Our Animal Research Is Complete-- Let the Projects Begin!

What is it Mark Twain said?  "The reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated"-- or something to that effect.  Anyway, sorry for my blogging silence, I have been busy raising my teenagers.  LOL

The Reader's Digest Condensed version of the past few weeks....

• The students (as of today) have all completed their research packet.  They are happy to have made it over this hurdle.

• In almost every case, the students had some information that conflicted between their sources.  It gave us opportunities for conversations about valid sources and the importance of using current sources.
• They have greatly expanded their vocabulary and understanding of their endangered animal and the threats that impact its survival.
• In Storybird, the students continue to work on developing their collaboration skills as they write stories with their peers.

The students also selected and began their first project from their animal research.  Some students are creating a papier mache' mask of their animal while others have chosen to make an animal habitat diorama.  Today, the students making a mask completed the first layer of papier mache'.  I have asked the students to avoid wearing good clothes to SAGE over the next few weeks.  I have plenty of aprons, but our projects can be pretty messy.

Last week, the students had a wonderful opportunity to learn about endangered animals first hand.  Staff from the Kansas City Zoo presented their program, Journey to Survival, an interactive program designed to expand each student’s knowledge of endangered animals and what the students can do to aid in the survival of animals around the world. 

From Australia, we were introduced to the blue-tongued skink.  We learned how the natural balance can be disrupted when a non-native species is introduced into a habitat.  This occurred when rabbits were brought over on the settlement ships from England.  Without predators, their population exploded causing a competition for food with other native animals.  To "fix" this man-made problem, man imported foxes from England as they were the main predator for rabbits back in England.  Once there, however, the fox discovered the bilby, a slower moving marsupial that made for an easy lunch.  As the result of this man-made tragedy, the bilby is critically endangered.

Next, the students learned about the struggles of the black rhino on the brink of extinction.  Poachers hunt for and kill rhinos to use their horn in medicines some believe will make them stronger.

From the Amazon Rainforest, we met the double yellowed-headed parrot.  We learned about the destruction of its habitat and the illegal smuggling of these birds for the pet trade.

Finally, from the United States, we learned how even domesticated animals can become endangered.  To the surprise of the zoo staff and pleasure of the students, the hen decided to lay an egg in our classroom!  Ask your child to tell you a little about the Polish hen and the other animals they brought to our class.

Today I introduced the students to another digital storytelling site, Kerpoof.  This free site is a Disney created website where students can make pictures, storybooks and even animated videos.  It is very user friendly, engaging and inspires creativity in children as they tell their stories.  Turn your child loose on this site and they will use their imagination and writing skills to create original stories and projects.

They ended their day with our Spanish lesson and by working on their logical thinking skills in the Logic Links program.