This past week we continued to observe our class pets (Freddie, Mr. Chewy, BillyBob, & Mrs. Stadt III) in their habitat. At the beginning of the week, all the caterpillars made their way up to the top of the small container, shed their skin for the last time, and settled into their chrysalides. We could hardly believe our eyes as we watched it happen!!!
In addition to observing the life cycle of our pet insects this week, we also spent time studying other animals life cycles: mammals, reptiles, amphibians, birds, and fish. We noticed how many of the animals followed the pattern of: egg, young, and adult before starting over again. Only mammals were not born from an egg!!!
Later in the week, we focused on the similarities and differences between an adult animal and a baby animal. We looked at how they changed from a young animal to an adult. All the young and adult animals that we studied had the same body parts, but we noticed that some young animals (chicks, ducklings, penguins) are born with different body coverings (fur) than their parents (feathers).
At the zoo, we learned that some adult animals lay their eggs and then leave their offspring to fend for themselves. Other animals protect their young and teach them to find food.
Mrs. Stadt :)