Fall has begun, and even as we wait patiently for the heat to break, there are signs of the season all around us.  In science, we studied the meaning of the fall equinox and what it means for the seasons.  Students learned about how the tilt of Earth’s axis is the reason for both the change in seasons and in the amount of day light.  Their favorite fact from the lesson was that if Earth’s axis wasn’t tilted, the seasons would never change, and day and night would be consistent year round.  One of the most rewarding things about being a teacher is watching students dig a little deeper into everyday experiences, like the length of day, and make new and meaningful connections to our learning.

Another part of Woodfield where the change of season is apparent is our chicken coop.  The chicks that we hatched from eggs in the spring are now nearly full grown and have found their place in the pecking order.  We now have sixteen happy, healthy chickens in our flock.  The flock is protected by our lone rooster, Gus Gus, who was also the first egg we successfully hatched at Woodfield.  Our oldest birds are four Rhode Island Red hens, who have retired from laying eggs and now keep a wise watch over the flock.  The next generation of chickens are now a year and a half old, our White Leg Horns.  They are the powerhouse of the flock right now, with each of the three birds laying 4-6 eggs a week!  Last year’s chicks are Barred Rock hens and the six of them are friendly and social birds who will begin laying eggs in the next few months.  Finally, Sophrita is the newest addition to our flock.  She is a Cinnamon Queen hybrid, and can often be found hanging out in the back of my classroom.  Ask your student who their favorite chicken is.  I bet they don’t hesitate to tell you their answer!  Also, be on the lookout next month for Algebra 1 students to begin egg sales again.  We expect the number of eggs we are getting to nearly double by spring, and it provides a wonderful experience for math students to practice sales, book-keeping, and budgeting.

Mr. Braley