Bugs, bugs, bugs; poetry in motion!

Now summer’s here and the bugs are everywhere I want to be outside right now but I’m not sure if I dare I hear their buzzing and steady hum

They are waiting for me when outside I come

Now as I look through my window screen

I’ll tell you of the bugs I’ve seen

I saw a horse fly

And it went buzzing by My nose and landed on my toast

It ate off all the ham

Then flew over to the ham

And gobbled up the last bit of my roast

I saw some hornets on their nest

Then they came for me plus all the rest

Now I’m running fast to get away from there

And now they all have taken wing I think it’s me they want to sting

This all is bad and I’m getting quite a scare

I saw a spider in her web today And she asked her mate if he would like to stay For “Dinner” and to linger for awhile

Then she thought I’ll have to try Not to eat him like a fly

She looked so pleased and had a happy smile

I saw a big hairy scary spider He was a basement hider But I was brave and had nothing to fear

Then I went downstairs to get some beer

But the spider was way to near Now I’m in its web, honey, come and get me dear!

I saw my fruit flies

They are such tiny little cute guys And in our house I see them everywhere

Oh how good it feels, When I feed them banana peels Because for all these little flies

I really care I saw some slugs

They are my favourite kind of bugs

They eat up all the lettuce in our garden every day

So I go down to the store And buy the slugs some more Because for sure I want my friends the slugs to stay

Now in the campground late at night

There are so many bugs in flight Mosquitos buzzing in my ear

How do they know that we are here

And moths that flutter near the light

Much to the spiders’ keen delight

The Noseeums are swarming everywhere

They’re in my eyes and in my hair

There’s a red ants’ nest by our tent tonight

Can those darn things ever bite We are here to camp and just be lazy

Are the bugs all here to drive us crazy?

I saw a bug

On my bedroom rug

It said “it’s fall, please may I stay inside?”

I said “do as you please Because I don’t want you to freeze So go find yourself a nice warm place to hide.”

When fall comes and the leaves drop to the ground

We will see no more bugs around When winter comes with ice and snow

All the bugs I miss them so Then spring arrives I’m so glad to see And then out come the bugs so glad to see

- Michael Hughes, Turtleford

School survival guide: Tips for a strong start

The start of the new school year is an exciting time, but it can also be stressful without a plan for success. Aside from standard tips of easing into a routine and stocking up on supplies, here are three ideas to help your student engage in learning this year.

Embrace gaming

So many kids love technology and their screen time. Take advantage of the screen’s magnetic pull with some online gaming resources that allow you or the student to create content. You can find plenty of digital tools to make quizzes, crosswords, scavenger hunts and add flair to presentations. It’s a great way to help keep students interested and ready to learn – plus, it doesn’t feel like schoolwork.

Break away

Examining the details in everyday life sounds dull, but it can re-ignite a spark for learning in many students. For instance, encouraging younger kids to keep tabs on changing seasons improves observational and communication skills. Activate critical thinking and boost their note-taking abilities by asking older kids to recap the main points of some of your conversations, their favourite media, or a news story. Visiting the library, local museums or community events can also awaken new interests for any age group.

Get relatable

Educators love to see students learning about their community. It shows they can apply different skills and put their critical thinking skills to use. So, why not get students thinking about their own community in a larger context? Do they know the number of people in their community, or how many households have kids in their age group? What about the population trends – is the community growing or decreasing? Once they have the answers, see if they have any theories or come up with some explanations together.

Thursday, August 17, 2023 MERIDIAN SOURCE