Science - Week 1: Animal Communication

Jackson, Koda, Aven, Boden, Elijah D., Calvin

We read the book Prairie Dogs Kiss and Lobsters Wave by Marilyn Singer. We talked about the different ways that humans and other animals use their bodies to send messages. How do we say hello without using our words? If animals don't have words, how do they use their bodies to send messages? We brainstormed about all the animals we could think of and got some great ideas from the book. Dogs wag their tails to tell us they are happy and bend their bodies down to the ground to say they want to play.  Cobras puff out their necks to send the message to stay away. Fireflies have bottoms that light up to send the message that they are ready for attention from their friends. It turns out that we use our eyes to receive messages all the time!  

We read the book Oink! Moo! How Do You Do? by Grace Maccarone. We talked about how different animals use sounds to communicate. We listened to the sounds of a bunch of animals and tried to figure out what they might be trying to say. We decided that the cougar's growl and the rattlesnake's rattle were probably messages to say "Leave me alone!". The howl's of wolves might be one wolf telling their friends that are far away, where they are. They got a kick out of the turkey's gobble, just because it was so silly, and the Barred Owl noises that sounded more like a dog than a bird. So many animals use their ears for communicating.

We talked about some different ways that animals are able to communicate with smells. We brainstormed about smells that we think are good like cookies and flowers as well as smells we think are yucky, like garbage and stinky cheese. We thought about how we react to these different smells in different ways. Yucky smells say "Go Away!" and good smells say "It's okay, you can come closer!" Then I showed them a picture of  a skunk. We talked about how the skunk is famous for his stinky spray. We all decided that the stinky spray was probably sending the same message as other stinky things: "Stay away!". Having a strong nose is a great way to get messages in the animal world!

We also talked about the"Team Scent". This is the way that animals help figure out who is on their team or in their family, if everyone looks the same. We looked at two examples: beavers and cats. Beavers live in very dark lodges and rely on the very complex smell of their family members to make sure strange beavers aren't trying to sneak into their homes. We also thought about the ways that cats rub their faces and necks on people. We learned that this is what they do to exchange scents from people they recognize. It helps them know that they know you and you know them.

The kids really enjoyed the book Talk, Talk, Squawk!: A Human's Guide to Animal Communication by Nicola Davies. It presents some pretty complex information in a way that the kids were really able to wrap their heads around. Plus it has some pretty funny cartoon animals. I have been a fan of this author for a while and recommend checking out some of her books for kids about nature and the animal world. 

Science: Spring, Week 2

This week we were able to take building imaginative spaces to the next level.  Over the course of one week we built the foundation and the first story to a tall apartment building.  We hope that this will be a cumulative project that our friends can build upon.  

The first part of our week was really about exploring what different buildings do, such as living in a home or apartment, and we talked about building up rather than out.  We also worked on the mechanics of building something strong that would support the building.  The main imaginative part that took the whole project a step further was to design buildings with features that will help space and environmental constraints in an increasingly more crowded world.  As a teacher, I shared my personal experience of traveling to large, dense cities around the world and explained the clever things I’d seen to fit everyone in--such as a rooftop garden.After a safety lesson about hot glue guns, we worked together as a team to glue popsicle sticks together to build an amazing start to a building.

  

Science: Fall, Week 8

With Alex, Sam, Jacob, Zane, and Camille

This was a short week in atelier.  We still did so much work with number values and counting.  Our first day, was so exciting for everyone to check out the room.  They noticed all of the things they wanted to see and touch.  We then got out some bells that ring.  Sam and Alex counted with me to ten (in a sing-songy voice), "One little, two little, three little bells..."  Jacob and Zane meanwhile were enthralled by the newt in the corner aquarium.  Next we got out different colored and laminated shapes.  We sorted things out by color and tried to count how many of each color there were.  Everyone thought it got a bit tricky after five or so.  Jacob collected the pink shapes.  Zane collected the green ones.  Sam collected blue.  While Alex collected yellows.  Alex also was a super helper when it was time to clean up, and "fed" the hungry basket for the shapes.

