Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Rainforest Riddles


We have been learning about the rainforest as a habitat for animals. We have learned that animals have physical and behavioral adaptations to help them adapt to their environment. Many populations for the community that live in a rainforest. If you leave off the titles you have riddles to tell your friends!

Howler Monkey
by Silas Brown

I have a hollow bone in my neck,
I use the sound in case of danger,
I use strong arms to hold myself up.
Who am I?

Toucan
by Robert Parker

I have a long colorful beak,
I have black feathers,
I use my beak like tweezers.
Who am I?
The Toucan
by Arianna Harbert
I am colorful,
I eat berries,
My jagged beak helps me pick berries.
Who am I?
The Gorilla
by Sam Tarasovic

I have black fur,
I am too big to live in trees,
I hit my chest for protection,
Who am I?

The Jaguar
by Erykah Price

I can swim very well,
I have very sharp teeth,
My fur is fuzzy, yellow and black,
Who am I?

The Jaguar
by Cece Dauer

I am spotted for camouflage,
I have a long tail for speed and balance,
Birds and other animals are my prey,
Who am I?
The Jaguar
by Christian Sherod
I have black and gold fur,
My fur blends with the understory,
I stay still for a long time...
CHOMP! I surprise my prey.
Who am I?
The Jaguar
by Josie Martin
My fur is my camouflage,
My legs help me swim,
I leap from branch to branch,
Who am I?
The Jaguar
by Ravenel Davis
I climb up trees,
I have spots all over,
I have fur that comouflages,
Who am I?
The Iguana
by Autumn Baumgart
I am a reptile,
My skin is scaly,
I am camouflaged,
Who am I?
The Sloth
by Eva Gravely
I have razor-sharp claws,
I have a white snow blanket on my body,
I am very slow...
Who am I?

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Free Verse in the Forest

The Fox
by Silas

Pat, pat; pat, pat;
Yellow Eyes
Running, Shhh!
Snout
Leaping, Woosh
Long legs
Jumping...
Fox







The Bear
by Josie

Slip, slap, zzzzzzz
roar, slap, zzzzzz.
claws, snout, ears,
crawling, pouncing, running, roaring...
Bear.

The Bear
by Li'l Monte

Hibernating, hunting
Black and brown and furry,
Chasing fish,
Black claws, Sharp nails...
Bear.

The Bear
by Robert

Teeth, paws, fur,
growl, rub, scrape, bite...
Bear.


The Robin
by
Arianna

Singing, twittering, flying, laying eggs,
sleeping, looking for food,
sharp feet...
Robin.

The Woodpecker
by Christian

Tap, flutter, swoosh,
tweet, gulp, beak, wings,
long legs, small eyes,
pecking, boaring, flying, gliding...
Woodpecker.


The Owl
by Ravenel Davis

Talons, feathers, yellow eyes,
Hunting, hooting, reaching, screaching...
Owls.

The Rabbit
by Eva

Scurrying, twittering,
leaping, running, bouncing,
shy...
Rabbit.

The Falcon
by
John

Swoosh,
beak, wings, talons,
cutting, clawing,
hunting, swooping...
Predator...
Falcon.

The Raccoon
by Lenny

Black mask,
striped tail,
sharp ears,
rummaging, searching,
nocturnal...
raccoon.

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Arctic Analogies


Today we read Animalogies: a Collection of Animal Analogies. A group has also been working on Who Lives Here? Polar Animals. We combined both books by writing analogies about Polar Animals.



Antler is to caribou as tusk is to Walrus

Whale is to fish as polar bear is to seal.

Fur is to artic fox as waterproof feather is to penguin.

Blubber is to beluga as shaggy fur is to the musk ox.

Fur is to polar bear as feather is to snowy owl.

Hoof is to musk ox as talon is to snowy owl.

Tundra is to caribou as beluga is to Ocean.

Beak is to snowy owl and tusk is to Walrus.

Chick is to penguin and calf is to walrus.

Wing is to penguin and flipper is to walrus.

Friday, December 5, 2008

Poetry in Science

There are patterns in nature and patterns in poetry. How do patterns help animals adapt? Watch this movie to find out.


We've been reading science with our ears tuned to poetry. On Friday morning, a group of children went through nonfiction books and searched for poetic writing. We recorded what we found on post its. When you mix up ten lines of poetry that come from different places it is called a cento. Here is our Science Cento.

Wood boring beetles burrow under the bark..

Many fatten themselves

They don't see the harvest mice scampering under the branches...

The summer moon rises over the hill. A lone coyote howls.

Branches break, limbs splinter, leaves scatter.

A shadow passes over the frog.

A little brown bat dips and dives to snatch moths and mosquitos.

Slowly, a lush green blanket of moss carpets the rotting log

Fruits and nuts abound

Small ants trailing over the ground, bulldozing dry earth into cave and mound.

All About Wetlands


by Keyvonna, Thomas, Mahmoud, and Kevin

Marshes, swamps, bogs, and ponds are all wetlands. Wetlands are places that are covered with shallow water that is not too deep. Special tall grasses and cattails grow in wetlands because they like wet muddy soil and water. They are important to the animals that live there. These special plants provide food and shelter.

Animals that live in wetlands have physical adaptations that help them survive. Ducks have wide webbed feet that help them swim and waterproof feathers that help them stay warm and dry.

Beavers have wide flat tails to help them steer as they swim. They also very large strong teeth to cut down thick grasses for food and trees for building.

Frogs have strong, strong legs for swimming. The marsh is a perfect environment for the frog, because he can find insects, worms, and even snakes to eat.

A wetland is a habitat for many plants and animals. The next time you are near a pond, walk carefully. You are may be in a community that is home to many populations.