Caterpillar Update

Caterpillars have arrived in Room 222!

This week the children started writing their observations in new science journals. They learned the types of information that scientists look for (for example, colour, size) and each day they measured and recorded the length of his/her caterpillar and looked at what was the same and what was different from the previous day.

Science is all about questions! The children recorded some of their questions in their journals and some on a poster. These questions will help guide our research. So far we've learned:

1. Caterpillars eat but do not drink.
2. The small, short light brown cylinders in the cups are called "frass" (caterpillar poop)
3. The black spiky spheres are old skin. The caterpillar gets too big for its skin and wiggles out of its old skin.
4. Caterpillars are insects. They have six thin legs (three pairs of legs) near the head and many fatter "prolegs" to help them walk and keep their long bodies off the ground.

The students learned the difference between a drawing (art) and a diagram (information). Scientists use diagrams to give information. The children are encouraged to use magnifying glasses to make and label diagrams in their science journals.