Sharon Nielsen's Class
Weeping Water Elementary
Weeping Water, Nebraska

Weeping Water 3rd Graders
Go Batty for Bats

Mrs. Nielsen's third grade class has been studying bats. The class began by reading together the story Stellaluna by Janet Cannell. Next, the  students learned facts about bats by researching in books and magazines. As a class, the students wrote a "batty" poem. Using materials from Copycat magazine, each student assembled a "Bat Fact File." A "Batty For Bats" bulletin board highlighted amazing bat facts. Amy G, a high school freshman, presented a talk to the class entitled "Bring on the Bats." In computer lab with Mrs. Groathouse, the class drew pictures of bats, put together computer jigsaw puzzles of bats, solved a bat crossword puzzle and checked out interesting bat web sites. In May, Russ Benedict, a bat specialist from the University of Nebraska, will visit the classroom with a live bat. He will share with the class information and stories about bats from his many years of study. It is hoped that Mr. Benedict will be able to schedule a night to take the 3rd graders on a bat netting expedition in the Weeping Water area.

Big Brown Bat 

Big brown bat, big brown bat,
Where are you at?

 Oh, you can't see me,
I'm beneath the bark of an old oak tree.

 Big brown bat, big brown bat,
Where are you at?

 I'm hanging from the porch of an old school house,
And I look very much like an upside-down mouse.
 
Big brown bat, big brown bat,
Where are you at?
 
I'm sleeping on a cow farm,
Safe away from all harm.
 
Big brown bat, big brown bat,
Where are you at?

 I just woke up from a long day's sleep,
As I heard a bird's good-night peep.
 
Big brown bat, big brown bat,
Where are you at?
 
A ringing church bell woke me up,
Now it's time to nurse my little pink pup.

 Big brown bat, big brown bat,
Where are you at?
 
Look up at the night sky,
And you'll see me zipping by.
 
Big brown bat, big brown bat,
Where are you at?
 
I'm up in the sky really, really high,
And I'm catching mosquitoes as the buzz by.
 
Big brown bat, big brown bat,
Where are you at?

 The dawn is drawing near,
My bedtime is almost here.
 
Big brown bat, big brown bat,
Where are you at?
 
Now I have gone stealthily to bed,
Hanging by my toes in an old wood shed.


 

A Batty Bulletin Board

Bring on the Bats

Amy G. presented a talk about bats to the 3rd grade class. She explained why five commonly believed myths about bats are false, talked about the economic importance of bats and highlighted the need for conservation of bats.

Computer Bat Gallery