The MacWands Present....DinoLand

This week we have been busying creating our very own in-house museum.  Each student created an enclosure for a dino of their choice.  They constructed, created a background and wrote about their dinosaurs.  Some descriptions were factual and others were very imaginative.  

We all toured DinoLand today and viewed each exhibit.  

Here's a picture documentary. 

Enjoy your visit!

Post Rescue - The Gnorm Files

Maps for Gnorm

 These maps were rolled up and included in our care package for Gnorm.  Gnorm told us he studied them carefully.  I'm sure he would have used them to get back to the school if he was able to make it out on his own.

Dinosaur Inquiry

We wanted to share some pics of our Dinosaur inquiry.  

The children are enjoying the variety of ways to learn and demonstrate their knowledge and learning journey.  

Constructing the volcano.

Designing a Dino Land with foam blocks.

Using whiteboards.

This kind of reminds me of an episode of Wipe Out...the Dino version.

Using macaroni and playdough to create a unique dinosaur.

The volcano is evolving.

Capturing what we know and are still wondering about.
Then we did some internet research to find some answers.
We also learned about determining accurate sources.

Dinos at Sunset

More wonderings and research.

Mission Complete! Gnorm is safe!

Where do we start?  

Today was a special day for the MacWands (and for Gnorm!).  

We started the day with a surprise message from Gnorm in our attendance folder!

How could you not jump into action after a letter like that?!  It took a bit of counting but we finally figured out that Gnorm was stuck in the stump for 22 days. We also discovered that if there were seven days in a week, then Gnorm was in there for three weeks and one day.

That's a l-o-n-g time.

After recess we headed out with our sticks, the drill, the first aid kit, our walkie talkie and our steely resolve.  

Friends on their way to Gnorm.

A pint-sized paramedic carrying our first aid kit.

Arriving at the stump.

At the stump one student is listening intently for Gnorm with his ear against the trunk while another is digging to execute his rescue plan.  (Sadly, that did not work but it did look like some other forest friends had the same idea.  There was lots of evidence of digging and scratching at the post.  Maybe that was Mr. Fox trying to help Gnorm?)

First things first, we decided that Gnorm needed a little love.  What better way to show our love than to sing to him.  The students thought this would calm him down a little before the rescue.  We were singing Dino Ditty and to our surprise a lady came up the path and joined in our song!  Fun.

It was time now to finish the job we had started last week.  We needed a hole in the stump to talk to Gnorm.  This time I had come prepared with an extra long spade bit.  I donned my safety glasses and luckily I had brought another child-sized pair with me and I invited up each child to help drill the hole. 

Success!

Promptly some children started talking to Gnorm through the hole.  

Priceless.

And finally, it was time for the main event.  Ms. MacD did the honours and ascended the ladder to retrieve our beloved Gnorm while one student spoke reassuringly to Gnorm through the hole.  We all waited with great anticipation...

And finally....

Sorry, no sound but a cheer did erupt!

Then came the used up care package...

Boy, these were exciting times in the forest. We discovered that Gnorm really did love those Smarties - he still had one in his mouth!  Everybody gave him a good 'once over' and we headed back to the school but not before we had a photo op.

Our gnome is going home!

Many of the children wanted an opportunity to care for Gnorm on our walk back.

Once back at school we decided to celebrate by having some play time on the playground.  Gnorm didn't want to leave his friends so we bundled him up and took him to play.  He enjoyed his time catching up with the friends.

Finally, Gnorm is back where he belongs.  I think he may think twice about going on another forest adventure.  He expressed some excitement about the upcoming holidays so we think we might stick around for awhile.

"Gnome at last..."

Mission SAVE GNORM is officially complete.