A conversation with the younger Free-Ride offspring at the elder Free-Ride offspring’s soccer practice this week:
Dr. Free-Ride: Hey, can you tell me about the science you’ve learned in kindergarten this year?
Younger offspring: No.
Dr. Free-Ride: Why not?
Younger offspring: We haven’t really learned any science yet.
Dr. Free-Ride: Child, it’s almost June! If you haven’t really learned any science in kindergarten yet, when is it going to happen?
Younger offspring: I don’t know.
Dr. Free-Ride: Well, what kind of science would you like to learn about?
Younger offspring: Maybe about stuff under the sea.
Dr. Free-Ride: Hmm. I’ll see if we can manage that. There’s a place I could look. How about giant flightless birds? Would you like to learn about them?
Younger offspring: Of course!

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Yes, there will still be Friday Sprog Blogging this Friday. No, Wednesday Sprog Blogging is not going to become a regular feature.
On the walk to school this morning:
Younger offspring: I wonder if we’ll see that pair of crows or ravens on the field again today. I like how they can jump.
Dr. Free-Ride: Hey, you know how you asked me yesterday morning what the difference was between crows and ravens?
Younger offspring: Yeah?
Dr. Free-Ride: I did a little research to find out.

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A conversation while walking to school with the Free-Ride offspring:
Younger offspring: Look out, a bumblebee!
Dr. Free-Ride: We’re far enough away that we’re not bothering it. I doubt it would sting you unless it was scared you were going to hurt it.
Elder offspring: Hey, did you know that bumblebees make their nests underground?
Dr. Free-Ride: No, I didn’t. How do you know that?
Elder offspring: I saw one fly out of a hole in the ground with [Dr. Free-Ride’s better half] once.
Dr. Free-Ride: Hmm. Do you think you want to draw a general conclusion on bumblebee nesting habits on the basis of one bee you saw one time?
Elder offspring: Well, I also read about it in a book.
Dr. Free-Ride: Was it a book like the giant squid book?
Elder offspring: No, it was a Magic Schoolbus book. It’s reliable.

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Younger offspring: (brandishing a decorated and labeled paper plate) You’re going to blog about this on Friday.
Dr. Free-Ride: I am?
Younger offspring: Yes! It has to do with science, and I made it.
Dr. Free-Ride: (pretending to think it over) Well, I don’t know …
Younger offspring: And this way, you don’t have to get us to draw you pictures on Friday morning when we’re supposed to be getting ready for school.
Dr. Free-Ride: Ah, so you’re saving me time? OK, I’m convinced.

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The Free-Ride offspring, talking during dinner:
Younger offspring: I’m not ever going to die.
Elder offspring: You don’t know that. You might get hit by a car just before you turn 90.
Younger offspring: No, I will not!
Elder offspring: How can you be sure? Have you gone into the future to see?
Younger offspring: I’m not going to the future!
Dr. Free-Ride: Are you planning to wake up tomorrow?
Younger offspring: Yes.
Dr. Free-Ride: Then you’re going to the future.

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Dr. Free-Ride: Hey, can you guys draw me a picture with some of the wildlife you’ve seen in the last week?
Elder offspring: Sure!
Younger offspring: But … I haven’t seen any wildlife in the last week.
Dr. Free-Ride: What are you talking about? We see wildlife every day when we walk to school.
Elder offspring: Yeah, the squirrels and the different kinds of birds and the snails.
Younger offspring: That counts as wildlife? OK, I can make you a picture.

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There’s a lot going on this week and next that captures the interest and imagination of the Free-Ride offspring. They’ve been thinking about animals that live in places we do not (like the briny seas), noticing the critters that live in our neighborhood, contemplating the ways a domestic animal might interact with our backyard ecosystem, and even musing on human nature.
But what you’ll really want to know is why does this penguin look so scared? Read on and find out.

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