We read Super Sandcastle Saturday, which teaches about measuring different sizes with found objects versus standard rulers.  Sam noticed during the story, "He's bigger."  I got out different things to count.  Everyone moved them around and experimented with them.  Some collected them, some tossed them on the ground.  The cool thing about this group, as one of their primary teachers, was actually seeing them count more often in the classroom after my atelier.  It was really neat to see them put this information together and make it relevant to their days.

Science: Fall, Week 7

with Sophia, Henry D., Zion, Hannix, Issac, Ellie

(Closed Monday)
On Tuesday we explored the classroom, looking for numbers and sizes.  Sophia pointed out the three sea star shells on the shelf.  Henry pointed to the large fish tank.  Hannix noticed the numbers and letters on the periodic table psoted.  And Zion noticed the large chart of butterflies that hang on the wall.  We got out shapes to explore.
Wednesday through Friday  was so fun with this group.  Ellie loved the Magnus Maximus book we read.  Sophia and Issac were so curious about counting and numbers.  Henry asked a lot of questions about the character, Magnus, and the different measuring tools he used in the story.  Henry was also very curious about Magnus as a character and how he could walk up to a lion to measure him.  Hannix loved collecting the different shapes, balls, bells, and rulers we measured.  He also really loved helping his friends whenever he saw they needed help.  Ellie helped me sing a cute little tune called, We Can Count to 100.
This group was so curious and inspired.  I had a lot of fun working with such dedicated scientists!

Science: Fall, Week 6

Monday with Henry, Lulu, Rya, and Jesse we introduced a story related to the theme of value called “One little beasties.”  Henry reminded the class what they knew about value  so far.  I introduced value as relating to things by size or number. We counted the little creatures in the story.  When we finished Lulu asked to read the story again.  We got out some laminated shapes to count and manipulate. Jesse offered  Rya a triangle because Rya didn’t have one.   Lulu arranged her shapes.  Jesse counted six shapes.  Rya was really curious about the aquarium in the science lab.
Tuesday, I was joined by Henry and Lulu.  We read Magnus Maximus.  Lulu and Henry were very curious about Magnus.  They wanted to know about measuring.  I answered questions.  Then we got out measuring tape.
Wednesday we wished a happy birthday to Lulu.  We read Magnus Maximus.  Henry asked, “Why are they scared of the lion?”  Lulu asked about Magnus, and was concerned when the story said it lived alone.  Issac asked “Why is he too young?”  Malvina said, “That story is too silly.”  Since everyone liked the model of the skeleton, we got it out with a tape measure.  Isaac also measured a paper.  Malvina measured the plastic brain.  Lulu measured the skull and the intestines.
Later in the week with Isaac, Lulu, Malvina, and Henry was one of my favorite times in atelier because everyone was so curious!  We sat down on the floor and read the Super Saturday Sandcastle Contest.  Henry asked about the lifeguard’s job and why people need help at the beach.  Lulu said the two children comparing the height of their sand castles were two and three shovels high.  Malvina noticed the shovels were different sizes.  Isaac counted the number of steps the characters took to measure the length of the sandcastle. Then we got out balancing scales and tape measures to explore the rocks and stones in our science lab.

Science: Fall, Week 5

with Maki, Brooklyn, Koda, Carson, and Lucy

 On Monday we explored the science room, and talked about what value could mean in terms of science.  We noticed that there were many shapes, sizes, and numbers in the science room.  We explored counting and sizes.

On Tuesday (Oct 30) Maki, Jackson, Carson, and Koda were in atelier.  We read the story, Super Saturday Sandcastle Contest.  Then we got out home-made rulers and measured rocks.  Maki lined up a row of rocks along his ruler and said, “Mine is longer, so I win.”  Jackson opened up the book and looked at the different sizes.  Carson tried to find the smallest rock.  Koda loaded up several rocks into a sieve.  I pulled out flash cards and Carson said, “It’s numbers and counters.”

