Day 87 - Chick Show With Ms. Pavlicek - Ms. Farmer - Francis Wyman First Grade

This post first appeared on Ms. Farmer's Blog

Ms. P came in today for her annual Chick Show.  The show comes before we get an incubator with eggs in our classroom! The show began with Mrs. Ski's reading class doing reader's theater on how to care for chicks:

Then Ms. P began her show on the chicks:

Ms. P asks the age old question, "Which came first the chicken or the egg?

Introducing "The one, the only...chicken egg!" (the star of the show).

Ms. P demonstrates how strong an egg actually is by having a student and a teacher try to break the shell by squeezing them with their hands. The shape of the eggshell protects the egg from breaking when we squeeze it. That's why we have to crack it on it's side

Next, Ms. P used models to show the different sizes of eggs (from hummingbird to elephant egg).

Here is a crane egg with spots to help camouflage the egg from predators. 

Ms P. then showed us the parts of the egg. 

We did a chicken dance for a movement break. 

We discussed the difference between fertilized and non-fertilized egg. 

Then a first-grader acted as a mother hen and laid a nest full of eggs.

She pretended to lay on the eggs for 21 days to keep the eggs warm.

We learned about the inside of the incubator and how it works.

We talked about the comb and waddle on the chickens right before...

We met the Rhode Island Ren hen and...

Mr. Rooster!

It was a great show and we learned a lot about chick development and how to take care of our chicks once they are born!  Thanks Ms. P!

Day 57 - Tree Walks With iPads - Wendy Pavlicek - Burlington Science Center Director

This post first appeared on the BPS Science Center Website

With being a 1:1 school district in Burlington (K-12), I wanted to incorporate the use of iPads into some of my life science lessons while also helping teachers to implement using the iPads during Science.  At the end of the second grade unit on trees, teachers have asked me to take their classes outside on a tree walk.  The students had an opportunity to meet and identify the most common type of trees they find in their backyards and school grounds.  The walk was based on the idea of a “scientist” (me) taking the students on a verbal tour of the trees in their schoolyard.  This tour included a review of tree parts and functions, how we identify different trees and a closer look at each of the trees leaves, seeds and bark.  I wanted to change the tree walk experience in a way that had greater student involvement, while still connecting to their prior learning.  I saw this as a potential way to help teachers and students journal and collect data outside of their classrooms and in the real world.  It would also give students practice on usig the Ipad as a tool for taking pictures, editing information and producing a product of their own.

Massachusetts is on its way to adopting new science standards, which are based off the national science standards (NGSS).  These standards have greater emphasis on scientific practices balanced with specific core science ideas.  The goal is to have students use their application of knowledge to demonstrate scientific skills and understanding.  The tree book design and development focuses on obtaining, evaluating, and communicating information about trees.

The objectives of this lesson were to have students be able to identify 3 common tree species and their parts, including their leaves, bark and seeds and how they were different.  I wanted students to extend their classroom learning to the outdoors.  I decided the end result was to have the students design and create their own tree guide booklet using Book Creator on their iPad.

During the first class students are introduced to the names of the 3 species of trees.  There are examples of a leaf and seed from each of the tree species.  Students then sketched each leaf and seed with appropriate labels. This gave the student an idea of what each tree’s leaves and seeds looked like.

Then I took each class outside for their tree walk to make their tree field guides.  Each student had to take pictures of the whole tree from top to bottom,  a picture of its leaf, seed and bark.  Then it was repeated for the other two types of trees.

The photos were then used to make their tree field guides in the next 1-2 class periods.  The classroom teachers collaborated wth the technology support staff in each school to help students design their tree books.

Students then shared their tree books during an additional class period.  The tree books included diagrams of the tree and its parts, 3 species of common trees in their school yard (with their own pictures of leaf, seed and bark) and some knowledge or facts they learned that they did not know before the tree unit was taught.  Students shared their tree books and their findings through oral presentations with their classmates.

