A Pow Wow, Mosquito Control and Dinosaur Fossils

A Pow Wow: The second graders at participated in a program that coincided with their studying Native Americans, geographic landforms, and natural resources.

Raymond LaChance, a seasoned educator in the area, has been presenting programs on Native Culture in public schools throughout New England for more than 40 years.

Nouba Tewk Tomakwa is LaChance’s Native American name meaning Water Beaver. As is the tradition, he was named Busy Beaver by his grandparents when he was young.

He led the group of students to the Nature Trail behind Melican Middle School. He shared the Native people’s belief that each living thing has a spirit while encouraging students to observe, use their senses, and to respect nature.

Students were guided by a vernal pool, cedar swamp, glacial rocks, and a 300 year old cedar tree. At a large glacial rock, LaChance shared the native legend of Great Grandfather Rock. 

LaChance and students noted Abenaki trail markers; deer scat, fox scat, deer rubs on saplings; stone walls, and many types of plants and trees. At the summit, the students gathered for a snack of native foods and the pow-wow.  A presentation
was given of the sacred directions (North, East, South, and West), a discussion of Father Sky and Mother Earth and the role that the animals, plants, birds, and fish all play in the cycle of life.

Students participated in The Autumn Honoring Dance and the Ojibwa dance story, The Rabbit and the Fox. The Algonguin legend How the Earth was Created was shared and LaChance played music on his hand made flutes.

After lunch at the school, LaChance shared the history of the Native American Talking Stick and guided the students to make their own. He instructed students how to carve designs onto sticks with rocks as Native American children would do. Felt, feathers, and beads were added to create their personal stick.

The area in which LaChance hiked with the students and had the Pow Wow shows signs of history dating back to the glacial period, early cedar swamps, vernal pools, colonial farming with the many stone walls, trees, and other indications of prior inhabitants.

Second grade teacher Linda McCann initiated the funding by applying for and receiving grants through the Northborough Cultural Council and the Lincoln Street School PTO.

Mosquito Control: Frank Cornine, a field biologist with the Central Massachusetts Mosquito Control Project, shared some biting facts about mosquitoes with second graders at Lincoln Street School. The students, who have been studying insects as part of their curriculum, were eager to let Cornine know that they knew some of the facts he presented. For example, an insect has three definite body parts that make it an insect—head, thorax and abdomen, and it must have 6 legs.

He reviewed the developmental stages of the mosquito and showed students a video clip that complemented the discussion.

Part of Cornine’s job involves ways to keep mosquito numbers low in the area. Students were amazed that a female adult mosquito can lay up to 150 eggs at one time. “The eggs are very small,” explained Cornine. “The 150 eggs could fit on the tip of a pencil eraser.”

Typically, the eggs are laid in stagnant water and Cornine gave examples of areas where water, if left, can become a breeding ground for mosquitoes. He emphasized how important it is to eliminate these areas of stagnant water around the house and yard if possible to reduce the number of mosquitoes that develop.

“The female mosquito needs extra energy to lay eggs, and this extra energy is obtained by blood,” explained Cornine. Guess where the blood comes from!

He concluded with tips on repelling mosquitoes and some facts about ticks.

Dinosaur Fossils: second graders were entertained by Paulette Morin of Fun with Science Programs. Her program, Having Fun with Fossils and Dinosaurs, included storytelling using a five foot tall storybook, information on how to find fossils and an interactive period where students were able to look and touch fossils.

Morin’s enthusiastic style held the students attention as she explained some of the fossils she has acquired over the years. “I have found 40 percent of these fossils on my own, the rest have been bought or obtained through other paleontologists.

A fossil, she explained, is something that has turned to stone.

Finding fossils can be done in your own backyards, she commented. “If you find a flat, grayish rock; stop, clean it off and look at it closely,” she said. You may find fossils of ferns and leaves.

She encouraged each student to be sure to pack their own science bag and have it ready for a discovery. The essentials for this bag include “a shovel to loosen dirt around a stone, a soft bristle brush to clean off the rock, a magnifying glass, gloves to protect your hands, goggles to protect your eyes, water and snacks. Keep plastic bags from the grocery store handy to wrap fossils,” she advised. “Every scientist must have a notebook and a pencil. Write down the date you found the fossil, a description of the fossil, and where you found it.”

She suggested following up the fossil find with a trip to the library to obtain information on fossils and finding books to use for identification purposes.

A comical highlight of the program was when Morin passed around a coprolite fossil and even sang about it. Coprolite is dinosaur poop.

In addition to the Fossil and Dinosaur program for students that Morin presents to over 250 schools in New England, Morin presents a program entitled Having Fun with Pyramids and Pharaohs. Egyptian history holds a special place for Morin. She also organizes a yearly tour to Egypt with an exceptional itinerary.

Last Day: The last day of school for Northborough Public Schools is Wednesday, June 22.  Schools will be on a half day schedule. 

Happy Summer!