A Study of Seedlings

Ms. Sarabanda's 2^nd and 3^rd grade class recently planted lima beans. In Studio, they are recording the growth of the plants by drawing and painting them. Each one is numbered. Paying close attention to the details of each seedling, the students will monitor the growth of the plants through their study of the same plant next week.

First, a careful and detailed sketch.

Students prepare watercolors.

Students use test strips to create color samples. Once they test a color on their strip, they can then make any needed adjustments to a color as they match it to the part of the plant they are painting.

Students also learn to use sponges as a tool in their water-color work.

Painting the roots of the seedling.

Taking on the challenge of a seedling that is laying in the soil.

Each water-colored sketch is then labeled with the student scientist's name, the date of the observation and the number of the plant.

The test strips also become works of art.

Ms. Zeena's Kindergarten - An investigation of The Arctic

The Children in this class have been talking recently about many things having to do with "the arctic."  They were interested in ice and snow and told many stories about their experiences in cold and snowy environments.  Some children had been skiing or ice skating and many others had visited cold wintry places.  The children read books in class about the arctic and saw a video which featured polar bears navigating on the ice.

As the classroom teachers and Studio teachers talked about the children's ideas and interests they realized two things:  first, the children were intrigued by the way that their bodies move differently on icy and snowy surfaces;  second, some of the children may not have had any experiences with ice and snow.  In order to give all the children a chance to experiment with the properties of ice they (along with several parent volunteers) froze large containers full of water and placed them in the studio room for the children to explore.

Ice can be strong or it can be weak.

Ice can be sharp and jagged or it can be smooth and slippery

At a point in the investigation the children decided to crush the ice on the ground and watch what happened when it was left out in the sun.

 

Students know water can be a liquid or a solid and can be made to change back and forth from one form to the other 

*California Kindergarten Science Standard.