This term during science atelier the children have been investigating the long term transformations of animals and plants as the experiment to further understand animal and plant adaptations. Through their experimentation, the children have become more aware of the scientific process as we outline and follow each step. We practiced vocabulary, both spoken and written, and became very excited when we noticed that the words 'adaptation,' 'experiment,' and 'hypothesis' all have four syllables!
After reading an exciting story called "Gaaky Two-Feet," on Monday the children were engaged in a conversation about our own personal development as humans. Gaaky outlines the story of the long-term adaptation of homindes moving from walking on four to two legs, this lead to the children outlining their own stories of how they began life being carried and moved through each process until they got to walk on two feet. They repeated a similar succession as they discussed how their eating skills have changed as they develop.
After reading an exciting story called "Gaaky Two-Feet," on Monday the children were engaged in a conversation about our own personal development as humans. Gaaky outlines the story of the long-term adaptation of homindes moving from walking on four to two legs, this lead to the children outlining their own stories of how they began life being carried and moved through each process until they got to walk on two feet. They repeated a similar succession as they discussed how their eating skills have changed as they develop.
On Wednesday, the children became birds and practiced using different types of bird beaks: hooks for birds of prey to rip into dough, plastic needles for fishing birds such as heron to gather beads in water, tweezers for gathering birds such as robins to collect string, eye droppers for birds such as hummingbirds to transfer water, and spoons and tongs for birds such as ducks to collect marbles in water. Each of these experiments gave the children to practice sorting, one-to-one ratio, and other mathematics skills. It also provided us with the opportunity to use the scientific process from start to finish and proved our hypothesis correct: bird beaks have adapted to help them eat!
Thursday was a look into the adaptation of animal coloration. After studying a book and playing an eye spy game to find the camouflaged animals we studied three special cases of color adaptation in octopus, cuttle fish, and chameleons. The children were fascinated in camouflage and it led to an in depth conversation about predators and prey and why how each animal may utilize their ability to change color. After our conversation we used primary colors of paints to mix and once the color was mixed discussed if our new color would be helpful in hiding or as warning to other animals.
Friday will be an exciting hands on day with insects. Insects have been around since the time of the dinosaurs and have a lot of unique characteristics. With the classroom's Madagascar hissing cockroach and the Indian stick bug we are able to get up close and personal with some amazing adaptations. After our observations, each child will have the opportunity to draw a diagram of their own (an important part of science).
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