Fall Happenings in Science

Submitted by Julie Pugkhem, Preschool 3 – 1st Grade Science Teacher

In science, we talk about the many special gifts that nature gives us. We explore Dwight-Englewood’s outdoor spaces and look for items such as acorns, leaves, small rocks, and sticks, which we consider to be treasures. Often, these small items find their way home in coat or pants pockets and backpacks. These items are significant to children because they are a testament to the connection they have made—not only with the item itself but also with the natural world that surrounds them. Building on this connection, the children have been deepening their scientific knowledge in exciting ways. Here area few topics that we have been studying in science these last few months.

Young children are constantly using their senses to take in their environment. They share with us what they see, hear, and smell. They learn about biology and physics through active engagement with their surroundings. Recently, while studying the fall season, the preschoolers learned about the purpose of an acorn (to grow a new oak tree), collected acorns in a basket, and then experimented with rolling acorns down a hill. The children predicted what would happen to their acorn before releasing it onto the ground. They delighted in observing their acorn bounce and roll down the hill! In the upcoming weeks, the preschool children will focus on each of our five senses, one sense at a time.

Building on their understanding of the senses, kindergarten students have been delving into the body’s systems and how they help us function. Beginning with the cardiovascular system, the children actively explored how their bodies work and reflected on how to keep their bodies healthy. They practiced feeling for their pulse, comparing their resting heart rate with the rate after physical activity. They then studied the skeletal system and learned why we have so many bones. The kindergarteners discovered how their digestive system works and experimented with how food is broken down in their stomachs. They even measured the length of their small intestines using foot-long strips of construction paper—nearly 22 feet long! Next, they will explore the lungs and their role in the respiratory system and learn about the importance of the brain when studying the nervous system.

In first grade, students built upon their previous lessons about animals and their habitats by studying adaptations. They eagerly connected their new knowledge with what they had already learned, deepening their understanding of how physical and behavioral adaptations help species survive. Earlier in the year, the children observed the transformation of Monarch butterflies, witnessing firsthand how an adaptation, such as the butterfly’s bright orange and black wings, protects them from predators. The colors serve as a warning, signaling that the butterflies are toxic due to the milkweed they consume as caterpillars. The first graders also explored how blubber helps cold-weather animals, like whales, seals, and walruses, survive in freezing environments. They conducted an experiment where they submerged both a “blubber” glove (a bag of vegetable shortening) and a bare hand into ice water. The children were amazed to find that the blubber-covered hand stayed significantly warmer than the bare one.

We look forward to all the excitement that the upcoming winter months will bring!