From my experience, I found students were excited about creating their own tree book.  They kept asking if they could take pictures of other trees and wanted to identify them.  They enjoyed being outdoors and taking photographs of objects they were studying.   I found they were able to identify the tree species from their previous experience with the sketching of the tree items in the prior class.

Day 45 - Fall At Burlington High School - Wendy Pavlicek, Burlington Science Center

This post originally appeared on the Burlington Science Center Blog

I dropped my car off last week across the street from the BHS football field.  As I walked down the entrance road to the school, I couldn’t help but notice the beauty of fall that surrounded me.  It was cool and crisp.  The fog had started to lift and the plant life was covered with dew.  I found myself  in awe of nature, taking pictures and identifying local plant species.  I felt fortunate to live in an area that showed such dramatic changes with the seasons.  Here is some information and photos from my walk.

Spotted Jewelweed:  Jewelweed is a wetland plant which prefers the shade.  It’s nickname is the “touch-me-not” plant, due the fact that its seed pod explodes open when it is touched.  Jewelweed is known as an antidote for posion ivy (crush and rub the liquid to sooth itching).  It is also visited by several nectar-loving animals including bees, butterflies and birds.  I particulary love its flowers.

Spotted Jewelweed

Northern Catalpa Tree:  This tree is deciduous with large, heart-shaped leaves that can grow up to 60 feet tall.  It prefers moist soil and has very light, but strong wood.  What I noticed most about this tree was the almost 2 foot long, thin seed pods, which resemble a long string bean!  European settlers used this tree for fence posts, railroad ties and fuel.

Northern Catalpa Tree

Catalpa Seed Pods

Bittersweet:  This is an invasive species from Asia that smothers our local plant life.  It is a vine that can grow up to 60 feet tall and 6 feet across at the base.  It produces very beautiful berries (fruits) which are eaten by birds (hence seed dispersal).

Bittersweet

Bittersweet berries

Common Reed/Phragmities:  Phragmities is another example of an invasive species, which originated from Europe and Asia.  It invades wetland areas and takes over an area into a large group called a “colony.”  It makes a soft bristle sound as the reeds blow into the wind.

Phragmities

Poison Ivy:  I always teach my students that poison ivy is not always green & red or only green.  Fall is a perfect time to observe that this plant can be a variety of colors.  Remember the saying “Leaves of three, let it be.”

Poison Ivy (green, red, yellow, orange)

Poison Ivy (yellow & green)

Cattail:  This tall, aquatic plant is a member of the grass family.  It prefers shallow water and is known for its sausage-like flower.  This plant is highly edible and the entire plant can be eaten depending on the time of year.  Native people used the leaves as siding for their homes and others used the seed fluff to dress wounds.

Cattails

Pokeweed:  Pokeweed is a perennial herb with magenta stems and clusters of dark purple/black berries.  The entire plant is mildly poisonous so be sure to keep away children and small pets.  Pokeweed has long been thought to have medicinal value.   At one time it was used to cure everything from boils to acne.  Today, Pokeberry is being researched as a possible treatment for cancer.  According to the American Cancer Society, a chemical found in pokeberry juice has been used to successfully treat cancerous tumors in laboratory mice. The chemical is also being tested to determine if it can protect cells from HIV and AIDS.

Pokeweed

Burning Bush:  Burning Bush is a favorite landscaping shrub, due to its vibrant red color in the fall.  This invasive plant is from Asia and has been banned from sale, trade or distribution all across MA.  It can easliy thrive in most habitats and can be harmful to the ecosystem.

Burning Bush

Maple Tree:  The spledor of maple trees are the colors their leaves change during the fall. This is one of my favorite tress at BHS during the fall.  The foliage of trees changing are amazing!

Maple Tree

Fallen Maple leaves

While on this walk, I felt I was living “in the moment,” surrounded by the beauty of nature and our earth.  Life goes by so fast sometimes, so please remember to take the time and explore the amazing world around you.