Just like us, our tadpoles are growing at different rates. Today, the first toad hopped out of the water! So exciting to watch all four stages of metamorphosis – egg, tadpole, toadlet, toad!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Only three weeks ago, they hatched from these eggs!

With my youngest scientists, I always try to begin lab with a song or fingerplay. We sang Five Little Freckled Frogs which connects math and science.

PreK biologists observed our lab frog, Yoda, and noticed the changes in our tadpoles.

We put the stages of metamorphosis in order We realized that we should be in a circle, not a line, because this is a life cycle.

We used forceps, a science tool, to feed our frogs. We pretended the rice were small bugs which was a great activity to develop fine motor skills!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Frogs are amphibians and must keep their skin moist. They don’t just wear it; they drink and breathe through it. Frogs don’t usually swallow water like we do. Instead, they absorb most of the moisture they need through their skin, so I introduced the concept of absorbency. We moved to the lab tables and used pipettes to test whether the materials were absorbent or nonabsorbent. Notice items around your house that absorb water, such as towels or those that do not, like rainboots or umbrellas.

 

 

Fourth grade physicists continued their study of sound and light. As we rubbed our fingers over the rim of the glasses, vibrations were produced inside the glass which in turn created a sound. Click here to watch a street musician. As we poured water in and out of the goblets, the pitch changed. Click here to watch the toothpick challenge.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Energy efficient bulbs emit less heat than traditional incandescent bulbs and are safer to operate and cut energy costs associated with home cooling. They also last longer and save in electricity costs over their lifetime.

We proved the efficiency of the bulbs by placing heat sensitive sheets behind them. The bulb that used more of its energy for light, didn’t release much heat onto the sheet. Look at all the colors that were displayed on the heat sensitive sheet from the less efficient bulb. Which colors represent the most heat?

After a brief lesson about the heart, we used stethoscopes to listen to a variety of sounds around us, such as our hearts, stomach, the motor on the fish tank, the lab fridge, and finger tapping. Click here to watch an informative video about the heart.

Every year at this time, we have turtle sightings around the pond. She is on her way to lay her eggs.

If you have been following my blog, you know that we hatched these toads from eggs. It has been so much fun watching them go through the stages of metamorphosis!

It’s always a treat watching young children explore and manipulate natural materials Scientists classify everything, so my kindergarten geologists learned to sort rocks by physical properties-color, size, texture (rough or smooth), and luster (shiny or dull). It was a 70s dress down day!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then we made rock sculptures with river stones which is a fun way to develop those critical thinking skills.

PreFirst botanists reviewed the parts of the plant and what plants require to grow and thrive. Then we moved outside to fill our planters, made from recycled bottles, with soil. Each scientist planted a nasturtium, moon flower, and morning glory seed, and watered them to begin the growing process.

I also shared planters that I made from CD cases. I planted bean and flax seeds.

One of my scientists shared two salamanders that he found swimming in his saltwater pool! We observed them for the day, and then I placed them back outside.