Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Dear Fifth Graders,
Had a wonderful day here in the Rockies. Sorry about the blog comments- You should be able to comment now- no problem!!
Went for a really nice hike in the park today with Dr. Sydne Record from the Harvard Forest.. The aspens were gold. We saw some amazing birds- they weren't afraid of us and came really close.


This is a Gray Jay. My friend Sydne took this picture.
Unfortunately the ponderosa pines have been attacked by the mountain pine beetle- a very destructive pest that kills the trees.
 
 Can you think of an invasive beetle that is killing maple trees in our area?

On our way down the mountain we saw a family of elk. I pulled over to take a picture and the big male walked up on the road right in front of the car,  and looked at us. It was huge! It was a little scary but very cool. The female had a radio tracking collar on.

 
 So you don't think it's all fun and adventure here (although it is always fun!), I went to a workshop on making forest litter decomposition bags to watch the leaves, pine needles, and all that "good for the soil stuff" break down and decompose. We can do that when I get back. I also went to a presentation on the new science standards for teachers.

Happy Trails fifth graders! Miss you lots!
Ms. Bennett


29 comments:

  1. Mrs. Bennet the beetle I think it is, is a horned beetle

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  2. the japenese beetle is killing trees?-kyle

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    1. i miss u Mrs.Bennett, have a good time-kyle

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  3. that's soooooo cool and i love the pic with the elk
    -Dawson

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  4. I think it is a japanees beetle that is killing them





    Erin

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  5. Lukas paine it is a japenese horned beetle

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  6. OMG how did you get so close to the deer and the caribou

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  7. how close where you to the elk.
    -dawson

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  8. I belive a beetle is the African Long horn Beetle.
    Just a guess have fun in the rockies!
    MAX!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  9. Ms. Bennett

    I can not imagine anything that would kill the trees i hope the bugs stop killing the trees.

    jacob

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  10. Mrs. Bennett,

    Love your pics. it has not been the same here at J.R.B. without you. we all miss you sooooooooo much. my favorite pic is the one of the elk, that is cool

    -lily A.

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  11. Mrs Bennett i like the pictures that you took i like the deer and the elk and the bird and all the pictures. i hope you have a great adventure in Colorado and i hope you encounter more animals and the trees and wildlife it must be awesome it makes me want to go. Matthias

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  12. Mrs.Bennett I just love the pictures you took.
    your pal Richard

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  13. hi miss Bennet we miss you so much. hope your having lots of fun how many cool things have you seen?Riley

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  14. is it the japaneese bettle that is killing our trees

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  15. what type of bird is that. how did you get so close to elk and deer that is awesome.

    Gage 5c

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  16. Ms. Bennett-
    I'm so glad to see you sharing your experience with your students! I wish I were seeing elk and yellow aspens today...but alas, the computer screen at Harvard Forest with your pics will have to suffice. Did you take a picture of your scientific poster to share with your students? I can't wait to learn about the decomposition bags and other cool tips you learn from other educators and scientists at your meetings!

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  17. Wow! Awesome pictures Mrs. Bennett....I can't wait until you get back...I love the KUMBUYA cabin...the last beam went into the new JRB...we made it onto the front page of The Gardner News. Science rules!-Mrs.Robichaud

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  18. Ms. Bennett, Following your blog. Your former student, Arianna R

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  19. wow, that looks like so much fun! i would love to see the birds and elk there, you are so lucky! i think that the japanese longhorn beetle is eating maple trees. Have fun!


    laura

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  20. Dear Mrs. Bennett
    love the pictures and the picture of the moose. we hope you are having a good time in Denver my favorite state. cool picture of the fire.the new species that i thought about was a black mountain cow. it could eat grass and plants and small saplings.but the only thing different is that it cant produce milk. its habitat is the mountain. it is the brother or sister to the cow. like the new species.

    sent by Reed

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  21. Dear Ms. Bennett
    I think a type of bug that is killing trees are termites

    Liam

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  22. I Luv the tree pic. It looks so cool!! I miss you plz come bak!! Also the bird! It's so pretty! I luv all the pics!

    - Emily <3 :) <3

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  23. i love the pic of the mousse i think its a African Long horn Beetle

    or a Japanese long horned beetle

    Tim miss you

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  24. Mrs. Bennett,
    I'm glad you had a good day and i hope to see you soon so i can here more. i love the elk pics! its cool that you got a good picture of them. and i saw the female elk with the radio tracker on her. id love to be there with you and see all the mountains and just the environment would be cool to check out. are the animals different than what we have here?i hope to see you soon, and i hope to here more about your adventures!



    ABBI W

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  25. Dear, Mrs. Bennett,
    I liked the pictures you posted and the information you gave us.Those wholes look like the Asian Long Horned beetle.Hope your having tons of fun in Colorado,We miss you lots!

    ABBI R.

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  26. wholes=holes LOL!
    ABBI R.

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  27. Hi Mrs. Bennett
    I think that all the pictures are really cool and it made me want to be there. i miss you very much.
    I think the beatle is the asian longhorn beatle.


    From kathleen

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  28. hey Mrs. Bennett!
    The pictures that you shared with us were amazing! The animals here are much different than the animals that you see in Denver! do you know what the temperature was the night you had a warm fire in your cabin? I hope you have a great rest of the week and i know we miss you and we also cant wait to hear how your trip was when you come back!

    -Sadie T.

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