SPIDERS!!!

This week kids were really excited about Halloween!  Don't you think this would be a really great time to learn about SPIDERS???  We read about and looked at lots of pictures of spiders.  We even caught a few and kept them for a short time in our little "critter bin"!  At the end of the day, one lucky friend brought them outside to resume life in a more natural habitat!  After learning about spider body parts, each child designed their own spider using the criteria that make a spider a spider...and NOT an insect!  Each spider needed to have two body parts (cephalothorax and abdomen) and eight legs (insects have only six).  I encouraged the children to also include spinnerets and pedipalps (pincer-like pieces in the front of the spider) as well as several eyes.  The kids were excited to learn so many things about spiders that most grown ups (myself included until I did some research) don't even know!  For instance, did you know that most spiders have eight eyes, but some have only six or four or two or even none?  And did you know that spiders have sensitive hairs on their legs that help them "hear" through vibrations?  Well, we learned more about spiders than I ever thought I'd want to know!  Check out a few of these spider creations and be on the lookout for your child's artwork and spider report!

Officer Anthony Visits!

Today we had a very special visitor.  Hineburg's very own Officer Anthony came to talk about Halloween safety!  We were told it was his first visit to our school so they class tried to be very polite!

Officer Anthony offered to answer any questions they had and they had lots!  They wanted to see all of his equipment...his tazer, bullet proof vest, gun, handcuffs, baton, radio, and flashlight.

They wanted to know if his cruiser had a computer in it like the one we saw in the book we read.  He very patiently answered all of their questions.  At the end, he gave each child a very special Junior Officer sticker, a pencil and a trick-or-treat bag.  Thank you, Officer Anthony, for taking time out of your day to visit us!

Four Winds-Rotting Logs

Yesterday, our class had our second Four Winds nature experience, this time with rotting logs!  Our Four Winds leader, Jen, brought in several rotten logs to explore.

After the puppet show, small groups had the opportunity to pull apart rotten logs and look for creatures living inside the logs.  The children were really excited to get to work!  

They were able to put specimen inside observation jars to share with each other.  

As they worked, they kept a visual journal of the things they found inside the logs.

It was a fun afternoon!  Thank, Jen!

Four Winds Leaves

Today our class was fortunate enough to have our very first Four Winds lesson.  Four Winds is a nature program that is taught by volunteers.  This year's theme is ecosystems and nearly once a month our class will have a visit from our volunteer, Jen.  The lesson she taught today was called Signs of Leaf Eaters.  Each lesson usually begins with a short puppet show in which the students learn much of the content.  In this case, they learned how various insects use leaves and how to look for signs of use on the leaves.  After the puppet show, students sorted cards with photos of actual leaves with signs of leaf eaters.

Then we created a giant food web.  Each child held a card with a plant or animal on it.  We sorted ourselves into chains with a plant closest to the sun, then an herbivore followed by one or more carnivores.

Then the class went outside to find leaves with signs of leaf eaters.

Finally, we came inside so the class could write about what they learned and saw outside.  They had collected leaves with signs of leaf eaters and you probably saw them come home along with the Four Winds sheet.  Next time you're outside, ask your child to look for leaves with signs of leaf eaters!

 

The Salamander Room

Today we had a very special visitor!  Eli's grandmother, "Mini", spent the afternoon with us today.  She shared one of her favorite books, The Salamander Room.

Mini read the book about a boy who wants to turn his room into a habitat for a salamander.  Then she gave each child a fact sheet about salamanders and their very own salamanders and cardboard tubs!

 (They are actually rubbery fishing lures but they looked an awful lot like real salamanders!)  After reading all about the cool things the boy wanted to put into his salamander habitat, they were ready to go outside and finds things to put into their salamander habitats.

They collected leaves and rocks and moss and all sorts of nature goodies!

Then the group gathered with their salamanders and habitats and each child had a chance to introduce us to their salamander.  Each was asked to name their new pet and tell the group about their favorite part of the habitat.

After everyone shared, we headed inside to do some writing about our new friends!  Each child had a booklet to fill about their salamander.  They got to name their new friend and then tell about what salamanders eat and where they like to live.  

Thanks, Mini, for a fun afternoon!  There were some very happy first graders taking new friends home that night!