Dandelions

Last year, when I was 36, I finally realized that yellow dandelions and those fluffy white dandelion-ish things that you can blow off ARE ONE IN THE SAME!

I had NO idea...I thought they were 2 separate weeds!  How embarrassingly funny :) 

Well yesterday we went down to the beach (a rocky one on the shores of Lake Superior) and had a picnic and some rock throwing time.  There were so many dandelions (yellow and white)!  My first thought was, "Ugh, dumb weeds everywhere." but then I thought, "They're actually an incredibly well designed little nuisance, concerning spreading their seeds."  Then I started thinking of a book in my classroom library

 that is about one remaining dandelion seed who doesn't want to let go but finally does and is glad.

courtesy of northshorekid.com

Then I kept on thinking and came up with a writing idea to extend this wonderful book and it's message.  The start of a new school year is always a bit scary for kids...and teachers.  Writing about a time when you were scared to do something but eventually got up the courage to do it and it was worth it could be a great icebreaker for the year.  Go grab this FREE literature response and check out other freebies!

Once I get going my ideas just snowball!  Now I'm thinking about writing a Readers' Theater play about the lifecycle of the Dandelion...