The girls got to hold vials of the DNA from several zoo animals, including a Siberian Tiger.

Alisa told us that “DNA doesn’t smell.”

Matching Words with Photos

A great activity for GIRLStart girls at Madagascar Adventure. Here Fatuma skips right over the easy ones (like “bat”) and goes right for “baobob.” She got it right! Jamila looks on. She can’t quite identify letters or sound out words yet, but as a new participant in the GIRLStart program, she will be soon.

Grub Hunting

This activity at the Madagascar Adventure at the South Omaha Library used painted egg cartons to simulate logs. The girls had to tap on the logs to see if they could hear the “grubs” inside. Then using one finger, like the Aye Aye of Madagascar, they had to pull out a seed or bead that served as a faux-grub.

Asnina hunts grubs. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGWKdevlic8

Fatuma tells you what the seed is pretending to be (she also confesses that she is tempted to cheat…): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__NlHPYz0pc

Will Faumta cheat? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZN7KZPXheJg

Fatuma”s “I Did It!” Dance

Fatuma participates in a variety of activities at the Zoo’s Madagascar Adventure at the South Omaha Library. Here she is letting us know that she is proud of her accomplishments. (We are so impressed that she can write her name so well now! This is a new achievement for Fatuma. We’re doing the “She Did It!” dance about that!) – Ms. Tess

Dance as promised… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Urm7MrmYyVA

Azuree’s Teacher Visits GIRLStart

Azuree’s teacher, Mrs. Orrick, came to visit Azure’s GIRLStart classroom to read aloud. She read Bubble Gum, Bubble Gum, Don’t Be Silly Mrs. Millie! and Cha Cha Chimps. Azuree’s guidance counselor, Ms. Glavic came to visit, too. She read Corduroy.

The girls loved having special visitors and look forward to a return visit, (And they LOVED doing the cha-cha when Mrs. Orrick read Cha Cha Chimps!)

You can learn more about Mrs. Orrick by clicking on this link: http://www.ops.org/elementary/fontenelle/STAFF/Kindergarten/LizOrrick/tabid/84/Default.aspx

Foaming-at-the-Mouth Dog Artwork

Victoria’s Rabies Awareness poster won a Douglas County Health contest.

“I am really lucky I won. And I got $20.” – Victoria
“We’re really proud of Victoria – this is the first thing she’s ever won!” – Caprice, Victoria’s sister

Illustration detail: Girl’s balloon voice: Mom I need you Help Help Help
Dog’s balloon voice: Arrrrrrrrrr

What does a snake feel like?

The GIRLStart girls get to touch a python when the Zoo hosted a Madagascar Adventure at the South Omaha Library.

Snake touching: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mnRPRKm3xxo

What does it feel like? A piece of common furniture… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7Fa2_W9mZw

Gorilla Cheese Sandwiches?

My favorite part was when Mrs. Millie told the kids to eat gorilla cheese sandwiches! – Azuree

It’s supposed to be lunch money, not lunch bunny! That’s why Mrs. Millie is so silly. – Linaya

Egg Scramble

The photo shows what it looked like as the girls lined up; the video shows how real it got when they started running. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PdQ9_hGm1Ro&feature=channel
PS: The “trampled” girls were fine. They shook it off and went looking for eggs.