2D Students Observed Red Wiggler Worms
Here are some of their observations and wonderings!
Here are some of their observations and wonderings!
In the wild, all members of a species usually look similar. Robins, for example, all have gray backs and red-orange breasts. All crows are black. But the pigeons we see around the world are a different story. They show remarkable color variation, just like cats and dogs. Why? They are all descended from the blue-bar Rock Pigeon (see “color morphs” page). For hundreds of years humans bred pigeons just for their colors, homing instincts, or racing abilities. 400 years ago many of these special breeds escaped into the wild and became the ancestors of the pigeon flocks that we see today.
Wild pigeons adapted to life in cities, in parks, on beaches, and on farms, and their populations continued to have individuals of many different colors. Take home challenges are completely optional and we invite anyone to participate. Anyone who completes all of the challenges this year will receive a special science prize. The challenges can be found hanging on the science room door!
In November, a 4th grade student brought a chrysalis into science. He identified it as a black swallowtail. We put the chrysalis into a butterfly tent and waited and waited and waited. Typically a black swallowtail spends 9-11 days in the chrysalis, so after more than 1 month we had given up hope. THEN...this morning as Ms. Stearns and I were teaching the 3rd grade, we noticed a beautiful black butterfly fluttering around the tent...It's a BOY...WOW! It's too cold to release it outside, so we are working to create a habitat in the classroom. If anyone wants to donate a small plant of fennel, carrot, or parsley, please bring it to the science room ASAP.
http://www.butterflygardeningandconservation.com/butterfly/st/black.php
Students are slowly transferring their working into their new science notebooks. The new notebooks are structured to have many layers of organization that will help the students keep track of their work and keep a record of the concepts covered.
Just a reminder that the Take Home Challenge is due tomorrow. Each child should bring his or her display board to the science room at some point during the day tomorrow, November 4th. I am so excited to see all of the cool experiments that have been going on for the last month!!!
2nd grade students have been learning that one of the first ways that scientists organize all the animals on Earth is into two categories: vertebrates and invertebrates. Students have been investigating x-rays of vertebrates, looking for the vertebrae as well as other clues that could lead to the identity of the animal.
Here are a sampling of some of the x-rays.
We are excited about the start to a new year in science! Please check in to find out what is going on in your child's science class.