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The pond after its haircut
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Saturday May 11, 2013
Talking with Manatee Elementary's E(for Environment)-Club
TweetHi Judi,
My name is Marcia, and I am a parent-volunteer at Manatee Elementary. We will be installing a butterfly garden on the corner of our playground — as soon as we get the OK on our grant application — so at EClub we will be exploring butterflies and their habitats. We thought that having a speaker to come and talk to the kids about butterflies and maybe showing them real butterflies and butterfly plants would be awesome and that is why I am writing to you now.
So it began. And on Monday, April 8th, Judi gave her talk to the E-Club at our local Manatee Elementary School. Although the talk was only 30 minutes, Judi spent hours planning it. The theme was “Things you will see in your butterfly garden.” Judi can prepared to show, not just tell. She brought eggs, she brought caterpillars, she brought chrysalises, and she brought mesh cubes with butterflies. The children brought fascination and enthusiasm.
When the meeting started, and we had been introduced, Judi, who is always a fabulous extemporaneous speaker, was so nervous she had to pull out her index cards to remember what she had to say. But the children — twenty or so, sitting on the floor in a big semicircle in front of us — were so interested, so transfixed, really, as she spoke and showed them eggs and caterpillars… that the nervousness disappeared, and so did the index cards.
Judi spoke from her heart, as she always does, and the children responded, and everyone had a fabulous time. And more than just the children; I think there were five teachers and adult volunteers, and they hung on every word, too. As Judi finished talking about the stages of a butterfly’s life — eggs, caterpillars, pupa — she handed the things she had brought to Lynn and me, and we carried them around so every child (and parent and volunteer) could see up close.
The children responded with such curiosity and, I have to say, delight. They were curious and asked questions. No one’s attention wandered.
When our time was up, Judi was given a craft paper butterfly of thanks that all the children and adults had signed, and we left feeling thoroughly satisfied. And she got one more email:
Hi Judi:
Just wanted to tell you what a fantastic presentation you gave to the e-club (environment) at Manatee Elementary School this afternoon. I am sure everyone enjoyed seeing the catepillars, chrysalis and butterflies that you shared with the club as well as your knowledge of raising butterflies. Way To Go JUDI!!!
Looking forward to your next Open House.
— posted by Judi and Greg · Comment · #
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