Weather

This week's discussion was all about types of weather:  rainy, snowy, sunny, humid, foggy, windy, etc.  We talked about what makes a cloud and why rain falls from clouds.  We talked about lightning and thunder and we discussed the differences between warm, seasonal weather and cold, seasonal weather.  We learned what meteorologists study and some of the many tools they use to understand the weather.

These are a few of the books we looked at together:

All the kids were able to create a cloud and make it rain!

 The cloud station!

The pine cone station!

We learned about pine cones and that they close up in the rain to protect their seeds. 

The snow station!

The wind station!

 

Additional recommended reading on weather:

Weather Words and What the Mean by Gail Gibbons

The Story of Snow by Mark Cassino

Nat Geo Kids Everything Weather

Weather by Seymour Simon

Animal Camouflage

This week we talked about how animals use camouflage to blend into their surroundings.  We discussed how this can help save their life or help them hunt for prey.  We talked about the difference between predator and prey. We also talked about various animals and ways they protect themselves, in addition to or instead of camouflage. 

Each class was also able to pick one animal mask and share facts about that animal to the rest of the class (with Miss Marion's help).  We learned a lot about many different types of animals - especially how they survive, what they eat, and where they live.

We had several 'free' centers with this lesson so the children were free to explore the room and do fun, unique centers that were not all related to the theme. They love this freedom to explore independently!

Suggested reading on animal camouflage:

Animals in Winter by Richard Van Gelder

Animal Camouflage by Vicki Franchino

The Mixed-up Chameleon by Eric Carle

A Color of His Own by Leo Lionni

Secrets of Animal Camouflage

Germs, Germs, Germs!

This week the children learned about GERMS!  

We discussed where we can find germs, how not all germs are harmful, different ways germs can make us sick, and ways we can keep ourselves healthy.  We talked about washing our hands with water and soap, not eating off the floor or after someone who is sick, covering our mouths when we sneeze or cough (those germs go a looong distance!), wiping our noses with tissues, going to the doctor when we're feeling really bad, getting good sleep and eating well!  

 Here are several of the books we looked at together:

 I did a simple experiment with water, pepper, and soap to demonstrate why washing our hands is important and the kids had a great reaction:

We learned that our food (and lollipops!) can get germs on them if we drop them on the floor! 

Further reading suggestions:
Germs by Ross Collins
Germs, Germs, Germs by Marisela Worthington
Sherm the Germ by Dr. John Hutton

Animal Tracks & Signs (particularly in winter)

The children became (winter) nature detectives this week and we discussed some of the signs that we might see in our own backyards that tell us animals have been around during the winter.  We talked about seeing animal tracks in the snow and some other signs such as feathers, fur, scat, bones, holes and burrows, claw marks,  spider webs, nests, claw marks, etc.  We also discussed some of the sounds we hear in nature that tell us if an animal is nearby.  We talked about what we can learn from these sights and sounds.

We identified the following tracks...

We made our own tracks!

Here are several of the books I had available for the children to look at, or that we read together:

Other fun books I suggest:

How to be a Nature Detective by Millicent Selsam

Tracks, Scats, and Signs by Leslie Dendy

Whose Tracks are These? by James Nail

Ewww! Critter Litter  See what animals leave behind by Stan Tekiela

Animal Tracks & Signs by Jinny Johnson