It's a pity that I didn't have my class here with me today for an amazing discovery. This morning I'd read about how many species of bugs are able to survive winter through adaptation at: http://prairieecologist.com/2011/02/03/ ... the-winter. One of the articles featured the water boatman, which looks very much like the bug shown first on the January 5th entry, and second in today's earlier post.

After exploring Joseph Creek in the early afternoon, I followed Jimsmith Creek back to Elizabeth Lake. Today's temperature was 3 degrees C, and, as I explored the ice surface, I found a tiny pool of water near one of the gas holes where several water boatmen had been frozen in ice up till now. As I watched, there was a slight movement, and one of the water boatmen began to swim around. The following is a short sequence of his swim. Nature never fails to amaze!

Ice patterns on the lake.

Ice sculptures by Joseph Creek.

This morning the moon was spectacular as I walked to school. It was low on the horizon when I met Mya, who was also on her way to school. When I pointed out the moon about to disappear behind some clouds, she told me that she had seen it rise when she went for a walk with her family last night. At Circle Time I asked her to tell her classmates her story about the moon. This is her story.

"Last night I was going for a walk with my parents, and my brother, and my cousins, and the funny thing is I saw the moon come up, and then I saw it go down on my way to school. It was so big, so close, and it was resting. It looked like the cloud was its bed, and it was sleeping in the cloud. It was really cool."


The moon at 8:30 this morning.

Frozen in ice at Elizabeth Lake.

On our next trip to Elizabeth Lake we will explore some of Nature's structures.

Here are some more structures for us to investigate.

Today I received a card addressed to Mr. Wilson and his Grade 3 Class from a Mrs. Porter, who lives in Calgary. Back in September 2011 she picked up a copy of A Kid's Guide to Elizabeth Lake - 2011, which she had taken with her as she explored the area around the lake. When I shared it with the present grade 4s who put it together last June, they were as thrilled as I.

Thank you Mrs. Porter from your thoughtful letter!!