An update on our volcano and dinosaur unit

We are moving along on our science unit.  The kids are really starting to get into the science vocabulary.  I have heard them talk about archeology, volcanology and excavating.  The proudest moment though was last week when I heard two of the kids talking and I heard one tell the other "well, I am going to be a scientist when I grow up!".  You know what, I believe him.  Enjoy the pictures!

We are expanding our vocabulary, our reasoning and research skills, our fine motor skills and our problem solving skills while participating in this science activity.

The children started to dig down deep enough to start to excavate rocks, shells and dinosaurs.  They also started to notice the fossils in the rock.  They were amazed!

A dinosaur is free after almost two weeks of work during center time.

Fossils are starting to appear and the students are becoming much more careful during their excavation efforts.

The children have to figure out how to share materials, take turns with the materials, how to decide how many children can work at this center at a time safely, how to divide up the rock fairly for excavation and how to navigate personal space.  These children are really developing some complex social skills that are critical to academic and work success.

Now we are going to show you how are volcanoes are coming along.  This is so exciting.  We will probably be able to conduct our volcano experiments before Spring Break!

This child works hard to create the paper mache volcano.  The students had to research in our volcano books to figure out the shape of their volcano and how to paint it later.

The first day they started this project I tore the paper for them, I made up the glue mixture for them and showed them how to put the glue onto the paper.  Ever since the first lesson the children have completely taken over ownership of the project!  The tear the paper, make the glue mixture, create the shape and form and clean up the area when they are done.  Wow!  They are becoming such responsible classroom citizens!

I think they are doing an amazing job!

Team Work, what's gonna work? Team Work!

Now for the painting to begin!  They really looked at a lot of books to do their research before they started painting.  It was amazing to listen to their conversations about what colors to use where and why to use them there.  They also did an amazing job of sharing resources and taking turns.

This looks amazing!  It looks like an island made out of volcanic eruptions!  They came up with this all by themselves!  I loved it that they added water after seeing pictures from my books from Hawaii.

 

Volcanoes and Dinosaurs have taken over F 16!

We are in a prehistoric state in our room.  We are learning so much about volcanoes and about dinosaurs.  These two subjects have taken over our reading, our writing, our math and even our letter of the week.  Let me show you some of the highlights from the first two weeks of February.

The children are learning about chemical reactions in this science lab.  They combine baking soda and vinegar (thank you parents for sending it in) and watch the chemical reaction that is created. 

We are doing this science lab because this looks like a volcano erupting.  The kids cannot get enough of this lab.

The children here are developing fine motor skills by using the eye dropper (which we got through the Donors Choose project you helped to fund).  They are also negotiating how to take turns, how to share resources and they are expanding their vocabulary and their speaking and listening skills by discussing what they are observing.

This is a neat dinosaur themed math game using geometric shapes to create patterns and pictures.

We watched several short videos about volcanoes from Discovery  and National Geographic Kids.  I also shared with them books and pictures I brought back from my trip to Hawaii.  I was lucky enough to go to the Volcano National Park.  I even have some lava rocks which you will see later in this post.  This is one child documenting what she learned from some of the books and videos we have been using for our research.

This child is studying a lava rock and documenting what she observes (sorry it is so blurry).

This child is very closely examining this lava rock from Hawaii.  They had lots of questions.  Seeing the rocks up close helped them to understand that lava is hot, melted rock, and when the lava cooled it formed these rocks.

This child is examining another lava rock.

This child referred to himself as a vulcanologist! 

These children are building a volcano in the block area.  We also talked about symmetry.

This child is using the dinosaurs to sort them and arrange them from largest to smallest.

We are having a ball with this unit of study.  I have brought in lots of books on these topics from the St. Charles County Library.  We have some very serious researchers in our room.  I love it when they find out something new about either a dinosaur or about a volcano.  They are devouring the books and dinosaurs and volcanoes are starting to show up in writing workshop in some of the books they are writing. 

Next, when we get more newspapers donated, we will start constructing our volcanoes.  We are all so excited!  Check back soon to see our latest.