Showing posts with label interdependence. Show all posts
Showing posts with label interdependence. Show all posts

Tuesday, January 26, 2016

Interdependency Terrariums and The Cactus Hotel

Hello Everyone!
I have a few minutes while waiting for some yummy veggie pizza to bake in the oven, so I thought I'd share a bit about what we've been doing in science.  We finished our unit on living and nonliving, and jumped right into a closely related topic, Interdependency.  The kids have had fun just learning how to say that word...and of course relating it to living things.We learned the def.- the relationship between two or more things- where each one benefits from the other. Last week we learned what plants need to survive and what we and other living things get from plants, so of course we had to make our terrarium!!  So much fun.  We are in the process of watching what happens and recording our observations.

















This week we concentrated on a wonderful book which shows great examples of interdependency. Cactus Hotel by Brenda Guiberson.
 You have to get this book if you want kids to be amazed at how things depend on each other. Another great book to share during this unit is Desert Giant by Barbara Bash, an expository text which reads like a narrative!  

While reading the Cactus Hotel, we kept track of the dependency details on our anchor chart.

We will then create a little book to organize and share our thinking.




Want this little unit?
If you downloaded this from me last year, you will find that I've added a little extra science activity that has to do with cacti. Quick, inexpensive, and effective! :)






I love when we can add a "hand to head to heart" learning experience to every part of our curriculum!! 

OOPS! There goes my oven timer!! People depend on plants too!!
Have a good night!! I'll be back soon to tell you about our 100th day celebration, some fun winter activities, mentor sentences, some amazing opinion writing and so much more!!!! Stop by again soon!! Thanks for stopping by today!
Joyfully!
Nancy






Sunday, February 1, 2015

Interdependence- Terrariums and Cactus Hotel

Hello Everyone!
We had a lot of fun this week learning about Interdependence in science. We ended the week making our terrariums.  The concept of a terrarium is a new one for most of our little friends.  We talked about the fact that it would become its own little ecosystem where everything inside would depend on everything else. We would put it together and probably (hopefully) leave it alone and watch the plants thrive.  We compared it to an aquarium which is a water habitat, whereas the terrarium is a plant habitat.  When we were finished, most of the kids wanted to make their own at home! And they most certainly can with simple supplies!  All they will need is:
2 clear plastic bottles, some gravel or small rocks, some soil, small plants, and a little water.








This coming week, we will continue learning about interdependence using a wonderful piece of literature... Cactus Hotel by Brenda Guiberson.  This book is a great telling of the life of the giant Saguaro and the interdependence that takes place throughout--- and really beyond its life.  Kids will be amazed at the story Brenda tells...a close up look at the marvel of interdependence.
I put together a little mini unit to go along with this book. 
















I am looking forward to sharing this book with my kiddos!! 

Thank for stopping by today!! Now off to get ready to watch the Superbowl!! Queso is in the crock pot, and other yummy snacks are in the works!! May the best team win!! I'm personally not cheering for either team this year. Too many weird things came up during the season, if you know what I mean. But the big game is still fun to watch and I looooove the commercials!!! 
 Ha Ha!!
Til next time!!
Stay Joyfull!
Nancy





  




Friday, January 24, 2014

Terrific Terrariums!

Hello Everyone!
Happy Friday!  I hope everyone is staying safe and warm!  Prayers lifted for those of you in the extreme deep freeze. Please take care! This weather has been crazy!!
We had a great week!  In science we've been studying the interdependence of living things.  We believe in a hands on approach to science, so of course we had to come up with a plan.  Our district suggest we either study aquariums or terrariums.  Well, we tried the aquarium thing last year and enjoyed it for a while, but when the adult fish stared eating the babies...oops, that circle of life- that interdependence- got a little sad for our firsties.
This year we decided to try the terrarium route.  We did some research and tah-dah!! We made terrariums with our kids today!! Here are a few pics! First we reviewed and created a little response chart as we learned about the interdependence of living things:





Then we began our lab.

Gather soil, rocks, 2 litre bottles, and plants

Cut tops off two 2 litre bottles


Pour a layer of rocks for drainage


Add a layer of soil
Add some plants, and water until moist

Put the second bottle bottom over the first to create a terrarium!




Place in a window





make observations






I put all the directions and explanations into a little unit. Here are some pics








Unit also has observation recording sheets and a fun little vocabulary word search.
If you are studying living things, you may want to try this.  You can get the unit by

I can't wait for the kids to see how the plants depend on each other for survival (without eating each other).  As a bonus, we will be able to see the water cycle in effect!! 

 Each class made one terrarium, but I also think it would be fun to have the kids each make a mini one using small clear water bottles. Hmmm. Maybe next year!! If you do try this activity, please let me know how it went.  What would you change, what worked better for you, etc.  I am always looking for improvements and clarifications!!
Have a fantastic weekend, friends!!
Thanks for stopping by to take a peek!!
Joyfully!
Nancy