Polar Animals Chatterpix

We finished our polar animal research, and the students completed our culminating activity by creating a Chatterpixs slide show.  Enjoy all the interesting facts the students learned.

We Love when the Penguin Lady Comes for a Visit!

Essential Question: What kind of adaptations do penguins have which help them to live in their various habitats? 
Well...the Penguin Lady helped us to answer this question...

Dyan deNapoli (AKA The Penguin Lady) worked closely with penguins at Boston's prestigious New England Aquarium and in the wild for nine years!  The second graders of Steward School have been so fortunate to have TESPTO fund The Penguin Lady once again this year.
Here is the Penguin Lady's home page:   http://thepenguinlady.com/new_site/biography.html

Dyan provides an interactive and exciting game show format as she teaches children about penguins, while allowing the boys and girls to share their knowledge as well.  

Dyan Projects the game show questions on the Smart Board, and the children have to figure out which is the answer!

Question:  What kind of a bird is a penguin?

Here is a video link created by Dyan about the precarious existence of penguins.  

Penguins: Popularity, peril and poop - Dyan deNapoli

Animal Adaptations with Mr. Prazar.

Thank You Mr.  Prazar!

On Thursday, February 12th, Mr.  Prazar conducted a presentation with each second grade class about 'Animal Adaptations'.  This presentation was a wonderful addition to what the children are learning in class-polar animal adaptations.  The students are learning how animals need certain adaptations to help them survive in their habitat.  

Mr.  Prazar explains to the students how animal's teeth are an adaptation.  The children observed different animal skulls, and from the animals teeth, the students were able to discern if the animal was an herbivore, carnivore, or omnivore!


Mr.  Prazar in Action!

http://safeshare.tv/w/ZXlOMDFkxY

Trying to guess what this animal may eat!

Mr.  Prazar explains how animals (and people) have two different kinds
of adaptations-physical and environmental.

Mr.  Prazar also explains how the location of the eye sockets on a skull can
tell us if this animal hunts prey!

Studying a skull up close!  Hmm, is this an omnivore,
herbivore, or carnivore?

What kind of animal do
you think this is?

  

A CAPTIVE AUDIENCE!

Insects, Insects, Insects!

Our Insect Field Trip

Our Field Trip to the Ipswich Wildlife Sanctuary was a wonderful learning experience!  

Hunting for Insects!

"Look what I found!"

"Where should we look now!"

"Wow, very cool!"

Rita, our field scientist, helped us to identify the insects we caught! 

"I caught a cricket!"

Creating a drawing of our own insect-six legs, three body parts, two eyes, two antennae.

Why do We Study the Stages of the Butterfly Life Cycle?

Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks:  

Strand:Life Science (preK-8)
		Topic:Characteristics of Living Things Strand:Life Science (preK-8) Recognize that plants and animals have life cycles, and that life cycles vary for different living things. 2006 Science and Technology/Engineering
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Audubon Insect Field Trip

On October 10th, the second graders enjoyed a walking field trip to the Audubon behind Steward School.