Amazonia

Wednesday we went to Amazonia with the fourth graders. One-hour bus trip there, replete with the kids singing (if you call shouting singing) songs like "_______ peed in their sleeping bag" akin to "who stole the cookie from the cookie jar?" and one about elephants balancing on something...same effect as 99 bottles of beer on a wall...never ending. They're funny songs, but after an hour I was ready to be out of the bus full of 50 kids. Amazonia is a park in Cercedilla, in the mountains of Madrid, where you go on zip-lines, climb ropes, and cross precarious bridges while secured with ropes and a harness. I got to go up with the kids. It was a lot of fun playing in the trees. 

While we were there, one of the kids cried out, "Look teacher! This is like in our science class!" That made my day. There was granite covering every inch of the ground, and the kids remembered in English what it's called. I love that they could see that what we learn in science class really connects with the real world. The experience and their excitement also opened the door to learn other words about climbing and equipment. Now, if only I could remember the word for carabiner in Spanish...

On the way back, the bus was much quieter, as half of the kids fell asleep, exhausted from the day. I could see that it really helped some of the girls' self confidence. Wish we could go back soon!