Nature Study Class
Quarks Ages 4 – 9
Unit Study on Water
Source Book for Lessons
Week 4:
*Valentine’s day week – Feb 15
First we gathered in the big room at a table and read page 12 from “One Well, story of water on Earth” citizen kid book. The children all offered ideas about how animals are part of the water cycle, including the crowd favorite example of “dinosaur pee” being a part of the water we use today. We discussed a few other key concepts such as food webs, food chains, and the importance of water habitats and ecosystems and then migrated outside for our activity of creating molded birdseed “valentines” for our feathered and forest friends.
(ideas presented in case your child was drawn to this lesson and would appreciate a review)
- “Water habitats are also home to many of Earth’s animals and are where many animals find their food.”
- “Watery species, such as fish, crabs, shrimp and zooplankton are an important part of food chains around the world.”
- “A food chain is the connection between animals based on who eats whom.”
- “All animals need water to drink, even desert animals. They get much of the water they need from the food they eat”
- “Animal life began in the ocean. Then, about 360 million years ago, some animals started to evolve. Their bodies began to change and they slowly adapted to living on land.”
- Animals are a part of the Water Cycle, including us!
We will continue our Unit study on water for the next few weeks.
Upcoming:
- Week 5: Feb 22: Introduce the concept of human impact on water + work on water conservation collage, imagery and phrases by making “Water Conservation Posters”
- Week 6: Feb 29: Introduce the concept of access to usable water + outdoor activity of carrying buckets of water across the field and experiencing its physical weight
- Week 7: March 7 : Introduce the concept of water filtration + attempt to make our own water filters! **Quarks children will need an empty and clean soda bottle for week 7 project