Wild Kingdom - DME style

We started back to school on Tuesday.  Knowing that the kids were going to have a hard time adjusting to the school routine, I wasn't surprised when half of my morning class started looking out the window.  After I looked out the window to see what they were looking at and didn't see anything, I redirected their attention back to the lesson.  Not long after we re-started the lesson, their attention strayed back out the window.  I looked out again, but saw nothing.  Once again, I redirected their attention back to the lesson.

Before I got started back with the lesson, one of my students said, "Um, Mrs. Huffman? That's a BIG bird!"

I peeked out the window, and sure enough, we had an unobstructed view of the largest hawk I'd ever seen perched on the branch of a Live Oak that was maybe 25 feet away.   Then came, "Um, Mrs. Huffman?  What's it doing?"

Oh Good Lord!  Really?!

My response was..."Now, outside we have a perfect example of the Food Web in action.  You see,  he's having breakfast."  Sure enough, as we looked out the window, we were able to watch the hawk rip into something, and discard whatever it was that got in its way (fur, body parts, sinew...you get the picture).

"So, Mrs. Huffman, what's it eating?"  "Not sure, but it was furry and small."

The class then began to speculate on what the hawk was eating.  Finally, someone said, "Well, I know what it wasn't....FAST!"  The kids in class laughed and then went back to watching the very macabre scene unfold.

Knowing that my lesson was on hold for a bit, I announced that we were having a creative writing assignment.  They had to write like they were the hawk, and write a story about an experience (not gruesome).

But hey, at least it was a lesson on the food web and not reproduction!

Welcome back to school everyone!!!!!