Ms Fox
Ms. Fox's Wiki Page!
Who I am: I spend a lot of time in the out-of-doors: hiking, running, mountain biking, xc skiing, snowboarding, rafting, canoeing, and birding. I also quilt, have a fascination with insects and spiders, and love to cook, read and travel. I teach high school science at a small, rural (amazing!) school in South-West Colorado.
The trip to Costa Rica offered incredible learning opportunities and chances to work with remarkable colleagues. I have documented my experiences in two different ways and invite you to check it out!
First, I have created a unit on Lichens: Interdependence and Air Quality. With all of the diverse flora and fauna in Costa Rica, you are probably thinking it is nuts to focus on small, overlooked organisms like lichens. You may even be asking yourself what they are… (hang in there!). Lichens are two organisms- 'fungi that have discovered agriculture,’ and are ubiquitous and actually really interesting. The lesson will be published at a later date, but you can find it on my assignments page if you are interested in learning more. I plan on utilizing it with my fall biology class.
I also authored and drew cartoons to describe the unique visual, biological and cultural aspects of Costa Rica. They are called the Pura Vida Adventures, a nod to the ‘national saying’ of Costa Rica. Pura Vida literally means “pure life,” but the translation goes deeper than that; Costa Ricians use it in a multitude of settings. These 15 cartoons document my Toyota International Teacher Program Adventure to Costa Rica. (10 are posted now on the Fox Assignments page in pdf format…more to come later)
Why cartooning? I have a passion for learning new things, especially through the lens of science. This trip offered many new avenues of adventure and knowledge. However, if I can 'infect' others with a similar desire to see and understand the world through whatever focus you are most curious- history, culture, literature, politics- I think the Pura Vida Adventures will have served their purpose well. I hope my cartoons will make you look at where you live, make connections with your local environment, and strengthen your understanding of both worlds.
Thanks for reading; if you would like to contact me, my email is cathrine.nicki@gmail.com
Pura Vida!
Cathrine Prenot Fox