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Show 1 )Me2SiCM8 B1 Wednesday, October 17, 2007 Maeser Elementary fourth grade A brilliant Express Writer Brilliant yellow aspen leaves float like petals to the water only to be carried away by the swift current. For a moment the fall colors are at their peak, drawing camera-ready visitors into the canyons. But it was study, not leisure, lei-sure, that brought Wednesday's visitors to Dry Fork Canyon. Led by four teachers and 12 parent-volunteers, more than 100 MaeserEIementary fourth ; graders hiked along thecanyQo.'g, , Flume Trail. "This is part of the Utah Core curriculum for science instruction," instruc-tion," says teacher Rosa Eaton, who coordinated the field trip. "Today, they will learn to collect and organize information they gather from the field trip." A class of fourth graders are canvassing the trail edges. Eaton pauses momentarily in her explanation ex-planation of the day's activities to direct several girls to pick up leaves for identification. "Wetookrubbingsofthebark and collected leaves from the trees to identify them later, " they announce. Flush with activity, the young scientists move from tree to tree, gathering leaves and needles. "You take a piece of paper and put it on the tree and then rub it with a crayon," says Dallin Moulton, explainingthe process. "Then you have a picture of the tree's bark so you can tell what kind of tree it is later." "This is a Creeping Juniper," says Eaton, cautioning students to refrain from grabbing the sharp needles. "The students are learning the difference between conifers and deciduous trees. They take the material they collect and identify it back in the classroom using a dichotomous key." Eaton explains the key is a classification system that will teach the students to compare and contrast the things they have collected. "It teaches them to distinguish distin-guish between examples. To think critically," she said. A good deal of preparation goes into scheduling a day-long science excursion. First, there is instruction on safety protocols for the field investigators. Buddy rules apply. Each student is paired with another to help with indoor and outdoor activities. "They learn to remain together, togeth-er, hydrated and fed when hiking along the trail," says Eaton. Second, they received science .instruction on the canyon's geology, geol-ogy, soils, water, vegetation and animals. Instruction included a discussion of the Flume Trail and Each office is independently owned and operate! v A porta) of every sale is donated tithe . 1820 West f Children Miracle Hwy.40,SteF Network. 435 - V 0utstaKfengA9ents.0vtstaHHResurts girls collect leaves from deciduous trees for their portion of the science textbook on nature. fourth grade field trip its importance to local history. The students do not enter the walk unprepared. The curriculum curricu-lum teaches the student what to expect on the trail. The learning does not end with the morning's trek. " This afternoons the students will enter their information into acomputerslideshowfortheWeb site," says fourth grade teacher Darci Mock. "Computerization is part of the curriculum. These students stu-dents will create their own wiki site website location science textbook from the experience." By all accounts, the students - take to the instruction with enthusiasm. en-thusiasm. "This is a raccoon track in the sand," says Parker Hulet. His camera's digital image of the trackshows the fresh trackof one of the canyon's wild creatures. "I have another one of a deer track." Several boys hold out their hands with to display snail shells gathered along the trail. Chavis Adams explains, "The snail is gone but when you look inside, it kinda looks like it's still there." As they walk, the students discuss their field journals. Most have filled them with sketches and notes about the places they have hiked. Near the end, Eaton endeavors to collect the students into a quiet gathering. They are perched along the banks of the creek and atop a wooden bridge. "I need complete quiet for a moment for this sound map to be made," says Eaton. "On the count of five, everyone will close their eyes until I tell you to open them. With your eyes' closed, you mil f I M 4P el 9s fan Yellow-colored boughs of aspen trees frame the Dry Fork Creek on an early morning hike along its banks. 