A Few Confirmations of My Calling

On several occasions Friday and Saturday, I got great confirmations of my calling to share the wonders of this world.

First, I was getting my haircut and was asked about an idea for her third grade grandson. I shared my own third grade project from a few years ago to separate salt from a salt water solution by evaporation and shared the joy of winning a first place silver dollar which my dad still has. For my project, I put a string tied to a pencil resting on the top of a beaker in the solution. Over time the salt crystallized up the string like a stalactite. I suggested he use different concentrations and use just water as a control. Maybe he could use different food coloring in different concentrations. She was excited and I offered to let her borrow a graduated cylinder and beakers. I am doing what I am supposed to be doing.

Two, I have been working hard to get my (MIC) Madison Investigates Caterpillars Project going this year. It has not always been easy to convince teachers and students to take on another project. Then I got a wonderful email from an elementary school principal. Common Core (a new cross curricular set of objectives to be implemented across the country and all grade levels by 2014) is being implemented in the second grade, and they are studying the life cycle of butterflies. In order to select their three member team, an essays contest was used. The three winning essays were sent to me - wow. I will share when I get permissions. I am doing what I am supposed to be doing.

Three, my mentor for the project drove down from Mississippi State where he teaches and directs the Mississippi Entomological Museum. Three volleyball students greeted him at the door and carried in supplies for our orientation on Wednesday, September 28.

They were filled with curiosity and signed up for the project. Dr. Brown and I went looking for caterpillars

and as he said skippers are often found on locusts, he reached over and found one and then another. Later another student who had already been recruited in my colleague's chemistry class saw the caterpillars and was very heppy she on board.

Again I am doing what I am supposed to be doing.

P.S. Those interested in signing up for MIC or following the project can click on the link at the top of this blog and fill out an online application or just enjoy perusing.