Pre-K Uses Their Senses!

Pre-K has been using four of their senses - see, hear, smell and touch - while exploring objects in science.  They are also observing some of the science critters and learning how to handle them!

Making observations.

The log feels smooth and bumpy.

The snail is eating the carrot!

The snail is slow.

The mealworms can move fast!

Using a magnifying glass makes them look bigger!

To touch or not to touch?!

I think it's eating.

They love to hide under the tent!

It has legs!

Pre-K focusing on their sense of touch, put their hand in a mystery bag and tried to determine what the object was by the way it felt.  Often, the temptation to look in the bag before deciding what the object was, was too great! But they all had fun in the process and learned new words to describe objects!

What is in bag 4?

I think it feels round.

It's squishy!

The pine cone is spiky!

A sea star!

It's a spoon!

The worm is long.

It feels slimy!

Earthworms are captivating!

  

2nd Graders Rock!

Over the past few weeks, 2nd grade has been making and recording observations about three igneous rocks: scoria, basalt and tuff. They have described how it looks, feels and even smells as well as what happens to the rocks when they are rubbed together over black paper.

Using a double T chart to help organize observations.

The gray rock, basalt, is smooth.

The scoria, reddish rock, is rough.

The tuff rock leaves a little white on my fingers.

Rubbing the two scoria together makes rock dust!

The tuff is so soft it can even flake off onto the paper.

The gray rock makes white marks on the other grey rock, but
doesn't make dust.

Recording observations in our science notebooks
helps us remember.

2nd graders work together and share information just
like scientists do.

Next they put the rocks, one type at a time, into water and wrote down our observations.  We were so surprised that something happened to each type of rock, but it was important to be patient and watch!

The basalt rock turned darker in the water.

The scoria rock turned darker or brighter depending on the
original color.

Some of the tuff changed colors - orange, cream
and even purple.

The water looks a little dusty.

There are bubbles!

The rocks are smoother when they are wet.

There are tiny bubbles coming from the rock.

It's so cool to see the rocks change colors.

The tuff looks all crackly.

Kindergarten Scientists!

Kindergarteners are using their built in science tool kit (their five senses) to discover what is living and non-living.  They are also recording and sharing their observations with their classmates.

We did a classroom scavenger hunt for living and non-living objects.  There were so many of both!  There are lots of living critters in the science room!

Sharing what they found in the classroom with each other.

Holly the Russian tortoise was very popular for
something living!

Look at what I found!

What about a pencil?

Adding color to your drawings is adding detail!

Scientists share information with one another.

Next we went outside to Lorianne's garden inside the Pre-K school yard.  It's a special garden that we explored looking for living and non-living objects.  So many different types of plants: trees, bushes, flowers and grass.  We also saw animals: birds, ants, bees and a butterfly or two.  We found lots of non-living things too! We saw benches, signs, bird feeders, rocks, a bead, a fence and wheelbarrow!  We weren't sure about sticks and leaves on the ground.

Look at the bee!

The bark of the tree is so rough and we found ants on it!

What about the wood chips? Are they living or
non-living?

The bird bath is non-living!

The bench is non-living!

It's always special to be able to explore Lorianne's garden.

1st Graders as Entomologists!

If you haven't heard yet....1st graders know a lot about insects!  They know that to be an insect, it has to have 6 legs, 3 body parts, antenna and some have wings!

All the classes now have their own insect to take care of - a mealworm!  Wondering how a worm can be an insect?  Ask your 1st grader and they will tell you why!

The mealworms aren't slimy!

They tickle your hand when you hold them!

They move fast!

Building a habitat for our mealworms is
important!  They need food to survive - oats!

They need to have air, so the top has holes!

They can get water from the juice of an apple!

 The mealworm is safe in its new habitat.

The mealworm is a light color because it just shed its skin.

I need more oats for mealworm.

Getting a closer look at his mealworm.

Trying to see the legs and antenna on the mealworm.

It's so cute!

Sometimes it's hard to find your mealworm in the habitat.

Making a paper plate taco to get the mealworm
back into the habitat safely!