40 Vernal, Utah 781 - 2500 Remington Trujillo holds a mushroom collected by the Mae--ser Elementary fourth graders on their trek. The boys passed the fungus back-and-forth over the course of their nature walk, which eventually ended up in the hands of a parent volunteer for transport. will concentrate on the sounds of nature that surround you." Hard to imagine as a crescendo cre-scendo of activity ensues. Journal and pencils in hand the students jostle for position. "One, two," Eaton says, unruffled by their restlessness, "three, four, five. Eyes closed." A remarkable calm descends over the group. One minute later, students are writing down their thoughts. "I heard the sounds of birds chirping and water running in the creek," says Tyson Colton. Altogether this has been a brilliant bril-liant fourth grade field trip. For more information about the Dry Fork Flume Trail or the history of the surroundings see the Flume Trail story on page B3. FsfiK rEf . now m ) Quailbrook Subdivision. Beautiful home with new hardwood floors, fully finished walkout basement Sellers will look at all reasonable offers. Call today at 828-5573? P Crossing the Flume Trail Bridge over Dry Fork Creek, passing students stop to photograph the autumn scenery. S f 1 Si Field team members Ethan Shorthill and Matthew Gehring work together to identify and collect plant leaves for their portion of the science project. mm Maeser Elementary students collected reeds, needles and autumn leaves on their autumn field excursion for the Utah Core educational curriculum. Not only has the price , been lowered fir below appraised value, but the sellers will also pay $7,000 towards buyer closing costs for this 4,027 sq.ft., 5 bedroom, 3 bathroom in wm c , r t CJ c:O2043 cr kg cn to v?v?w.cncer.Qrg 247 for information or to find free services available in the Uintah Basin. . October Bluebell Corn Maze, Monsen Farm, Bluebell. Through the month a 7-acre maze. Contact 454-3752. Golden Age Center Dances, 155 S. 100 W. Vernal. Every Friday night 8 to 10 p.m. Kays Band, all are welcome. TOPS meets Thursday at the city offices, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Community Bible Study at the home of Dave Jolley every Monday evening at 7 p.m. Call 789-2305. Fall Kundalini Yoga classes. Wednesdays 6 to 7:30 p.m. Call Maragret at 781-8711 for more information. Vernal Family History Center classes every Wednesday. Call 789-3618 for times. Uintah Arts Council's Outlaw Trail Festival, 12th Annual Juried Photography Show, through Nov. 2, Western Heritage Museum. Uintah County Library, Toddler Story Time every Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. & Tot and Mom Book Club every Thursday at 11 a.m. Call 789-0091. October 18 Business and Professional Woman's Club Meeting, 6:30 p.m. Call Jan Shoemaker 781-0000 ext 2361 for location. American Red Cross Blood Drive, 3 to 8 p.m., Vemal's 2nd & 4th Ward Building, 235 E. 600 S. Please Give Blood. October 18-19 Retirement Planning Meeting, Golden Age Center, 155 S. 100 W., Vernal. Thursday 11 a.m. to 5 pin. Friday 10 a.m. to 4 p;m. Call 789-2169. , , October 19-20 District office, 635 W. 200 S., starts 6 p.m. Friday. Apply at Ashley Valley Ed. Center, 250 S. Vernal Ave by Oct. 18. Contact David John or Shela Swain, 781-3100 781-3100 ext. 2850. October 21 Singles 31 Fireside, 7 p.m. at Vernal 2nd & 4th Ward relief Society, 600 S. 235 E., Vernal. Call 789-5452 789-5452 (days) or 789-8364 (evenings). October 22 Last day to register to vote in the Nov. election. Register in person at the Uintah County Building, 147 E. Main, Vernal. October 23 Early voting in the south conference room of County Building, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily until Nov. 3. October 24 Baby Book Shower, 9 a.m. at Prime Time 4 Kids, 1360 W. Highway 40, for parents and kids up to 18 months. UBAOG Heat Program last date to make an appointment. Program begins Nov. 1. Call-722-5218 to make an appointment in Roosevelt and Duchesne and 781-2021 781-2021 in Vernal. October 27 Practice Fun Race, Diamond Mountain Speedway, Buckskin Hills. $20 for drivers and $5 for spectators. Battle at Buckskin Hills, Cowboy Action Shooting Match, fundraiser to benefit the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. Shooting matches, raffle, prizes and other activities from 1 to 5 p.m. Call Dutch John at 789-9703. fiMf m4 ronCIm wtth t bows pm! ttUti 2 cittadfvi9fwMiiMiMn.CalUtMit |