Wacky Wednesdays--Ladybug Lesson

Yesterday I had a formal observation by the assistant principal. Being a tenured teacher I have an observation every three years. (And of course, the administrators are always walking thru and stopping by to get a feel for everyone's teaching throughout the school.)

Well, I decided to do my lesson on a high-interest topic: ladybugs. I also decided I would buy a cup of ladybugs from the nursery (1,500 ladybugs--smallest size) and was so excited when my husband found the nearest place to buy them--I went right out and bought them and then stashed them in the refridgerator. On the morning of my observation I transferred them to a plastic terrarium, with leaves full of aphids that I had gathered, covered it with netting, and then snapped on the lid and then hid the whole thing in a paper grocery sack so the students could guess what was in side...

Right after recess my administrator comes in, I start the lesson, I go and get the bag.... and there's no need to guess what's in the bag! The netting holes were too big, and the vents on the lid were also large-ish, so ladybugs were crawling everywhere! Talk about high interest!
As ladybugs were crawling up my arm, and everyone else wanted ladybugs to crawl up their arms, I calmly explained that if ladybugs got on them they would slowly walk outside--as I was going to do now-- and shake, shake, shake until the ladybugs flew away.

We then took turns by rows observing the activity in and on the terrarium before I took it outside, and then continued on with the lesson--which was about the writing process, with the ladybugs, of course, being our topic.

The administrator actually liked the lesson, and was amazed at how well kindergartners can write, and had nothing bad to say about the gazillion-ladybug-near-fiasco. (Whew!)

I dreamt about ladybugs all night. (slow-mo ladybug flight)

And still more... (remembering this one from Sesame street)