Posterous theme by Cory Watilo

Filed under: 2nd Grade

Take Home Challenge #2: HCES Pigeon Watch

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. 

Click here to download:
Pigeon_Poster_Take_Home_Challenge_2.pdf (6.68 MB)
(download)
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!

 

Black Swallowtail Emerges!

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

 

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Arthropod Experiments

2nd grade students have been conducting some (harmless) experiments with the millipedes and bessbug beetles. These experiments came from "wonderings" the students had during their observations. Below is a photo of the bessbug beetle pulling a mountain of paper clips. During this experiment, students were trying to find out how much weight the average bessbug beetle could pull. Ask your child about the other experiments!
**no arthropods were harmed during these experiments**

Photo

Take Home Challenge

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!!!

X-Ray Challenge

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.

(download)