On Wednesday with Maki and Lucy, we read the story, Magnus Maximus, A Marvelous Measurer.  Lucy and Maki were spellbound!  They even asked me to read it again when I finished.  We then got out a set of balance scales.  Lucy said, “Did you know that something that’s heavy goes downward?  Mine is lower.  Mine is heavier.  A not very heavy one is higher.”  Meanwhile, Maki collected all of the small smooth colorful rocks and compared them on the scale to Lucy’s larger ones, but he observed that his were lighter than Lucy’s.

On Thursday with Brooklyn, Carson, and Maki, we read the story again, Super Saturday Sandcastle Contest.  Repetition creates more interest and a deeper understanding of content.  This time, there was more commentary during the story.  Maki said “the different spoons’ (sizes)  was tricking” the contestants.  Next we got out number flash cards with matching numbers and dots.  Brooklyn really got the number flash cards and could organize the dots.  Carson was a little shy about counting the numbers, but warmed up as we practiced together.

On Friday, Maki, Koda, and Carson were in class.  We sang a song about numbers that corresponded to a book called, Ten Little Beasties.  We got out rocks and counted them along with the book.  Carson noticed that the rocks looked like candies, so we sang “One little, two little, three little candies...”  Maki explored with one side of the balancing scales, and Koda worked on the other side of the scale.

Science: Fall, Week 4

Comparing Natural Objects 

with Neva, Jackson, Rya and Max

We began the week in a new way (compared to other weeks)—we started with different colored shapes: ovals, circles, squares, hexagons, stars, triangles, etc. We tried counting different shapes.  Rya said, “I’m gonna do it [count the shapes] myself.”  Neva counted hers and said, “I have seven.” Jackson counted aloud, “One, two, three, four, five . . .”  Neva said, “Mine [my shapes] are all piled up: yellow, purple, brown, white, pink, blue, blue, green”  Jackson said, “I want a lot [of shapes].  I like a lot.”  This atelier was a really great opportunity for friends to work out problems and resolve how to share.  Although there were more than fifty shapes in different sizes, each person had to work out how to collect, trade, and share.  Neva started a trend with collecting: “See what I’m collecting?  I’m collecting all of the hexagons.”  Rya said, “See?  I got all of them [the shapes].  I got one two three. . . “

On Tuesday we worked with the dot colored flashcards.  We put the numerals in order, and then tried putting the corresponding number of dots next to each numeral.  It was a challenging activity, but they practiced and kept trying.

On we got out a balance scale and tried adding rocks on them to change the balance from one side to another side.  Neva said, Look at these ones!  These are really special!” [A comment on the rocks colors and sizes.] Jackson and Rya worked together. “Get all of the rocks, Rya,” said Jackson.  Neva tried to problem solve the tipping scale with her hand, “Now about we do this,[holding up the scale] and put rocks on it.”  Max noticed the tipping scale and said, “This side is getting heavier and heavier.”  Rya said, “That’s a lot!”

Science: Fall, Week 2

Comparing Natural Objects -->

with Annabelle, Ben, Colton, Dylan, and Matea

It was so exciting this week to see how different the class was in atelier compared to the first week.  It was amazing to see the direction which the group took the term value. When invited into the science room, we had a few minutes to check things out.  Then Carissa guided everyone through the word value.  We began exploring it from a math and science direction.  We looked at home made flashcards with numerals on them.  We also compared things of different sizes.

We looked at the examples of dots on a flashcard, and saw that a card with five dots had a higher value than one with three dots. They really grasped onto the concept with both numbers and sizes.  Within minutes of looking at a display of different numbers and sizes, Colton asked “What about medium value?”

When Carissa used her arms to show small, medium, and large, Dylan followed along with his arms as well.  Dylan also helped his friends count five dots when they skipped a number.  Ben walked up to a poster on the wall of multiple human figure skeletons and said, “The big skeleton has a big value, but the small skeleton has a small value.”  Matea chimed in, “The fish tank are almost the same as the bird cage, but not quite, so they don’t have the same value.”  Colton heard voices in the hallway and said, “There’s a big sound. The big sound can have the big value.” 

