Science Club

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Home : 2003 : October : 11

Science Club
By Sue W.

We've had two sessions now. The first time the this kids were divided into 3 cross-grade-level groups.We debated a little about that,but it worked out very well.
One group witnessed a "well-animal" exam by the vet with
her very patient, "office" cat. They also got tips about pet care, and many were especially impressed when the cat willingly let her teeth be brushed. The kids also were given a cotton swab to start a petri dish culture.
The second group had a snack of juice and a little baggy of mixed animal crackers, gummy worms, etc. Their job was making name decorated mname tags, in
preparation

for the field trip scheduled for the 3rd sesssion. They had lots of nature magazines and a bunch of step by step animal drawing books. We had a book on stand-by, but with crayons, markers and colored pencils they spent most of the time on the tag. A few had time to write "wonderings" on the back, with older
kids helping the little ones. It also was interesting to see older kids impressed with the artistic skills of some of heir younger group members.
The third group selected a speciman from a collection of natural samples from the local nature center; bits of fur,an old mink coat collar, skulls and other bones,
feathers, a shell from a clam, etc. They "studied" their selection mostly alone, but also some in groups. Then they recorded their observations on a 12"/18" paper divided
in 4ths; 1. sketch what you see. 2. use a magnifying glass and sketch what you observe. 3. Draw the creature you believe it to be. 4. Draw the habitat.
We rotated each 1/2 hour.

The second session started with snacks and the first half of a book, "Going on a Bear Hunt". Then the kids were divided up into smaller rotating groups. They finished name tags and the speciman observation sheet and came up with more questions. They got to view "their" slides of the cultures started the previous week, which had been prepared by a volunteer mom. The vet presented info about animal anatomy, with her cat. Small groups made a lung model. Groups went outside for a "cooperation activity" that was
moving a bucket of water, using a rubber ring with 8 ropes attatched. They met again in the gym to finish the "bear hunt' and talk briefly about the number of new things they had learned.
In 2 weeks we will have a field trip as a concluding activity for the animal series. The PTO is paying for a bus to the vet's clinic and ' animal hospital, and the humane society, both just a couple of miles from our school. The third activity will be with a wildlife artist/ former elementary art teacher.
All notes have been available in both Spanish and English. There was a $5 fee to join, that was used for the snacks and materials, but the PTO also provided scholarships for those who asked.