Second Quarter K-5 Science News

Fifth Grade

The fifth graders are well into their Life Science Unit and are currently studying a chapter about the basic structures of living organisms. Through their studies and hands-on labs, the class has learned that cells are the smallest living parts of plants and animals and that cells make up structures such as tissues and organs inside multi-cellular organisms. We will use hand-held microscopes to examine both slides and real objects, look at our own DNA and will soon dissect anchovies to see the organs inside. 

Fourth Grade

The fourth graders are well into their Life Science Unit and are currently studying a chapter about how energy and matter flow through ecosystems.  The class will learn about food chains and food webs and that a change to one part of a food web affects other parts of the web. We learned firsthand about the different components of ecosystems by dissecting owl pellets, examining worms, and will soon weave a huge web of life with yarn. 

Third Grade

The third graders are about to begin studying biomes such as oceans, deserts, forests, and wetlands. They will compare and contrast the adaptations necessary for the plants and animals to survive in each of the major biomes in North America.  The children will create special in-class projects related to some of the biomes and do some experiments related to adaptations.

Second Grade

The second graders are just finishing up a unit about liquid matter and are about to begin to study trees and the animals that live in, near or under trees. The children will complete a “Tree Questionnaire” as well as making beautiful tree diagrams, owl fact books and raccoon fact books. Parents will get a chance to see the wonderful work the children will have completed during the current tree unit by the time we have our Open House in February.

First Grade

The first grade continues to study topics related to the season of autumn and events happening in the natural world at this time of year.  The children learned about ladybug hibernation, created moon phase flip-books, did a mini-study about both turkeys and animal adaptations and will soon make some lovely Nature Sketchbooks. Often the activities introduced in first grade are integrated with related children’s literature.

Kindergarten

Since the last newsletter, the kindergartners have already studied the topic of the five senses and are just beginning to study color and light.  The class, as a whole, seems very excited about science.  Because the class is split in half on two consecutive days, with half of the class in science while the other half is in kindergarten, we have the luxury of doing many hands-on activities with a smaller teacher to student ratio. Each kindergartner records a drawing and written title of each activity as it is completed.

Mid 2nd Quarter News