Science Investigation!

Over the past few weeks, the Caterpillars have become so immersed in imaginary play! I’ve seen them pretending to be Pokemon, teachers, ninjas and princesses! One day, we decided to dress up as scientists to investigate the great outdoors! Each kinder was given a test tube and tweezers to collect samples from the earth. I also gave them the option of using a clipboard outside to document their research. Some of our Caterpillars wanted to act as independent scientists, while others formed a team! Once all of our scientists were ready, we went outside to explore the school yard!   

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 Each scientist had a different approach in conducting their research. Some of them immediately started collecting samples, while others focused on making detailed checklists!  
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 “I made a clipboard! Googles, check! Clipboard, check!”
“This is a circle, this is a stick and this is a rock”
“I found a stick so I x’ed it out!”
“Look at all the things we discovered! We still have a lot to find.”

“I found a stick so I x’ed it out!”

“Look at all the things we discovered! We still have a lot to find.”

“I made a clipboard! Googles, check! Clipboard, check!”

As we continued to explore, it was so interesting to see the items that each scientist decided to collect! When describing their unique finds, they used very descriptive language!

"I found a purple rock and put it in here!”
“Those are the most delicate, most breakable rocks in our whole life”
“I found a fluff!” 

“Those are the most delicate, most breakable rocks in our whole life”

“I found a fluff!"

"I found a purple rock and put it in here!"

 When we arrived at the far forest, we stumbled upon a HUGE​, broken branch! Many scientists hypothesized what happened to this branch and how it got there....

​“A beaver chomped down this tree!”
“A wood pecker chomped down the tree! I see another!”
 “Someone came by and used an axe because they didn’t like the tree”
“Maybe a wolf ate it!”

 After this busy morning, our scientists starting getting pretty hungry, so we decided to save our samples and continue this investigation later. The next week, we brought out our earth samples and I gave each scientist a pipette and a magnify glass! I also gave them the option to add new elements like water, coloured water, baking soda and vinegar to their materials. There was a lot of shaking, mixing, observing and investigating involved in this process! 

During both of these experiences, I saw SO MUCH teamwork and communication among the scientists! I wonder what our scientists will investigate in June! 

- Vita