like angel wings. It looks similar to a sting ray! I learned a lot about the angel shark.

…Black Tip Shark…

By Michael

My report is about the Black Tip Shark.  It is about 6 feet long.  The Black Tip Shark weighs between 25 - 30 pounds.  It eats small fish, mollusks, and crustaceans. The Black Tip Shark lives in tropical waters.

            An interesting fact about this shark is that there is a black tip on the pectoral and dorsal fins.  This shark usually hunts small fish traveling in schools.  This is an interesting creature.   

…Great White Shark…

By Owen

I studied the Great White Shark. It can be 12-16 feet long and weigh 3,000 pounds.  It has a great sense smell, hearing, and eyesight.  Its belly is white and it is grey on top.

            The Great White Shark eats seals, sea lions, smaller sharks, turtles, and dolphins.  They live in warm waters along the shore lines of Australia, South Africa and California.

            The Great White the most dangerous shark because it is the most likely to attack humans.  It hunts both day and night.

            They can lift their head out of the water.  Most sharks aren’t able to do that. They have 3,000 teeth that are in 5 rows.  New teeth come in when old ones come out.  They loose their teeth every day.  The Great White arches its back and throws back its head before it attacks.  I learned a lot about the Great White Shark.

…Mako Shark…

By Walt

The Mako Shark is an interesting shark.  It lives all around the world. It likes to eat tuna, herring, and sword fish.  It is the fastest shark of all.  Its top speed is 60 miles perhour!  Its favorite place is tropical waters.

It has a long, thin nose.  It also has thin, pointed teeth.  It is blue on top

 and white on bottom.  It is known to jump out of the water. The Mako can jump 20 feet in the air. It can attack when it wants to.

            The Mako shark is awesome!!!!!       

A Grand Interview!

Tell Me About the Good Ol’ Days...

The second grade was given an assignment to interview a grandparent and write a report about what they learned.  The students learned skills such as note taking, writing a rough draft (what we call a “sloppy copy”) and typing a final draft.  You can see the stages of the assignment under the final draft.

The students had a lot of fun (and a lot of giggles) learning about flat top haircuts, Nehru jackets, poodle skirts, bell bottoms, Elvis, and the Beatles.  We were able to research images & videos on the internet

(something that didn’t exist when their grandparents were their age!)

         This project helped the students comprehend that their grandparents were once kids, just like them.  It helped to them to understand how life today is different from that era…sometimes for the worse, sometimes for the better.

______________________________________

                   …Granddad Interview

                               By Chandler

Yesterday I interviewed my grandfather.  He was named after his father.  He goes by Bill but his full name is William Ray *******.  He was born in 1952 in Pasadena, California.  He grew up in Prescott, Arkansas.  My grandfather’s best childhood memory is a painting of a lake that hung over the couch.   My granddad got to see the beach when he was 5 years old. He liked to play in his home.  He played baseball, kick the can, and red rover.  He loved to watch Yogi Bear.  It was his favorite cartoon.  Yogi said, “You’re smarter than the average bear!”

He did earn an allowance, but he doesn’t remember if he saved it or spent it.  He played football, basketball, and ran races in track.  He remembers Beatles hairstyles, Nehru jackets, and bellbottom jeans.  My granddad’s favorite bands were The Rolling Stones and The Beatles.

His dad was a preacher and his mom was a teacher.

His favorite things to do were swimming, riding bikes, and playing baseball.

He met my grandma on a blind date.

He says, “Today there are a lot more electronics, it’s more dangerous, and there is more diversity.”  The most important things he learned from his parents were working hard, the Love of God, and respecting others.

 _________________________________________________________________________________

…Grandparent Interview…

     By Lily

Last week I interviewed my grandmother. My grandmother‘s name is Margaret Susan ******. Her parents selected this name for her because her grandmother‘s name was Margaret. She was born on Aug. 19, 1952 in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. She grew up in Marquand, Missouri. She remembers a big stove in the living room.

Her earliest childhood memory was being in first grade, and she got to be the carnival queen at school. Baseball and hide-and-seek were some of the games she played growing up.

She did not have family chores. She also didn’t receive an allowance.  She played volley ball and she was a cheer leader in high school.

She wore bell bottom jeans in her youth. Her favorite music groups were the Beatles and Elvis.

Her dad owned and ran a gas station. Her mom was a house wife.

For fun she liked to swim, go bike riding, and play with her cousins.  She met her future husband when they were in 7^th grade.

When she was young, they had no cell phones or computers.  She says to be kind to others and help people in need. I learned a lot about my grandmother.

________________________________________________________________________

             …GRANDPARENT INTERVIEW…

                By Michael

Yesterday I interviewed my grandmother. Her name is Elizabeth Browne ********. Her parents called her “Sweet Little Betty Boo”.

She was born and raised in Racine, Wisconsin on Nov. 30 1949.  She remembers a cassette desk toaster in her grandmother’s house.  She remembers her grandfather picking up cement blocks when she was 9 months old!  She liked hop scotch. She liked to bike and jump rope.                                            

She had some chores. She had to clean and babysit. She didn’t like to clean. She had no allowance, but she had money. She saved half and spent half of her money. In high school, she played volleyball and was in Latin club.  She liked the Beach Boys.  She remembers some fads. She remembers the poodle skirt and the bouffant hair style.                                 

Her dad was in the army and her mom was a nurse. My grandma met my grandpa when a friend introduced them.           

