The Dingus Family: Day Without Walls

Who doesn't love field trips?

Especially when it's just two days before spring break.

As a kid, I don't remember going on field trips. Too bad. I am sure they create lasting memories, not to mention a different aspect of learning.

In science, we have been covering a unit I like to call Plant Adventures. To culminate this learning, we boarded a bus and traveled out of the city and up into the foothills surrounding Taichung. In America, we would call it down on the farm. Here in Taiwan, it's the opposite- up on the farm!

This was my fifth time to take a class to this farm and once again, I was extremely pleased.

Such a beautiful location! Not exactly the image of a typical American farm, is it? Even after five visits, I experience parts of the farm I have never seen. Each year has brought new discoveries.

Besides being in a beautiful location, my students were so engaged.

There are so many different and wonderful plants growing in Taiwan.

These two were so captivated by the beautiful flowers. It took them twice as long as everyone else to just walk from the bus to the entrance of the farm! They were discussing each plants need for sunlight according to where it was growing. They definitely were paying attention in class! Perhaps, future botanists in the making!

My students were also checking out the seeds of each plant, and how God created the seeds to move away from the parent plant. As a teacher, it was exciting to see them take the "book learning" out of the classroom and out into the real world.

Besides plants, this farm abounds with chickens, geese, and turtles. A batch of eggs were about to hatch.

The little chick inside could be heard chirping and pecking away at its confining shell.

This pet goose followed our guide everywhere, always demanding to be the center of attention. My class willingly obliged. Of course, you had to be careful, one student got nipped on the ear, while another on the nose!

Unfortunately, our guide only spoke mandarin, so I only understood a fraction of his explanations. I will say, that several of my students showed empathy by translating the main points for me and their non-mandarin speaking classmates!