Second Grade Q2 - Post 1: Happy Halloween! This week in science lab, students played with FLUBBER, which we re-named "Halloween Slime" to get in the spirit of the season :). It was fun watching the young scientists put on their thinking caps and get creative. There were "slime waterfalls," "slime gloves," "slime pumpkins," "slime bridges," "slime ghosts," and a whole host of other spooky creations! Second graders even got to take a sample of flubber home! Please read the directions sent home carefully to avoid a flubber stains and stickiness.
Second Grade Q1 - Post 7: This week in science lab, 2nd graders continued their study of animals by exploring fish! We learned that fish have been on earth for over 500 million years, long before even dinosaurs roamed the planet. There are more than 29,000 known species of fish -- that’s more than all of the species of birds, amphibians, reptiles, and mammals, combined (WOW)! All fish are cold-blooded and vertebrates. There are three different types: bony fish, cartilaginous fish, and jawless fish. We also talked about how fish use gills to get oxygen from the water. Gills are membranes filled with tiny blood vessels that pick up oxygen as water passes by. Finally, the students made a model of fish gills using a cup, a coffee filter, water and sand! The filter represented gills, and the sand represented oxygen.
Second Grade Q1 - Post 6: This week in science lab, second graders explored the next type of animal -- mammals! Students traveled to several different stations around the classroom where they learned about unusual mammals, the major characteristics of mammals, and how much food mammals need to eat in order to maintain their body temperatures. The students' favorite station seemed to be the fur matching station! The young scientists were able to explore 8 types of mammal furs, and guessed which mammal each belonged to. The answers were revealed at the end of class, and many students had correct guesses!
Second Grade Q1 - Post 5: It was back to animals for second grade this week, and we got to explore reptiles! We learned about the four different types of reptiles (turtles, snakes, lizards, and crocodiles) and discovered how they are different from amphibians. The students first looked at some photos of colorful reptiles, and then the fun really began. The students got a chance to "experience" molting by putting a little bit of Elmer's glue on their hand. After about 5 minutes it peels off, just like a lizard shedding its skin! Finally, we made some colorful chameleons after watching the video below of a BEAUTIFUL chameleon changing colors.
Second Grade Q1 - Post 4: This week in science lab, we took a break from our regular curriculum to start working in St. Timothy’s Learning Garden. We have a goal this year for all students K-4 to have a “hand” (quite literally) in planting, up-keep, and harvesting. Mrs. Morgan, one of the Pre-K assistants, has a background in agriculture and has worked very hard to plan our set of crops. I wouldn’t be able to do this without her expertise! On their “planting day,” students first had an opportunity to taste the vegetable they would plant. Then we traveled from the lab to the garden, and each student had a chance to plant seeds. Click HERE to see pictures from planting day.
Second Grade Q1 - Post 3: On their third visit to lab 2nd graders continued their study of animals by exploring amphibians. We started by looking at pictures of familiar AND unfamiliar amphibians. Then, we learned some facts about them: amphibians are vertebrates; they spend the early part of their lives in the water and the remainder of their lives on land; there are three types of amphibians; they are cold-blooded and go through metamorphosis. We spent the rest of our time focusing specifically on frogs, and students had an opportunity to “experience” frog life first-hand. We watched some pretty incredible slow-motion videos of a frog catching dinner with its long sticky tongue. Then, second graders got to try catching “insects” with their own “frog tongues.” Next, the students watched a frog jumping in slow motion. We then played with some plastic jumping frogs in class. The students compared how real frogs jumped to the way the plastic frogs are propelled. There were similarities and differences!
Second Grade Q1 - Post 2: On their second visit, second graders continued to study animals! This lab focused on animal adaptations, and specifically bird beaks. We explored different sizes, shapes, and functions of bird beaks, and discovered that each type of bird needs a different beak designed specifically to help them eat their prey. For example, robins need beaks that function much like chopsticks. Trying to get worms out of the ground would be pretty tricky otherwise! Other birds, like the nighthawk, need funnel-shaped beaks to catch flying insects.
Second Grade Q1 - Post 1: On their first visit, second graders learned about animal classification. When scientists discover a new animal, they have to decide what kind it is and whether or not it is similar to other animals. To classify an animal, scientists must make observations about the type of skin covering, how it moves, where it lives, and so forth. Take a look at our first "animal" classification attempt!