WHAT IS A SCIENTIST?

We began our first grade science unit this school year by asking our students  the question, "What is a scientist?"

COMPARING ANIMALS AND PLANTS

This lesson brought a spirited discussion about whether plants are living things. Half of the class worked on picture collages of animals, and the other half created picture collages of plants.  Here are some of our finshed products:

LEARNING ABOUT FISH

The purpose of this lesson was to observe and compare fish to people and to other animals.  Our scientists discovered that fish breathe through their gills by bringing water, which contains oxygen, to their mouths. We did a nice job creating scientific drawings and labeling the parts of the fish.

OBSERVING CRICKETS

Our first grade scientists had a fascinating time observing crickets and creating scientific drawings to record our findings.  Here are some pictures of what we saw:

We payed close attention to the body and body parts of the cricket. Two of the pictures - the cricket's head - were taken with our digital microscope, the Proscope.

MYSTERY SUBSTANCES- WHICH IS ALIVE?

We started our unit on "Collecting and Examining Life" by observing 2 substances in order to determine which of them may be alive.  Our first grade scientists closely examined the materials, and made their predictions.  
I told the students that one of the substances will grow in salt water, so we set up an experiment.  We prepared jars of salt water and put the contents of substance "A" in one jar and substance "B" in the other.  

After a few days, look what we discovered!!!!

These tiny creatures are Brine Shrimp!!!!!

 
Once the excitement subsided, we discussed some of the characteristics of living things.  Some of the ideas our young scientists shared: All living things need food and water, living things breathe (Brine shrimp use gills), living things grow and change, they have babies, and living things move and respond to the world around them.
 
WHAT AN EXCITING SCIENCE LESSON!!!!!!!!!!