Fantastic Feathers!

This week in Bird Study we started looking at feathers. Only birds have feathers which makes them unique to this special animal group. We started by asking the kids to write or sketch their responses to the following thought questions to ascertain their prior knowledge as well as unearth any misconceptions on the posters you see below.  

1. What are some ways people use feathers?

2. Why are feathers different colors?

3. Are there different kinds of feathers?

4. What do feathers do for birds?

Each table group traveled to all four posters to add their thinking in words and/or pictures. Then as a class we looked at each poster to summarize (or clarify) the observations and information shared by kids on the posters. These will be displayed in the hall next week (once they've undergone a teacher spell-check) and later we will compare them with the new facts we learn about feathers to see how our knowledge has grown or changed. 

Check out the posters below!

Sledding Season

Sledding season is here! For some of our 1-2 kids this was their first sledding experience of the season. For others, it was their first sledding experience EVER! Much fun was had by all! Part of the experience includes sharing sleds and waiting your turn. More scientific aspects involve make a smooth, straight sled run so that your sled goes fast and far. Teamwork was needed to make repeated runs to flatten a new trail and NOT walk back up the slope in the middle of your nice, new, smooth trail. Further testing included trying out different sliding positions - upright, laying down, alone, with a partner, to see what yielded the best results (and the least potential for injury). 

With the snow forecasted this weekend, the kids will have a fresh start on sled run making and hopefully some sticky snow that will lend itself to shaping and building.

Check out the pictures below of fun in the snow!

Building Bird Blinds

It's the new year and the 1-2 kids are on to their next big study - BIRDS! 

Birds are a fascinating animal group with many unique characteristics and interesting adaptations. Over the next months, we will be taking a closer look at birds which will encompass observations of local winter birds, read alouds, science experiments, nature video clips, nonfiction research as well as participation in the Mass Audubon Junior Duck Stamp Contest. 

One of the first orders of business is to encourage more birds to visit our outdoor classroom and to set up a viewing area for observation.  Birds are generally skittish of people getting too close, so we worked collaboratively to make bird blinds that the kids can use to hide behind and hopefully get a closer look at our neighborhood birds. This does require that kids sitting in the bird blind remain still and quiet, which can be a tall order when something as exciting as a bird flying close by occurs. 

Check out the pictures below of our bird blinds in progress. Next we'll get some feeders up to attract some feathered friends!