Focus on Learning

Prep KC & Prep W

As part of our Science Unit, students from Prep KC and Prep W have been busy investigating the needs of living things. Children have had fun searching for living things in the playground, creating animal shelters, growing beans and caring for our class pet ‘Sarah the Stick Insect’.

As part of our learning, students first had to understand the difference between living and non-living things. Together we defined that living things grow and change, have babies (reproduce), move on their own, need oxygen, and food and water. Next, students ventured out to the playground in search of living things.

Back in the classroom students were asked to consider the needs of a familiar animal. Students recorded the needs of their animal and then shared their information with their peers. We soon discovered that different animals had their own unique needs.

As part of our investigation we discussed the importance of shelter. Students identified that shelter protects us from weather conditions such as rain, sun and wind. Next, we watched the movie of The Three Little Pigs and learnt that shelter also protects animals from predators. Students were then asked to use craft materials to create an animal, and shelter for it to live.

Next, we discussed the needs of plants. We identified that plants need water, sunlight (to help make its food) and dirt. To help us understand why plants need sunlight, students in Prep KC participated in a guided science experiment. Together we put a leaf in a jar of water and placed it in the sun. After 2-3 hours, students observed small oxygen bubbles on the leaf. This led into a discussion about the process of photosynthesis.

Lastly students planted a ‘bean seed’. Students were required to care for their plant, as well as observe and record its growth. Some preps discovered that too much water can destroy the seed, whilst not enough water can cause the plant to die.

One of the highlights of our science unit was the discovery of a stick insect outside Prep. Lucy was very excited to share the discovery with her mum, who coincidently knows a lady who breeds stick insects! Mrs Elphinstone brought a baby stick insect into Prep, which we named Sarah. Prep W created a habitat for Sarah, which included eucalyptus leaves to eat, and water to drink. We will continue to observe Sarah’s growth and change throughout the year and hopefully in a year or two Sarah (who doesn’t need a partner to lay eggs) will lay her own eggs (over a 100!).