Biology

Do you remember having 9th grade biology? I do - not a lot of details but I do remember dissecting a worm and a frog. I didn't really get into the worm but thought the frog was fascinating.
Well, my oldest son is in 9th grade biology and his science teacher is the same teacher I had in 7th grade.
His first big project for biology is to make a collection of different insects - 15 I think is what is required. Being the very nice and supportive mother that I am I have actually been helping him on this project.
Just the other day I was outside cleaning up after the big storm and I noticed a katydid (leafbug, but not official term) just sitting there on the patio waiting for me to catch him. So I got a ziploc bag and scooped him into it. The worst part was putting him alive into the freezer to preserve him. I also caught a bee for him, for which Justin was most grateful because he readily admits that he is scared of bees. This was also very big of me since I had just gotten stung the week before.
Yesterday we made a trek up to Silver Lake near Brighton Ski Resort. His friend and one of my YW, Mackenzie came with us, since she is also in the same biology class. They were supposed to collect some water species and get some larvae. It was a crack up watching them walk around the lake with their home made bug catching nets, backpacks filled with gear to catch these insects.
The most exciting thing was watching those two catch dragonflies. Dragonflies are worth 5 pts of extra credit since they are so difficult to catch. At first it seemed impossible and it was so funny watching them run all over trying to catch one. But when we got closer to the lake there were a lot more of the DF and Kenzie caught one. They were both so excited. Then she caught another. And another. And another. And another. AND ANOTHER ONE! In all she caught 6. She split them with Justin since she caught them in her net but he got them into the containers. What freaked me out were the dragonflies buzzing around frantically in the containers.
All in all, it's been quite an experience. Now for the yucky part of sticking pins through the insects onto styrofoam and labeling them. YUCK!