Animal Adaptations

We have spent numerous weeks learning about animals and how they adapt to their environments.  We specifically looked at 3 of these adaptations - 

camouflage, hibernation and migration.

It is your time now to tell me all you know about one of these adaptations.

So, describe a way an animal can adapt to their environment.

Remember to use TIDE.

T - introduce the topic

ID - important details

E - end

Dian Fossey: A Gorilla's Best Friend

Many different kinds of people have helped to shape the world we live in today.

We have learned about lawyers who whose poems have been turned into songs we sing today.

We have learned about women who helped take a stand for women's rights.

This week we have learned about a woman who took a stand for animal's rights.

This woman is Dian Fossey.

Dian was a woman who always had a love for animals.

This love for animals grew towards gorillas as she focused on their lives in Rwanda and Congo in Africa.  While living close to them in a remote rainforest camp, she studied how the gorillas lived together in their camps.  She also studied how they socialized with each other, what they ate, and how they communicated with other gorillas.

She fought very hard against poachers who were killing these animals for fun.

She also was opposed to tourism in the rainforest because she believed the gorillas could get sick from human germs as well as just upsetting the gorillas' natural habitat.

STUDENTS: Dian Fossey's life added so much to the scientific world.  Explain what her discoveries were and how they affect our world today.

You may click here to take you to Google Drive to access your Google Doc to begin composing your essay.

Remember your essay outline:

paragraph 1 - introduce Dian Fossey

paragraph 2 - What were her discoveries?

paragraph 3 - How do her discoveries affect our world today?

paragraph 4 - conclusion

Under the Scope with Plants

In science, Mrs. Jill has been talking about life cycles -

of plants and animals.

The kids have done some great projects to go along with these study.

It has been a tradition for my mom, who is a college biology professor,

to come with one of her colleagues to talk to the kids about plants.

Not only do they talk about plants, they bring microscopes, slides and

lots of hands-on activities for the kids to participate in during the visit.

It is always a favorite day!

       

      

Thank you, Mrs. Dwina and Dr. Fader, for coming to share with us!

STUDENTS: What did you see in the microscopes?  

What do you remember about the visit?

Animals of the Amazon Assembly

One of our favorite assemblies of the year is when Mr. Bob comes with his

animals from all over the world.

I loved our set up this year because I think the kids were able to get closer to the animals.

Our kids were ready for the action!

The first animals from the Amazon lives in this terrarium Mr. Bob is holding.

Inside the terrarium were poison arrow frogs.

These would kill anyone who touched them.

I don't think you can actually see them - even with my super zoom lens!

Mr. Bob always talks to the kids about great science vocabulary words.

He had a great conversation about warm and cold-blooded animals before he brought out

the next animal.

It was a green iguana that has a third eye and is a herbivore.

He also explained what exotic was.

Mrs. Murphy was getting a little too close the iguana for her liking.

Mr. Bob also talked about what the word "invasive" meant in regards to animals.

When this next animal was brought out, Mrs. Murphy and I took off to the

opposite side of the gym from him.

It is a red tailed boa constrictor.

This animal has no eyelids or ears.

Mrs. Kim and Ms. Melodie actually got close enough to touch it.

I had to use my SUPER lens to catch ALL of these shots!

Even Ms. Lisa got closer than I did!

The next animals was the green Amazon Parrot.

This animal put on a show!

It talked, laughed, tried to fly, and carried on for the rest of the show!

Mrs. Becky's favorite was this little guy -

a white nosed coatimundi.

This animal is part of the raccoon family and is an omnivore.

It is just a baby and was just precious!

Mrs. Kim enjoyed feeding it.

The parrot was NOT happy that everyone was paying the coatimundi attention

instead of him.

This was literally the look we got!

This little guy was busy, busy, busy.

It was hard to get good pics of him!

I finally put my camera down when this little one paid me a visit.

It was just adorable and I was ready to take him home with me!

Thanks for the pic, Mrs. Shelby!

STUDENTS:  What do you remember from the assembly?  Which animal was your favorite?  Why?

Mr. Bob's Physics of Flight Show

Each year we LOVE Mr. Bob coming to our school.

He has the BEST animals to show us - even if there is a snake at times!

This year was NO exception (and it was even better because there was no snake!).

Here are some of the animals he brought to show us.

Flying or house gecko

Straw-colored fruit bat

Yellow-naped green African parrot

Harris hawk

Eurasian Eagle owl

My kids had a lot to say about the assembly here.

We are ready for Mr. Bob to come back!