Cardiology for First Graders

Michael talked to Gabi's first grade class about the human heart one afternoon.

Each child got to use a stethoscope to listen to his own heartbeat!

Dr. Mikey explained how many years of schooling and subsequent training is required to become a doctor. Right now, he is in 27th grade!

Michael devised a heart game to illustrate how the heart works. Some of the kids were "blood cells," and he was the "heart" - pumping/pushing them in the direction they needed to go - either to the "lungs" (teacher) or to the "body" (students sitting down). The "lungs" (teacher) gave the blood cells "oxygen" (paper), which the kids handed out when they were sent to the "body."

The "oxygen" papers that the kids passed out in the heart game had a heart diagram on them. The kids labeled different parts of the heart and then colored it to show where the red and blue blood flows.

Michael even brought a demonstration kit to show how he can close a hole (atrial septal defect) in a heart using a catheter (without cutting open the chest in surgery).

Gabi's classmates really enjoyed Dr. Mikey's interactive presentation on the human heart! Here are a few of the thank you notes they made for him:

This is Gabi's thank you note:

Harvest Festival

The first of October, we went to the Harvest Festival at Historic Four Mile Park with my cousin Kristin and her son Dylan. The kids were able to explore life in Colorado from the pioneer days. It was hot outside that day, though.

Denver Art Museum

Once a month, the Denver Art Museum has free day. We enjoy visiting the DAM occassionally, as they have plenty of kid-friendly activities. In September, the Native American society was hosting a pow-wow and selling traditional crafts and food.

Currently, the visiting exhibit is Marvelous Mud, and museum visitors can model clay for free. Here's a tea cup that I made!

A professional artist (and retired art professor) was teaching us how to make cups and trucks and such with clay, and he offered to fire my tea cup for me.

October Visitors

Gramma Jane and Grampa came to Denver for Halloween weekend. Gabi didn't have school that Friday, so we took them to the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. At the museum, we checked out the dinosaurs and then explored the kids' Discovery Zone.

On Saturday, we walked to a large playground in the Greenway, which was still covered in snow, despite the sunshine.

Then we walked to the rock climbing park, the girls' favorite spot for hide-and-seek.

Gabi and Bella also entertained Gramma Jane and Grampa at home by dressing up as princesses.

Back at the beginning of October, our ND friend Margaret came to see us one weekend. The girls enjoyed hearing a new voice for bedtime stories.

We love hosting visitors! Thanks for coming to see us.