Under Your Nose

We were very excited to welcome Mrs. Shandley McMurray, CES parent and author, to CES today for a special visit!  Shandley read her book Under Your Nose: A Book About Nature's Gifts to the students in kindergarten, first and second grade.  This story is about two children who go to a cottage for a week without their digital devices.  They adventure into the woods and realize there are so many wonderful gifts and experiences "right under their noses!"  With the help of their grandfather, they come to realize the importance of protecting our environment.

Shandley read this story to the children and answered many questions about being an author and how we can take care of our environment.  The students shared wonderful ideas such as cleaning up garbage and recycling.  The students were excited to hear about how Shandley gets inspiration for her stories and how she uses real life experiences with her own children when writing her books.

After the reading and discussion, Mr. Alfano (CES Science Coach) met the students at the playground.  The task for the students was to look for "gifts from nature" just as the two children had done in the story.  The students were scientists outside, observing and sketching their discoveries.  Students were amazed to find baby acorns, feathers, sticks, insects, and many other "gifts" from nature.  

Thank you so much to Shandley McMurray for visiting CES today.  I encourage all CES families to go outside in this beautiful weather and look for the beauty in nature "right under our noses."

To learn more about Shandley and her books, please visit her website at:

http://www.shandleymcmurray.com/