Save the Snakes
5/19/2018
For the past few weeks, we've embarked on an inquiry that culminated in shading a snake (made from UV sensitive beads) from the sun. We started out by studying the sun's energy, how the solar system revolves around the sun, and how all life depends on the sun. Almost all living things rely on the light and heat from the sun. (This also provided an opportunity to review how plants use the sun's energy to make food using chlorophyll.) We headed off to the planetarium to learn more about this and to get a closer look at the sun. Next, we investigated what happens when objects are in the sun verses the shade. Then, students were tasked with making a beaded snake and protecting it from the sun. We discussed how to make shade and brainstormed different ways to do so. Students were very excited about and invested in making their beaded snakes and then providing shelter for them. And, of course, we had a nice review discussion about cold-blooded and warm-blooded animals. When they were complete, some shelters simply blocked out the sun, while other shelters also provided a habitat for the snake. Each shelter was as unique as the child who made it. In my opinion, that's the beauty of open-ended projects! This was such a fun project to share with parents, and I know our students enjoyed your guidance and assistance in executing their plans. Thank you for being part of our inquiry. Finally, we put our shelters to the test. The weather was not cooperating, so we turned to a trusty, UV light. First, students held their snakes under the light so we could see what would happen to the snakes in the sun... pure delight when the beads changed color! Then, the snakes were placed in their shelters, under the UV lights, and the students waited anxiously to see if their snake "survived." While we waited, we discussed what would happen if any of the snakes did not survive. The verdict? It would provide an opportunity to problem solve and learn from our mistakes. Growth mindset is such a powerful tool for our students, and I love experiments where the outcome is unknown because it provides the perfect opportunity for students to see that we do learn from our "mistakes." When the experiment was over, we had one snake who had reacted to the sun. I was so glad we had at least one shelter that needed adjustments because it led to lots of learning. The umbrella shelter had been made out of a single coffee filter. We had another shelter that was also made out of coffee filters, but that snake did survive. How could that be? We discussed how a coffee filter only blocks some of the light, but also allows some of the light to pass through. However, when several coffee filters were layered, as they were in the second shelter, they blocked enough of the light to protect the snake. If more layers were added to the umbrella, it would also block out the sun. As this inquiry progressed, I could not help but notice how natural the inquiry process had become for our students. What a wonderful, engaging, and powerful way to teach our students.
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Saania AliMs. Ali graduated from the University of Houston with a Bachelors of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies. She specializes in Early Childhood Education, ESL, and Special Education. Her hobbies include traveling, reading, and painting! Archives
April 2021
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