Lifescience is a "Hoot"

Biologist Kellen Watson from Klamath Outdoor Science School visited yesterday.  She presented a lesson on owl adaptations that was amazing!  The kids and I were lucky enough to get some hands-on time learning about:*
* different species of owls
* how owls can hear so well (ears that are placed in two different places and can move independently; a face cupped like a satellite dish to catch all sounds)
*how an owl's talon works
*how owls can fly so silently (it's due to the flutes on their wings which help break up air)
*what an owl likes to eat and how the crop/gizzard works
*how far an owl can turn its head (300 degrees!)
* why an owl has to turn its head so far--its eyes are fixed and can't move like ours

Then we got really "hands on" and dug (literally) into some owl pellets from local owls to discover what they had eaten.  Kids practiced identifying and sorting bones, and worked to identify the type of animal found by its skull.  Then, they glued their bones onto black paper by type.  Come by and see them in the hall when you have a chance.  What a fabulous experience!   Thank you Kellen!

November Art

The lost camera has been found!  I can get back to taking pictures of the kiddos in action!  During November we read "Owl Moon" in our HM reader, and we really loved the cold, dark illustrations that won the Caldecott Award.  We practiced mixing mediums by drawing trees and people with oil pastels, and then painting over the pastel with a real wet wash of dark watercolor.  We talked about how we felt when we read the poem, and the overall mood the kids came up with was cold and calm.  I totally agree!

We also made bean art by gluing beans onto outlines of turkeys or corn.  We worked on making a pattern in our pictures.  This was such an awesome project for those tactile learners!  The beans just feel so neat and smooth after they are glued.  The class LOVED this one!

 

We've all gone a little Batty!

It has been difficult to squeeze in as much science as I would like, so I decided to dedicate a whole day to science once or twice a month.  This month we are focusing on life science, with our studies of bats, owls and other nocturnal creatures and their unique adaptations.  We are honing in on characteristics, life cycles, and adaptations to help us understand how species survive.  Bat Day happened last Thursday to everyone's great enjoyment!  Some of our activities included:
* naming characteristics of mammals and sorting mammals vs. non-mammals on a big chart, using pictures cut from National Geographic (this was FUN!)
* a PE game using "echolocation" that helped us compare how humans and bats navigate (I blindfolded a "bat" while he/she called out to the "moths" and "trees."  The moths tried to escape while the trees kept everyone in the circle!)
* an experiment during which bat "mommies" used scent, a secret code, and position to locate her "pup" in the nursery
* bat art using handprints and paint
* bat reading and fact collection/class discussion

We still have a few experiments to conduct to help us really get the knack of echolocation and how sound waves form.

Next Thursday biologist Kellen Watson from Klamath Outdoor Science School joins us to learn about owls and help us dissect owl pellets!

Warm/Cool Colors

Had a quick and dandy lesson on warm and cool colors one Friday.  The kids came up with these results: stunning!!

Pumpkin Cinquain

As part of our focus on poetry last week, we each wrote a cinquain, a five line poem describing an item (in this case a pumpkin!).  We also practiced contour shading by drawing and coloring a pumpkin.  We're hoping to get out to the pumpkin patch next week!

Math Workplaces

One part of our math program is called Workplaces.  Workplaces are similar to centers, with students getting time for independent practice on math concepts.  We are on our third set of workplaces; each set includes eight games or activities for practice.  For example, right now kids can play "Hour or Bust," "Count and Compare 2s," or "Race You to $.50."  Please visit sometime when we are doing workplaces--it may look like controlled chaos, but there is a TON of learning happening.  The kiddos are responsible for planning which workplaces to visit each day, marking their progress on a planning worksheet, turning in the appropriate worksheets, and cleaning/caring for each workplace.

Fall Storytelling

The kiddos and I were in for a treat when Ralph Watah came by for some storytelling.  Mr. Watah is a Paiute Native person who tells stories from all over North America.  He works for the Klamath County School District helping kids stay on track and out of trouble.  We heard "How the Chipmunk Got His Stripes;" "How Four Dogs Saved Their Master;" and "How Turtle Beat Eagle."  Later we wrote thank-you letters and illustrated our favorite stories.  Please ask your child to retell their favorite story!