A lot has changed since she was a child. There were more sicknesses, horses, and farms.  They used typewriters instead of computers.  The most important lesson she learned was “stand up for what is right or you’re twice as guilty.”

It was fun doing this research.

______________________________________________

     …Grandma Interview…

   By Devon

Last weekend, I interviewed my grandma. My grandma’s first name is Kathy ******* and she was born in Chanute, Kansas.  She grew up in Illinois. 

One of her favorite treasures was Ecunia her stuffed bear.  One of her earliest childhood memories is Christmas time at her grandma‘s house. Her favorite games were hide-and-seek. Her favorite toy was her bicycle.  She liked it because she could ride almost anywhere.  Her chores were making her bed and washing dishes.  She got an allowance of 25¢ a day.  She always spent it.

In high school, she participated in choir.  She remembers wearing a poodle skirt. One of her favorite singers was Elvis Presley. Her dad sold insurance.  Her mom was a teacher.  

She met her husband at a party.

Things have changed since she was young.  There wasn’t as much technology back then.  One of the things she learned to do was be nice to people. I learned a lot about my grandma’s childhood.   
___________________________________________

تيته

by Jacob

A few days ago I interviewed my grandma.  Her name is Sahar Suliman *******. The reason she has this name is because her dad liked it.                                          She was born in Alfuhais,

Jordan. She was born on June 19, 1962.  She also grew up in Alfuhais, Jordan and still lives there. She had many family pictures saved in boxes.  She saved them for a long time.

        Her earliest childhood memory was playing with her brother.  She mostly played jump rope and basketball.  Her chores were doing the laundry and washing the dishes.  She got $1 as her allowance, but she spent most of it.  She participated in Girl Scouts and choir.  In her free time, she played soccer with her brothers.

        Braided hair was a popular hairstyle back then.  Her favorite singer was Fairouse.

        Her dad was in the military and her mom was a house wife.

        She met her husband in college.

        She says many things are different from when she was a kid.  The most important thing that her parents taught her was that “loving your family and taking care of them is most valuable.”    
___________________________________________

…Grandpa Interview…

By Owen

Yesterday I interviewed my grandpa. His name is Elmo Owen *****, and that was his father’s name too. He has no nickname.  He was born in Little Rock, Arkansas on August 15, 1949.  He also grew up in Little Rock.

He liked to play Monopoly, checkers, and liked to build cardboard forts.  He liked his BB gun, and he said it was fun to shoot.  He also played baseball and football. He fished and played marbles for fun.

He remembers a lot of things from his childhood. He remembers a toy lawn mower from when he was three years old.  He also remembers his father mowing the lawn.  His chores where drying dishes, carrying out trash, and mowing grass. Mowing grass was his least favorite. His allowance was 25¢ each week. He did not save up his money.

     He had a flat top hairstyle and wore a motorcycle jacket.  He also listened to Elvis Presley.

     His father sold real estate and his mother was house wife. He met my grandma on a blind date. He learned to always be honest.

     He says today there are more people and more technology. I learned a lot about my grandpa.   
___________________________________________

…Grandma Interview…

                                                       By Kailey Grace

The person I interviewed

was my Mimi. Her full name is Carolyn Celeste *******. Her nicknames are CeeCee and Mickey. She was born in

 San Antonio, Texas on October 22,1939.  She grew up in San Antonio and later moved to Little Rock. She grew up on a farm. Some pets at her house were birds, rabbits, raccoons, horses, dogs, cats, and even more.  Her earliest childhood memory was when she had a pet turkey named “Tom Turkey.”

Her favorite games were war and jigsaw puzzles. Her favorite toy was a Wetsy Bestsy doll that Santa gave her.

Her chores were dusting, sweeping the porch and the sidewalk, and feeding the farm animals. Her least favorite chore was polishing the silverware.  Her allowance was a quarter if she did her chores.  She saved her money.

She was a cheerleader and a basketball player. A popular hairstyle in high school was a poodle. A famous skirt was a poodle skirt.

My Mimi liked to listen to music. Her favorite singers are Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly, and Little Richard.

        Her mom worked for the government. Her parents were divorced so she didn’t know much about her dad.

My Mimi met her husband when she was dating his best friend.

People are busier now the when she was young. The Golden Rule is the most important thing she ever learned from her parents.

 _________________________________________________________________________________                                               

    …Grandmother Interview…

                         By Walt

Yesterday, I interviewed my grandmother.  My grandma’s real name is Sandy Louise ********.  One of her nicknames is San-San.

  She was born on Feb. 15, 1950. She lived in Albuquerque, New Mexico. One of the things she remembers from her youth is a play house and a board game called Clue.  Her earliest memory is going to her grandpa’s church. She went up to the bell tower.

One of her favorite games was marbles. She played Clue and baby dolls often.  Her favorite toys were baby dolls. She still has them today!

One of her chores was feeding her baby sister.   She didn't receive an allowance. She participated in Brownies, Girl Scouts, and other clubs.  One of the fads was a mohair sweater.  She liked to listen to Peter, Paul, and Mary.

Her dad was a geologist and her mother was a homemaker.  She loved to read books.  She also like to hula-hoop and swim.  She met her husband on a school trip.

She says, “The world is different because there are many more electronics.” 

Good Friday Sunsets

 Second grade is studying about the last week of Jesus’ life before His crucifixion.  We painted “Good Friday Sunsets” to commemorate the events that lead up to our salvation in Christ.

Devon

Jacob

Kailey

Lily

Michael

Owen

Walt