Thursday, June 11, 2009

Monday, June 8, 2009

Happy Birthday, Whooping Cranes!

DSC09108

We have watched the Class of 2008 grow from chicks, to juveniles, to young adult whooping cranes. We had a little birthday party for the cranes to celebrate all they have learned to do in one year:

•Learned to feed themselves
•Learned to fly
•Grown five feet tall
•Got adult voices and colors
•Flown over 1,200 miles learning their migration route
•Migrated home again with no human help

Sadly, two of the whooping cranes died in April. The researchers believe crane #803 was eaten by a bobcat. Researchers are not sure how crane #826 was injured (broken leg) and later died. He may have flown into a powerline.

To celebrate all that the cranes have accomplished in one year, the students made paper birthday cakes and ate blue crabs (blue tortilla chips).

DSC00759

DSC01274



DSC01273



DSC09106



DSC09088



DSC09085



DSC01267



DSC01264



DSC01263

Hanging out in Wisconsin

DSC09082

The whooping cranes that we have been following all year finished their migration back to Wisconsin. What are they doing now? We read a slideshow book by Journey North to find out. Then we acted out parts of the story. You can see the whooping cranes (children) roosting in our pretend wetlands and flying away from predators. You can also see the whooping cranes eating snakes, snails, and blue crabs. We watched a videoclip of the cranes dancing and some of our whooping crane children tried the dance moves.

DSC09100

Yummy blue crabs, snails, and snakes


Roosting in the water. Watch out for that predator!






DSC09097



DSC09078

This whooping crane child is roosting as one way to stay safe from predators. Some of the predators are coyotes, wolves, and bobcats.

DSC09077

Our new superintendent, Dr. Murphy, visited the Discovery Lab. The children told Dr. Murphy about the endangered whooping crane.

DSC09073

Whooping cranes will eat just about anything, including snakes.

DSC09070
Can you see the snake in the whooping crane's beak?

Saturday, June 6, 2009

Whooping Word Wall

DSC00761

The Whooping Word Wall has been an ongoing project all year. As a culmination to our Whooping Crane project and a method for reviewing all that we have learned, small groups of children had a chance to interact with the words. Students used the crane puppet to read the words. Students used the words in sentences, talked about their favorite words, and drew pictures for some of the words. In case you are wondering about the X word, Xylophone, children played the xylophone in our Whooping Crane Musical.

Ratcliffe Whooping Word Wall


DSC09110


DSC01256


DSC00765


DSC00763


DSC00762


a quickr pickr post

Friday, June 5, 2009

What are the Whooping Cranes doing Now?

The whooping cranes that we have been following all year finished their migration back to Wisconsin. What are they doing now? Read this slideshow book to find out.

Friday, May 8, 2009

Follow the Whooping Cranes Musical, Performance #2

Follow the Whooping Cranes!

A Musical Performed by Barrett Kindergarten Classes
Directed by Mrs. Klontz

Monday, April 27, 2009

Whoopie!! A Successful Spring Migration Journey North

Whoopie!!!! All 14 of the ultralight-led whooping cranes from the Class of 2008 have migrated from their winter home in Florida to their summer home in Wisconsin! There are now 86 cranes in the Eastern Flock.

Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Monday, February 9, 2009

Whooping Crane Habitats in Florida

The whooping cranes are settling into their new habitats in Florida. Half of the whooping cranes will be spending the winter at “Chass” Wildlife Refuge and half will be at St. Marks Wildlife Refuge. A refuge is a protected area where the whooping cranes will be safe.


DSC05699

DSC05673

DSC05664

DSC05901


a quickr pickr post

Friday, January 30, 2009

Let's Celebrate!

DSC05499

DSC05495

DSC05494

Today was a special day. The kindergarten classes celebrated the successful migration of the whooping cranes to Florida. The whooping cranes are settling into their new habitats. The students saw photos of the habitats (saltwater marshes) and learned what the cranes are eating in their habitats. They love blue crabs, and also eat insects, crane chow, corn, mice, snakes, fish, and more. Mrs. Sullivan said she brought some fish to share with the students as part of the celebration. The students didn't look too thrilled until they learned that the fish they would be eating were goldfish crackers. Then each student made a model of the habitat to take home. Due to the two hour snow delay, Mrs. Golden and Mrs. Rente's classes had to postpone the celebration until next Thursday and Friday. So, there will be another celebration next week...not that we mind :)

Blue Crabs - The Favorite Food of the Whooping Cranes
Blue Crabs - The Favorite Food of the Whooping Cranes


Creating Salt Water Marsh Habitats
Creating Salt Water Marsh Habitats


Let's Celebrate a Successful Migration
Let's Celebrate a Successful Migration


Song for the Whooping Crane
Song for the Whooping Crane


Check out this Habitat!
Check out this Habitat!


Want some fish?
Want some fish?


A Very Nice Habitat
A Very Nice Habitat


Here is a Habitat made for Whooping Cranes
Here is a Habitat made for Whooping Cranes


Lots of Mud in the Wetlands
Lots of Mud in the Wetlands




a quickr pickr post



Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Whooping Cranes in Alabama

The photo below was taken by Heather Ray yesterday in Alabama. She emailed us photos earlier in the year and I have been emailing information to her about our Kindergarten whooping crane activities at Barrett. Ms. Ray has been following the whooping crane migration since they started in October 2008 (although she and the cranes took a break over winter vacation). When do you think the whooping cranes will reach Florida? Follow the migration daily on the JOURNEY NORTH website.


All RIGHT! They added another 52 miles today as all 14 birds took off behind Joe Duff's ultralight for the flight to Pike County, Alabama. They got off to a late start (8:10 am) because they waited for the fog to go away. The migration is one stop closer to the goal, and tomorrow's weather forecast looks good for a flight. How many total miles have they gone?