Sizzling Summer Solstice, 2014!

This year in the Northern Hemisphere, summer begins on June 21, 2014.

This first day of summer is called 

Summer Solstice.

Sol + stice comes from a combination of Latin words meaning "sun" + "to stand still." As the days lengthen, the sun rises higher and higher until it seems to stand still in the sky.

As a major celestial event, the Summer Solstice results in 

the longest day and the shortest night of the year. The Northern Hemisphere celebrates in June, but the people on the Southern half of the earth have their 

longest summer day in December!

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What are your favorite activities during summer?

Do you have any special summer plans?

Leave a comment, and let's stay in touch!

You may also send in a picture about what you're enjoying this summer to be posted on Ranney's Record!

Our Blooming Butterfly Bush!

Today was a very special day for our class!

 Inspired by Mrs. Ranney's Post called

Astonishing Arbor Day - Then and Now!,

one of our wonderful parents, Mrs. Mayer, had a brilliant idea!

Since Mrs. Ranney's class had planted a tree on our campus 28 years ago, and since this is Mrs. Ranney's final year of teaching, why not plant something special again?!

 

So, we did just that, with help from a few friends!

 

 Mr. Lattimer dug the hole and mixed in the soil amendment.

 

 Mrs. Grupp, a parent with a great deal of plant expertise taught us about how to plant it properly, so the roots could spread out in their new home.

 Each of us helped loosen the roots.

 Mrs. Ranney helped fill in the soil!

 Mrs. Mayer brought our original artwork which has been reproduced as a tile to commemorate this special event.

 After our butterfly bush was securely in place, we all took turns giving it a drink! (A special thank you to Andrea Testa who took many of the photos. Thanks to Mrs. Berman who also took photos today!

 Here it is in its new home, awaiting the installation of the special plaque, so others who pass by will know who planted it and when!

Our special plant is called 

Buddleja davidii 'Royal Red'.
Informally it is known as the Butterfly Bush! We look forward to seeing how tall it will grow and how many different butterflies 
and hummingbirds it will attract!

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What did you think of our planting experience?

Do you have any butterfly bush facts 
that you can share?

What other planting experiences have you had? 

Wonderful, Wild, and Amazing Animals!, 2014!

As part of our animal adaptation science unit, Beverly Critcher 

from Wildlife Experience brought wild animals on four
separate days
to Mrs. Ranney's class for careful
scientific observation.

Wildlife Experience  is a non-profit wildlife education organization that brings native and exotic animals to schools and teaches children about the importance of our natural world.

Day 1:

 Awesome, the Opossum

Sally, the Salamander!

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 Day 2:

Can you identify these skulls and tell what kind of eaters they are?

Skull A

Skull B

Skull C

Skull D

Moose, the Fennec Fox!

Python, the python!

 
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What did you enjoy about your wildlife experience?

What facts can you share about the animals we saw?