Last week, the class had a special treat. Mrs.. Backus brought dinosaur fossils to class and taught the students.

-This week, we will observe our Painted Lady Butterfly Garden (Two of the butterflies emerged from their chrysalis over the weekend! We will keep them a few days, then set them free!
-Our next focus of study for the next few weeks will be seasons -- and light and shadows.

This week is all about Metamorphosis of the butterfly.
I have ordered Painted Lady Butterfly caterpillars for the class to observe the stages of metamorphosis!

The next few weeks in class...
-Life cycle of a frog continued
-A frog's incredible tongue
-Comparing reptiles and amphibians

This week...
-Amphibians (frogs, toads, and salamanders)
-Why do Frogs say RIBIT?
This Mystery is a case study in biodiversity using the frogs of North America. In the activity, students learn to identify frogs by their unique calls and investigate which of two locations has a greater variety of frogs.

This week, we will continue our study of REPTILES.
Our focus will be sea turtles and tortoises.

This week in class...

-Reptiles are vertebrates (animals with backbones)

-Make a model of a backbone

Each student will make a model of a backbone and demonstrate how it gives a turtle and a snake flexibility.  

-Make a Reptile Fact booklet (Alligator cut-out)

 

Our focus of study is Mammals!
Last week, it was all about whales. This week, we will enjoy learning about another unusual mammal, the bat!

Thank you parents! Your children are the best!
Martha Barfield

Last week, students learned how scientists organize animals into groups based on their characteristics and sorted animal cards into groups.

 

This week...

-Mammal characteristics and life cycles 
-Whales (Why is a whale classified as a mammal?)

Last week, students observed and compared contour flight feathers and down feathers.

This week...

We will continue our study of characteristics of Birds and focus on how they fly.

Have a wonderful Christmas as we celebrate the birth of our Savior!
Martha Barfield
[email protected]

The next 2 weeks...
Animal Classification: Birds
-Life Cycle of the Chicken
-Characteristics of Birds: lay eggs, have feathers & wings, have hollow bones, are warm-blooded...
Activity: Observe with magnifier/discuss flight (contour) feathers and down feathers. What is the purpose of each?
-What is preening? Why is it important?
-Beaks: students carry out an investigation to determine the relationship between the shape of different bird beaks and the food each bird eats

This week in class...

-Seed dispersal activity: exploding seeds

-Review all the ways seeds are spread
-Pollination (activity to model how pollination occurs)

-Why leaves change color in the fall (We were not able to cover this last week due to the field trip to the zoo.)

This week...
-Continue with photosynthesis and learn about why leaves change colors in the fall
-Seed dispersal (how seeds travel)