To The Woods: Day 4

Day 4 of my To-The-Woods STEMersion

Today we went on a trip to The Narrow: Nature Reserve. The little Miami River cuts right through it. We went on a bird hike for a bit and got to see a lot of Sycamore trees, Red-bellied woodpeckers, thrushes, as well as plenty of stinging nettle and invasive species like honeysuckle. Right in the middle of the hike, we came to a little stream where we hunted for salamanders. We didn't find any, but we did find a crawdad about 3 inches long, and found this big worn-looking grub which turned out to be a horsefly larvae. Next we went by the edge of the river and studied the water for acidity. Then we had lunch and finished our trip with a trip to their Nature Center where I got to hold a snake.

When we returned to school, we had to make these plays that talked about conserving nature. My group decided to make one where a bottled water CEO steals water from a pond and pollutes the water, killing some of the animals. So the turtle tries to get back the clean water that the CEO stole; and if you want to know what happens, read the script...

This is our play:

THE EMPTY POND

Actors:

Sophia- Turtle

Leah- CEO

Kylie- Duck

Courtney- Narrator

Act 1

Narrator: Hello boys and girls, today I’ll tell you the story of the empty pond. It all started when two little innocent creatures were enjoying their pond

Duck: This is such a great pond

Turtle: The best

(the two play around in the pond)

Act 2

Narrator: Nearby, the local Bottled Water company CEO walks along a trail near the pond.

CEO: Oh, my company is almost bankrupt! If I don’t find a new resource and fast… Say! There’s a big pond right over there! And it’s unguarded. This must be my lucky day!

(CEO goes over to pond and takes some water)

Act 3

Duck: Hey! Just what do you think you’re doing with our water?!

CEO: I would hardly say this water is yours

Duck: We all live here!

CEO: Is your name on it?

Duck: no

CEO: Then I’d say it’s up for grabs

(CEO takes some more water)

Duck: Oh no you don’t!

(Duck throws a rock at CEO)

CEO: Ow! Take this you little rodent!

(CEO dumps her trash in the pond and it pollutes the water)

CEO: Well, I have all the water I’ll need, enjoy your dirty pond! (Maniacal laugh)

Narrator: Duck desperately tried to escape the cataminated water, but it was too late.

(Duck dies dramatically)

Act 4

Turtle: Duck? Where are you? What’s up with the water today (cough)?

(Turtle sees Duck dead)

Turtle: NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! Duck!

(CEO walks by and laughs with stolen water in hand)

Turtle: I will avenge you Ducky!

Narrator: Turtle realized what the CEO had done to the water, she knew that the only way to save her pond was to replace the dirty water with the clean water that had been stolen. Because apparently the CEO had taken a lot of it.

(Turtle gets some rocks and attacks the CEO)

Turtle: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHH!!! Take this! (throws a rock) And that! (throws another rock)

CEO: AAH! You rotten creatures! I’ll take care of you! (throws more trash at Turtle)

Turtle: AAH! (gags)

Finale

Narrator: With her final breath, Turtle throws another rock at the CEO, who falls, and the water magically lands back in the pond.

(CEO dies, then Turtle dies)

Narrator: And so what was once a lively pond sits here today empty and slightly dirty. So remember kids, please don’t take some random animal’s pond water, then nobody wins.

THE END

Now we actually got to do our play in front of the class. Of course no one else wanted to rehearse, but luckily they still liked it; and me narrating it at least helped them know what was going on. And because when Ducky died, she just told everybody she was dead, so they knew she was dead at least.

We finished our class as usual, with a half-hour of yoga.