Gardens, Butterflies, and Ladybugs, OH MY!

We have had several good days of rain lately!  So when I got to school today, I noticed that we would need to pick some of our carrots.  We headed outside and found these

As I pulled the carrots out, I noticed several little ladybug larvae crawling around in the dirt.  Check it out. (this is in Heather's hand)

We have been keeping busy learning all about the complete metamorphosis of insects.  As I was showing them the ladybug larvae, one of my students said, "look, here's a pupa!"  I was SO excited.  We haven't talked about the ladybug life cycle yet.  When I showed them the larvae it was the first time they had even seen one.  I was so impressed that this student applied his knowledge from mealworms and butterflies to ladybugs.  I turned around quickly and saw what he pointed to.  It was in fact, a ladybug pupa right on the wall outside my classroom window.

So amazing!  Well, we needed to move inside and get to work.  However, work in the garden had to continue.  So I left small groups of students with our full time substitute.  They harvested peas, carrots, and lettuce to take home.  We even got one onion! 

The next amazing thing was what one of my students found munching on some lettuce and dill.  2 monarch caterpillars.  When we study butterflies, we raise Painted Lady Butterflies.  I have actually never seen a monarch caterpillar before!  It was absolutely amazing!

It was just such a fun day of getting our hands dirty and learning about insects in REAL LIFE!  I can't wait to keep our eyes on these two caterpillars and see them go into their chrysalis!  I sure do love those gardens and how much Heather and I can teach to our kids through it!

Ladybug Author's Purpose and a Currently!

Happy Thursday,
I am popping in quickly to join up with Farley over at Oh' Boy 4th Grade.

My husband and I couldn't find anything to watch on TV tonight so we turned Blue Like Jazz on.  It was interesting.

We may not have had a raise in 6 years, in fact we've made less money every year.  But in the last month we have been issued an iPad and Macbook Air.  I am IN LOVE!!!

I really need to go to sleep!  I am headed on a field trip tomorrow with my first grader to pick strawberries at our local pick your own farm.  I need to get my sleep.  I am excited to be a momma tomorrow!

I am SO ready for summer.  I can't wait to relax and spend time with my hubby and babes.  It is our last summer before all of my kids are "school age". :(

I recently discovered that I am extremely vitamin D deficient.  The main symptom I feel is pure exhaustion!  I always feel the need to sleep and even when I have slept 12 hours, I feel the need to continue to sleep.  I have felt so much better since I began my prescription.  Now that the prescription is out, I can feel the need for sleep creeping back in.

My hubby is headed to Africa this summer for three weeks on a mission trip with my parents.  While I am holding down the fort, I will be heading to Ohio to visit with my family while my support system is away.  I am also looking forward to making some more fun units for my TPT store.  It is so hard to get things made during the school year!  Thank goodness for this new macbook!

So, tonight I made a little Author's Purpose Game to get in the swing of making things this summer!  Remember Heather's Author's Purpose game about Pirates?  It was so awesome, I decided to create one for our Ladybug unit that we are beginning soon!  Make sure to stop by my TPT store and check it out!

As always, first comment gets your own copy for free!