Houston Aquarium

After my first extra day I went in on Tuesday (3/1/11) too. I went as a chaperone on the field trip to the aquarium with my students. It was a trip that taught me a lot more about them as individuals and I loved it just as much as they did. The first thing I learned is that many of them had never ridden in a bus and this was the first thing that got them all excited.

Some of the girls were really excited to be on the bus!

I also learned a few things from them that I didn't know. For example a punch buggy is a VW Bettle and if you see one you yell punch buggy and hit the other person. I fell victim to this before I even knew what it was and it just cracked me up. When we got to the aquarium it was a scramble to get the lunches and drinks unloaded and to get all the necessary stickers on the kids so they could enter the amusement area.

See all the lunches in the bags and the cooler full of drinks.

Getting all their stickers and waiting to go inside. 

In the aquarium there are only a few exhibits the main attractions are the amusement rides right next to the building that houses all the fish and the tigers. Yes I said tigers!

Riding on the carousel. Every child had to be lifted on and off it was a workout! 

Some of my students on the train that took us to the shark tunnel.

One of our wonderful parent volunteers and her daughter.

The "Jaws" shark that the kids pointed out before going into the shark tunnel.

Sharkies in the tunnel. 

The kids were really fascinated with the pointy nose shark that laid on the ceiling.

After the shark tunnel there is a shark that pops out and scared everyone, me included.

Alligators in the first exhibit.

The excitement over seeing Dori

and then Nemo was enough to make the experience worth it.

Some of the kids engrossed in figure out what all the different fish and sharks were. 

The last fish exhibits were ones were the students could touch different types of fish and sea creatures. 

Like a star fish.

A horseshoe crab.

Nemo in his anemone, they couldn't touch this one, but they loved seeing him even closer. 

Touching stingrays and nurse sharks. 

The biggest nurse shark in the tank. 

We all got to be divers, the plan is for these pictures to be on the Fathers day craft.

Awaiting the white tiger. 

Yes there are four white tigers at the aquarium, we got to see one.

Licking his lips after finding some more raw chicken. 

The fish tank at the exit had the most colorful fish. 

Entertaining the girls I sat with on the ride back I would take pictures and then show them. They loved it!

Peek-a-boo

This is what 3/4 of the bus looked like on the drive back. It was quite peaceful!

We spent some time watching all the elevated freeways we passed by looking for more punch buggys.

Going on the field trip really showed me just how much these kids don't get to experience and how important it is for us as teachers to expose them to as many different things as possible. I have truly enjoyed working with my kindergarteners and it has been great watching them learn and learning from them. It wasn't always easy, but the days like today and other good days make up for the days that are difficult and draining.