First Grade Worm study

 

First Graders adopted an earthworm today to study their structure and movement. Once we concluded our inquiry, we dug holes for them in our Meals on Wheels gardens and watched them move into their new homes.

Who knew what unimaginably different life is lead by such a common animal!  At night, the worms emerge to take a bite of something decaying - like an old leaf.  We got to see the worm expel their soil and digested matter castings.  They can be either a boy or girl when it comes to reproducing.  The collar or clitella, that band around the worm close to the head, is where worm's eggs grow.  When ready, the worm slips out of the collar and it becomes its egg case.  More fun with invertebrates!

We watched a short video about the value of worms:

http://www.teachersdomain.org/asset/vtl07_vid_wonderworm/

 

 

 

First Grade Activities

 

Our blog's been active for 3 weeks, and we have lots to catch up on. And I have a lot to learn about photo alignment.

Yep, pictures are worth a thousand words. Our 30# illuminated microscopes (available through an Austin company, http://www.sciencestuff.com/prod/MicroSlide-mmicro/0140) get high use both inside and outside.  See how rapt the children are. Here's some highlights from our classes. 



Identifying simple and compound leaves.




 

 

 

 

  

                     

When children can release a butterfly they raised in class, feel the moisture released from the trunk of a newly-cut tree and notice how much a seed swells up with water before sprouting - that's when they discover that they are inextricably linked in the amazing dynamic of God's Creation. Nature constantly changes and is amazingly resilient.  And God commands that we take care of the natural blessings He entrusted us with.