The next day on the playground, Annabelle walked up to Carissa and said, “Carissa Teacher, I like science class. I like value.” Then Annabelle went around practicing counting aloud. 

Throughout the week we worked with numbers and sizes.  We compared larger and smaller.  Carissa brought some worksheets to the classroom and everyone practiced sorting through bigger, smaller, taller, shorter, many, and fewer.  It was a fantastic week.  Enjoy the photos!

Science: Fall, Week 3

Comparing Natural Objects

with Sabine, Zooey, Lucas, and Peter

At the beginning of the week we focused on numbers, like many of the other atelier groups have done.  Peter lined up the numerals one through nine.  Sabine helped organize and count the numbers.  Everyone did so well with lining up numbers and flashcards with dots printed on them, that we tried doing comparative work on a paper.

Thursday the class took the topic to a new level.  Sabine, Zooey, and Lucas tried something completely different.  We found objects from around the science room to compare.  Sabine found a broken shell.  Zooey found a “bubble,” which was a horse chestnut.  Lucas had a block.  We pulled out a scale and placed objects on it.  Everyone noticed that the scale was unbalanced with the different objects on it.  Sabine said to the scale when it was unbalanced: “C’mon!  We want you (the ball) to be higher.”  Carissa asked what we could do to make the scale change.  Zooey pushed the scale with her hand and said, “Like this.”  Lucas also tried balancing the scale.  “Look,” he said, “When this one goes up . . . Look!  Then this one goes down.  This looks like a see-saw.”  Sabine added, “The heavy one goes down and the not heavy one goes up.”  Zooey added a clear stone on the scale and said, “The crystal is heavier.”  Sabine said, “The feather is softer.”  Lucas lined up the rocks and the feathers and continued manipulating the scale to try to get each side equal.

On Friday Sabine and Zooey sorted special papers by shape, color, and size, and then counted them.  They even made their own shapes: frog, butterfly, and shark tooth.

Science: Fall, Week 1

Comparing Natural Objects

with Avalaine, Cora, Jude, Rowan, and Thomas

We began our very first atelier by talking about our room, the science room.  Carissa used a piece of paper with the concept word, Value, written on it. We looked at each letter closely and found letters from our own names.  Avalaine had all of the letters except U.  Jude had U and E.  (Rowan, who was not present, would have had an A).  Cora had A.  Thomas also had A.

We noticed the things in the room around us.  Avalaine pointed out the starfish on the shelf and said there were “one two three four.”  Jude and Cora noticed that there were birds flying in the cage.  Thomas touched a lot of new objects, including a notebook and some nature items. 

We talked about how “value” has many meanings and that this week we would talk about measuring, or, how big, much, little, etc things are.  Carissa showed her ruler.  It had numbers with wide marks for inches, and numbers with narrow marks for centimeters.  We tried looking at the little tick marks to decide what they meant.  We noticed the numbers and tried saying the names of numbers that looked familiar.  We made a job out of finding which natural object they’d been handed was the biggest.   Cora said, “Mine is the smallest.”  Avalaine said, “Mine is the smallest, too.”  Jude said, “Mine is big.”  Thomas said, “Small.”

Throughout the week we did additional number and size activities.  Carissa asked everyone to grab as many rocks as he/she wanted.  Then everyone was asked to count the number of rocks he/she had taken.  The really tricky part came when each person had to find a card with the same number of dots on it as the number of rocks each child had taken.  It took things from physical to more abstract understanding.  Everyone did very well.  We worked together on it. 

One of the best liked activities was when everyone had the opportunity to choose their own coloring page with a number on it.  Jude chose two, Cora four, Avalaine five, Thomas two, and Rowan five.

The best thing about the atelier for Carissa was hearing everyone count aloud to him/herself in class the following week.  Jude said, “3, 2, 9, 1.”  Cora counts to herself on her nap mat before she falls asleep.  Thomas has figured out that “two ninits” is bigger than one minute. Rowan and Avalaine can count aloud.