Another Dolphin Learning Snapshot!
The Measuring Continues
Pancake Perfection
As we continue to explore the concept of measurement, we thought a great way to show the importance of measuring accurately would be by whipping something up as a baker. As Pancake Day happened to fall on the same week, we settled on working together to create our own pancake mix from scratch. We put our measuring skills to the test, carefully using teaspoons, tablespoons, and measuring cups to create delicious pancakes. We listened carefully to the recipe and followed each step, taking turns and helping our friends when needed. We talked about what might happen if we added way too much flour or salt, or way too little sugar and how important to the taste the balance of ingredients was. Some of us enjoyed our yummy creations right in the classroom, while others took them home to share. It was so much fun to see how our hard work turned into such a tasty treat!
Water Volume Adventures
Alongside our cookery experiment, we explored the concept of volume this week with a fun computer game. We worked together as a class to fill a tube using small, medium, and large jugs, trying to reach the top without overflowing. We talked about which size we should use to fill the tube up quickly, which size we should use as we neared the top of the tube, and discussed our assessment of how much space was left.
Our next step was to take our learning to the real world! Using real jugs and water, we had to again choose which size jug to pour without letting the water overflow. We made predictions as we went, about what would happen if we poured each sized jug into the large container. There were lots of giggles when the water overflowed, and cheers of excitement when we got it just right! We learned about how different jugs hold different amounts of water. We wanted to try this experiment over and over, but had to eventually tidy up for Community Play. We talked about how we could try this during our next bath time using containers we have around the house!
Dinosaur-Sized Measuring Fun
We found that both the AM and PM classes had a big interest in dinosaurs and so we decided to include them in our measurement work. During circle time, we put our measuring skills to work in a prehistoric way. Before going through the slides, we talked about how dinosaurs are extinct and that we cannot go out and visit real ones. What we can do, is look at the bones that scientists have carefully dug up. Some of us volunteered the information that they had been to museums before and seen huge skeletons that had been put together like puzzle pieces.
Our first dinosaur was a velociraptor. We observed that although a velociraptor would have been shorter than an adult human, if you looked at it from nose to tail it would have been much longer. Using a retractable tape measure, we measured out 2 metres and marked it using white tape. To start, one volunteer came up to stand at the beginning of the line. We saw that a human child would have been a lot narrower than a velociraptor. We shouted out our predictions as to how many children could fit on the line, before putting it to the test, adding more and more children til there was no more space on the line.
Next we looked at a brontosaurus. According to our research, a brontosaurus could reach a length of 25m (or two and a half double decker buses). We tried to use the tape measure to see how long that was, but found that it only reached 5 metres. We were amazed to think about how much longer a brontosaurus would be than us and decided that they definitely wouldn't be able to fit into our classroom!
Our final dinosaur was a triceratops. This time, we focused on how big it's footprint would have been. Using a cut out 'muddy' footprint, we saw how much bigger just one foot would have been bigger than both our feet. We again made predictions as to how many children could fit into one footprint before filling it up with a bunch of volunteers.
Following on from this activity, we set up a small world dinosaur land in our sensory tray. Here, we've been measuring a variety of dinos using rulers and paper measuring tapes, as well as non-standard units with the use of the small building blocks.
Mini Incursions
Smiling Bright with Oral Health
Musical Fun with Ms Ashley
Google Photo Albums
AM Dolphins: How The World Works
PM Dolphins: How The World Works
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