The students were disappointed during our spring explorations that they couldn't find any fish in the creek or swamp. They were also disappointed that the worms they found were dried up. So, we brought some worms and minnows into the class and invited the students to explore and wonder. We recorded their wonderings before they made observations. Here are some of them:
Can worms hear? Can they see? Do fish come up for air? Do fish like noise? Are worms longer than a pencil? Do they like light? How do worms move? How much does a worm weigh? How do fish swim? Do fish blow bubbles? Can fish see? Why do worms come out in the rain? Do worms like water?
After we gathered questions, the students experimented to find answers to some of their questions. They clapped their hands close to the fish; played musical instruments above the worms; sprayed the worms with water; made bubbles with their hands in the fish water; measured worms; and watched both closely with magnifying glasses.
These were some of their observations: "It dances when I touch it's tail"; "it squirms when I spray water...I think it likes it"; "the fish move really fast...watch them wiggle their tails to swim"; "the fish smell funny"; "the worms are fast" (they actually crawled off the table); "look...it's longer than a pencil"; "the fish stay under water".
It was a fun day of inquiry and wonder. And of course, we set all the creatures free when we were finished. Throughout the explorations we reminded students how to treat them gently, with the same care and respect they use everyday when we explore creatures in their natural environment.
Can worms hear? Can they see? Do fish come up for air? Do fish like noise? Are worms longer than a pencil? Do they like light? How do worms move? How much does a worm weigh? How do fish swim? Do fish blow bubbles? Can fish see? Why do worms come out in the rain? Do worms like water?
After we gathered questions, the students experimented to find answers to some of their questions. They clapped their hands close to the fish; played musical instruments above the worms; sprayed the worms with water; made bubbles with their hands in the fish water; measured worms; and watched both closely with magnifying glasses.
These were some of their observations: "It dances when I touch it's tail"; "it squirms when I spray water...I think it likes it"; "the fish move really fast...watch them wiggle their tails to swim"; "the fish smell funny"; "the worms are fast" (they actually crawled off the table); "look...it's longer than a pencil"; "the fish stay under water".
It was a fun day of inquiry and wonder. And of course, we set all the creatures free when we were finished. Throughout the explorations we reminded students how to treat them gently, with the same care and respect they use everyday when we explore creatures in their natural environment.