Bloom~Boltz BLOG

Hearing

We began learning about sound by listening to different objects inside of film canisters. The students tried to match the object in the canister with an object on the table using only the sound it made when shaken. Some objects sounded so similar that it took careful use of our sense of hearing to figure it out!

We listed words we could use to describe things we hear.

Next, Mrs. Hoy brought out a plethora of fun instruments to help us explore different ways sound can be made! Each of these tubes is cut to different lengths to give off a different note when hit. The students worked together to put the tubes in order by listening to how each sounded when played one right after the other!

This instrument creates a different sound based on where it is struck.

The Primary Class band! (I tried to include a video of them playing their instruments but I couldn't get it to load!)

Smell

Learning about smell was a lot of fun! We began with developing a list of words to describe things we can smell.

Then, we used our noses to try to match the different spices sprinkled on our papers to the mystery scents in the canisters. Students were encouraged to used only their sense of smell by covering their eyes to prevent using things like color to sway their opinion.

Some smells were more enjoyable than others ;)

Some of our noses were getting a little overwhelmed so Mrs. Hoy showed us the trick of moving around our noses to help rid of all the smells.

We also explored how important our sense of smell is for tasting. We explored this by plugging our noses while eating 1/2 of a jellybean. The students said they couldn't taste much of the flavor. It wasn't until they unplugged their noses and ate the other 1/2 that they realized how much more they could taste when they could smell too!

Sight

Of course, we began by creating a list of words we would use to describe things we see.

Then, they got into groups and took turns describing a picture to the group. Based on their clues, the rest of the group members tried to guess the picture!

In addition, Dr. Gilbert stopped by to teach us about our sense of sight. He is an optometrist and helped us learn some really interesting facts about the eye. For instance, the iris (the colored part surrounding the black pupil, is actually a muscle! It relaxes and contracts based on how much light it wants to go into the pupil.)

We also learned that some people are farsighted (which means they have trouble seeing up close) and other people can be nearsighted (they have trouble seeing things far away). They need glasses to help them see clearly.

What a great visit! Thank you, Dr. Gilbert!

The last insect we learned about was probably the most peculiar: praying mantises! They get their name from the way they hold their front legs--they look like they are praying! We learned that those legs are covered in razors and used to snatch prey faster than the blink of an eye! Then, they use their strong mandibles, or mouth parts, to tear apart their prey. We were shocked to learn that they can eat prey up to three times their size...and sometimes the females will eat the males! Whoa, they are cannibals! Praying mantises can be nearly any color (even pink and purple!) making them masters of camouflage!

Students got to experience the world through compound eyes using these special glasses!

Then, students got to make their own praying mantises! First, they chose where in the mural they wanted theirs to be camouflaged. Then, they got their materials and got to work! Everyone was so busy (teachers included!), I didn't have a chance to snap a photo until the dust had settled.

Along with our bee hive in the hallway, the students made grass and created flowers using construction paper, tissue paper and pipe cleaners, or paint. The result is gorgeous and offers many places for praying mantises to hide! Can you spot the camouflaged praying mantises??

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Last week, we had some exciting news in our classroom. Our praying mantis egg sac hatched its first nymph!

He was the cutest little thing! Unfortunately, our excitement was short-lived...the gnats that came in the kit many weeks ago have long since died so we were trying to find small insects to feed him. The kids found a very small roly-poly and a small centipede to feed him. It seems the centipede must've been too big, though, because we returned to school the next day to see the nymph gone and the centipede still alive and well :( We are remaining hopeful that the other 399 nymphs will decide to emerge from the egg sac soon!

As luck would have it, just a few days ago, one of our little entomologists happened to glance out the window and spotted an adult praying mantis stuck to the outside of the window! Of course, we all dropped what we were doing to observe this unexpected visitor!

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As our insect unit was coming to an end, the students used what they learned to create their very own insects. First, they drew a plan for their insect. They needed to include three body parts, six legs, and antennae.

They used Model Magic for the body and pipe cleaners for the extremities. After they dried, details were added using markers to make their insects uniquely their own. Finally, they created habitats where their insects would live.

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We began this chart at the start of our unit by listing things we thought we knew about insects as well as things we wondered. Now that we have learned so much about insects, it was time to reflect on our learning. We looked at each post-it and decided whether our prior knowledge was correct or if it was a misconception and no longer something we believed to be true. I think our biggest surprise in revisiting our prior knowledge was just how many of us assumed spiders and worms were insects! Since they don't have 3 body parts and 6 legs, they are just plain ol' bugs! Then, we added tons of new information to each section as new learning.

This unit has given us (many!) opportunities to write. In addition to writing our fact pages about each insect, at the end of our unit, students did persuasive writing regarding whether they think insects are 'creepy' or 'awesome'. Here is the chart they developed to help them with their writing! (We couldn't decide whether the fact that praying mantises are cannibals make them creepy or awesome...so we put it in the middle and let students decide for themselves.)

Now that we have all of this knowledge about why insects are so important, it's time to educate others about it! Students each wrote about one of the four insects we studied. They explained why that insect is important and what we can do to help protect them.