Kindergarteners Investigate Forces!

Kindergarten has started their new unit on Pushes and Pulls. They went around the science classroom pushing and pulling objects.  Some objects were harder to move than other objects.  We also discovered that an object can be pushed AND pulled! Just like real scientists, we recorded our discoveries.

During our next investigation, we had a bag of nine objects to explore.  We wanted to have an object exert a force on another object instead of us exerting the force.  Some objects were easier to move than others.  A lot of the kindergarteners figured out how to make a catapult out of the objects....that was fun!

Kindergarten Investigates Seeds.

Kindergarteners have been investigating whether seeds need water to grow. We are very excited for our first experiment!  We put one garlic clove in a cup with about a half an inch of water in it.  Then the classes recorded what it looked like. 

We had to wait until the next science class to see if anything happened.  We made some predictions about what we might see.  "It may change color."  "It may change shape." "It will be bigger." "It's going to be the same." Boy were we surprised that the garlic grew roots and a stem! Now to record the changes!

Lastly, in an experiment, we need to see if a garlic bulb would grow without water.  There were mixed ideas about this, but the majority of the students said no, the seed wouldn't grow.

They were right!  The garlic bulb without water didn't grow at all.

Our Chicks Are Going Upstate...

Well, it had to happen sometime....our nine growing chicks are leaving Brooklyn for their new home in upstate New York!  We are lucky that a wonderful PS58 family has a chicken coop at their house upstate and has offered to take our chicks for the second time!  We now will be able to see how they grow!

Blue Andalusian chick!

Inside the brooder. They love to huddle together.

A Barred Rock chick exploring the classroom.

They love to eat out of our hands!

Pecking at sparkly sneakers!

They sure do like to poop!  Lots of paper towels
to cover it up!

Escaping chicks in all directions!

They are SO soft!

You can feel their bones.

Standing on some hands, while other hands wait patiently!

This chick is resting on Ms. Karyn's wrist!

Lots of food!*

Come on little guy!*

It doesn't hurt when they peck.*

Here you go little chick.*

Come onto my hands!*

Ms. Valerie's class, K-131, made a house for the chicks during choice time.  There was a bridge, a tunnel to get inside, soft beds, a hanging porch and a top that could let light in.The class was so excited to see if the chicks would like their creation! Some of the class noticed that the entrance to the house was too small for the growing chick to use, so they opened up the top!

They borrowed two scooters from the gym to
bring the house safely from their classroom
to mine.

They explained all the parts, including soft
foam in case the chicks fell off the bridge.

One of the Blue Andalusian chicks bravely
walked across the bridge!

She was a little uncertain about the porch.

After spotting my Little Sun solar lamp, they
added it to their house thinking it would help the
chicks see.

Well....two solar lamps are better than one...
and better to be inside the house so it won't fall on the chicks!

* photo credit Karyn Ruggiero.