Ready... Set... EXPLODE!!

First off let me apologize for my lack of posting in November AND December! Between Thanksgiving and organizing classes and contacts to prepare for break, my blog sadly took position on the back burner. But here is a guest blog that I wrote for the Manna Blog about our fabulous Natural Science class volcano-building finale....
And check back later this week for an update about the new year here in Ecuador and how our programs and my work has changed!

Without further ado, my guest blog...

"As our Natural Science class sadly came to an end this week, we decided we wanted to go out with a bang...or rather an EXPLOSION!

Our 2-part class on volcanoes had a suspenseful start with a volcano diagram and learning, in Spanish AND English, about the various parts of a volcano. Then we swiftly transitioned into our lecture for the day with material stopping just short of discussing plate tectonics, but nonetheless just as invigorating! We had planned to do a worksheet and show a video, but due to the awesome power outages, neither of those caught glimpse of action on Volcanoes Day One. We ended Day One with the actual building of the volcanoes! WOOHOO! Since our class is so large, we split them up into 2 groups allowing each group to make their own paper mache volcano. And naturally without fail they teamed up into boys and girls teams. As Day One came to a close, the volcanoes were taking shape and looking awesome!

Cotopaxi is one of Ecuador's more famous volcanoes with its spectacular glacier-topped summit peeking over mountains and clouds providing views from all around Quito. Did you know that Cotopaxi has erupted 50 times since 1738?! If you were in our class Friday, you would have learned this! NO WAY! Yes way...

After some English vocabulary review, a Discovery Channel video about volcanoes, a worksheet and a lesson about the effects of volcanoes on the environment, the time had come...explosion time! Needless to say they were a huge hit, I mean what kid doesn't love volcano eruption day in elementary school? So, I'll let the pictures and video do the talking from here...

The boys enjoying constructing (and sticking newspaper up their

noses)

Jackie and Krysta with the girls' finished product

Profe Krysta completes the second demonstration

Our whole class!

And FINALLY, our epic explosion video:

**For some reason my Blogger will not allow me to upload the video

so click this link to my guest blog to see the video! Sorry!

Natural Science Volcano Explosion Video!

If you are just beside yourself with excitement and jealousy that you didn't get to build a volcano with us, we offer free Skype dates so you too can learn how to bring the fun into your home! (*Materials not included)

Thanks for reading and have a splendid Thanksgiving week!

Hugs and besitos,

Krysta"