The Apples are learning about winter throughout their school day. We got off to a chilly start in science class by exploring ice. Ice is actually a spectacular elementary science material -- it's tactile, it changes, it provides a strong sensory experience, it moves around... and it's easy to clean up. We explored ice and hot water and noticed that the hot water makes the ice melt faster. These cause-and-effect relationships are the basis of our early childhood curriculum.
0 Comments
The Otters and the Clouds explored the electrical conductivity of a variety of materials. A similar activity is actually part of New York State's 4th Grade Science Test, but the kids took it a step further and experimented with a variety of found materials throughout the classroom. This is a good example of how we try to include relevant topics from the state standards but also customize activities to fit the learning styles, special needs and, ideally, the interests of our unique population of students.
The Clouds and the Otters are beginning a new electricity unit. During this unit, the students will explore how an electrical circuit works. They will also explore different types of circuits and use some new materials to demonstrate the wide variety of things electricity can do! Many of these materials (LittleBits, Chibi Lights, flashlights, Engino) have been donated by generous parents, grandparents and other members of our community. Without these donations, a unit like electricity is much less exciting and engaging for the students -- especially for our hands-on learners who really benefit from seeing science happen in front of them.
For our families in New York City, traditional pet ownership may feel like a daunting task. It may also be a complete logistical impossibility! That said, caring for an animal can be an inspiring and thought-provoking activity for a child that also teaches responsibility skills. To that end, I want to share some alternative pet ideas for families in the city. First, you'll want to check out Carolina Biological Supply (www.carolina.com). Go to "Living Organisms" and see if there is anything there of mutual interest to you and your child. Notice how inexpensive many of these pet setups can be. Many of the animals listed there have very minimal care requirements, no odors, and are not in any way dangerous. Worms, for instance, can be an awesome pet that will grow and change and even reproduce in captivity. Did you ever think you'd list worm husbandry as a hobby of yours? Next, check out forums online where enthusiasts discuss pets of every imaginable variety to get more information about your chosen animal. These can be found easily and serve as a great resource of experts who are actually very excited to talk to you about your questions. Finally, there are tons of video resources to help you make your decision. Here's one to get you started: Balls, cars and ramps make for an active, exciting hands-on science unit in our younger classrooms. The students in the Watermelons and Legos classrooms have explored some of these materials before in their pre-K classrooms, but we are now challenging them to answer some exciting questions and figure out how ramps work. Which ramp is faster? Which ball will roll farther? Which car will win a race down these ramps? These questions all encourage the students to use cause-and-effect reasoning and to meet language goals to share their ideas. For some bathtub time inspiration, check out this video!: As the Clouds and Otters classrooms continue their study of fiddler crabs, they are using some higher-level skills such as comparing, contrasting and diagramming with scientific vocabulary to expand their knowledge of this animal. The students are also being challenged to share ideas with each other and to use these vocabulary words in a social setting through turn-and-talk activities and group observations. These are some of the many we practice in the science classroom that align with New York State's Science Core Curriculum.
The Pumpkins and Battleships classrooms recently learned how to handle their crayfish. Crayfish have claws, and although they are not aggressive animals, they need to be handled carefully. They also have a naturally frightening appearance! This challenges our students to use self-regulation skills as they learn how to be respectful and gentle with animals (with a little exercise in bravery to boot!). We finished this lesson by discussing germs and the importance of hand washing.
The Clouds and the Otters are the first Gillen Brewer students to keep live crabs in their classrooms. The students are learning how fiddler crabs have unique habitat requirements in that they breathe oxygen from water but also require sand for burrowing. This presented a challenge for the students, who were tasked with figuring out how to set up an appropriate habitat in the classroom. We will also be experimenting with the crabs to learn more about their anatomy, behavior, and role in nature.
The Pumpkins and the Battleships have been working on a class project to keep live crayfish in the classroom. The students researched what living things need to survive, made their own designs for a classroom habitat, and worked together to assemble the habitat. The crayfish are now alive and well in the classrooms!
Gabby from the Art Farm (www.theartfarms.org/afic) made her first visit of the year! Gabby enriches our curriculum with a variety of real living animals. The students interact with these animals by handling them, petting them, and feeding them. This program provides our students with real, hands-on experiences with a wider range of organisms than they could otherwise have at school. These animals are a great conversation starter for our younger students, and Gabby's lessons tie in with our New York State-aligned science curriculum as she discusses life cycles, adaptations and habitats with our older students.
|
ProjectsBraque posts photos and resources here to accompany many science units and explorations. Archives
November 2017
Categories |