When Animal class began again in January of this year, we started with a book called The Butterfly and the Lamb. As is often the case, while the book seems very simple it is addressing an important issue: the difference between animals who need to be nutured for some portion of their lifespan and those who are born innately knowing how to survive independently. This book and the one that followed Bear was a great opportunity to talk about about what humans need in the way of nurture and what do we need to learn and when are we old enough to be independent. We met a baby lamb asking a butterfly “where is your mother, where do you live?” And “My mother will take care of you.” The butterfly’s reply “I don’t need anyone to take care of me” raises contrasts and questions. Ava was initially thinking that maybe the butterfly wanted to be in control of itself, however, she was also beginning to think about comparing butterflies laying eggs and sheep which are mammals have live babies. Althea knew the mother butterfly laid eggs on leaves and said butterflies already know what to do. She also recognized that lambs need milk for food. Humans need milk and to learn how to think. Later she added we have to learn how not to burn ourselves, “I burnt my hand. As the discussion went on children added that we start in our momma’s bellies and we have to learn how to open doors and almost everything. Someone reminded us that baby birds need parents to bring food. After reading Bear , who we meet just as his mother has left him to his own devices, we had a chance to discuss when do humans become old enough to be on their own…with suggestions of a ranges between 16-21 for some who were aware of our legal divisions and others who thought between 30 and 40. Amaar reminded us that the leatherback turtles are not insects but they also know from birth to follow the light and go into the water.
Our next readings and talks led us into comparing plants and animals and, particularly trees and animals. Anna Chernobai found the perfect book with the most up-to-date research on trees called The Magic and Mystery of Trees. While there was some doubt about why we would read about trees who don’t do anything, most of the children were quite vociferous about trees and us “sharing our breaths”. It was one of those moments where we could really see that children were developing an awareness of the interdependence of all living things.
| PLANTS | PLANTS AND ANIMALS | ANIMALS |
| Oliver- Plants are attached to the ground | Ava – both living | Oliver and Jack- they can move from place to place |
| Isaac-they don’t have arms | Ava and Isaac-the both grow and die | Have to find their food |
| Oliver and Ava – use photosynthesis to make their own food | Both have babies | Can eat meat |
| Isaac and Ava – don’t eat meat | Both breathe | lay eggs, born alive |
| Make babies by seeds | Breathe oxygen | |
| Oliver – breathe carbon dioxide |
When we read our “tree” book we added many other dimensions of similarities some of the children were able as we talked to grasp these new dimensions and others, probably not.
| TREES | PEOPLE AND ANIMALS |
| May make flowers to attract birds and bees | Birds may use color to attract.Bald Eagles organize their nests. |
| Help their neighbors and children and grandparents | People help their families and neighbors also |
| Protect themselves with their bark, by making their leaves taste bitter | People can use armour and shields.People can use sunscreen.Bones help us be strong.People build buildings .Use clothes.Helmets are like bark. |
| Trees communicate with roots and fungi | People use sound |
Next we read a book called Will we Miss Them: Endangered Species. For many weeks we read about 9 animals that are endangered. It is a complex problem and animals are endangered because humans are encroaching on their habitats, or because they have been over hunted. These reasons children can understand fairly easily. However, the concept of an animal being endangered because it only inhabits one small slice of our planet is much more difficult. But the discussions were always good. Some animals we read and covered quickly and others took several days.
The Muriqui monkey led to a lot of conversation. Althea had a question that helped revisit what we mean by live birth as opposed to being born from an egg in the process of talking about why they are endangered. Oliver noted they stayed in trees to be safe from Anacondas. Ava said people are ruining their landscape or habitat. Amaar added they are cutting down their trees. Ava’s question was “why do people like them and still build more buildings?” We spend a lot of time talking about their ability to “grasp” things with their hands and feet and tails. We compared paws with our hands that have thumbs.
When we read about crocodiles, the picture showed a momma croc holding a baby in its mouth. Alina wondered “How do crocs pick up babies in their mouth?” Children responded and included thinking about the different shapes of crocodile and alligator mouths. Althea wondered about “how long does a Galapagos turtle live?” That led to a revisit to the issue of lifespans. Amaar shared, in response to the answer that humans’ life span is 70-80 years but their lifespans will be longer than my generation, that Ancient Egypt 40 years was OLD.
Our final book their year was a fortuitous find called What if You Had Animal Feet? This was a VERY popular book, that added lots of humor and imagination. It showed children with animal feet from kangaroos to houseflies. There was lots of acting out how their feet could help us adapt to the school or world. Amaar set the tone as we began to define the word “adaptation”…also a tricky concept. He said “adaptation doesn’t make superheroes. Cheetahs may run fast BUT not for long.” This statement helped all the rest of our conversation. Jaeleen thought there was a bird that was faster than a cheetah. Oliver and Amaar wondered if it was a Bald Eagle. Erika tried standing on her toes to explain the Grey Wolf’s adaptations of feet and the snout and mouth blending in with the snow. Althea liked thinking about fly feet could help you make shots with the basketball from the ceiling. Alina said that kangaroo feet would make it so we jump the length of the Ocean Rug. Isaac wanted an animal that had the legs of a cheetah and arms of a gorilla.
A number of children thought about poison as an adaptation..a poisonous snail with poisonous mucus, jellyfish, cobras (Alina) and plants like poison ivy or poison oak. The children realized that plants can’t run away and need to protect themselves, too. Oliver said poison dart frongs use bright colors to warn animals that they ARE poison. Isaac asked why do they want to warn anyone? Amaar thought “so predators don’t eat them.” Ava agreed with that. Amaar had a couple of good thoughts- “How do poison dart frogs get poison, do they eat it?” He also noted what a great adaptation some animals have – they look like the poisonous ones but they are not poisonous. Oliver said squirrel adaptations include sharp claws for climbing trees. Althea thought about porcupine spikes. Alina added tiger stripes, and sharp claws. Ava brought up lion’s claws but also their paws that help them sneaking. Jaeleen added whiskers are an adaptation for sensing things.
| WHAT ADAPTATION WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAVE | |
| Jack | Would like fur because he wants to be a lion |
| Vera | Wants long legs like a flamingo |
| Miles | Wants black and orange stripes like a tiger |
| Alina | Would like to jump in and out of water like a basilisk, but not need oxygen |
| Jaeleen | Would like stripes like a tiger they use for camouflage |
| Ava | Run fast like a cheetah |
| Erika | Wants a tail like a Muriqui |
| Amaar | Wants hands and arms of a Muriqui |
| Oliver | Reindeer |
| Althea | Peacock’s tremendous wings |
For some children the idea of adaptation of an animal and the animal itself are still indistinguishable. An idea that is still developing.
It has been a great year and children’s abilities to find, look at their choice of animal, notice its particularities, work in many different mediums, ask questions and continue to learn to classify them has been ongoing. Their animal books are absolutely stunning.