Just as well we were able to start our topic work about the Pacific Ocean as we have our trip to the Island Bay Marine Laboratory coming up next Friday.
In Room 6 we have been looking at things which float and things which sink as well as talking about what makes something alive. This was a very interesting discussion and the children had many misconceptions. One of the main ideas they had was that if something was able to move, it was alive. This made several of them think that clocks and robots are alive. Research confirms that these are normal ideas for children.
All living things are made of cells. DNA, or deoxyribonucleic acid, is a chemical found in cells. The precise makeup of something's DNA decides whether it will be a mushroom, cabbage, frog, lion, or some other form of life.
Living things have a metabolism. They get chemicals from some sort of food to their cells and turn them into energy. To do this, humans and other animals need oxygen. They get the oxygen through a process called respiration.
Living things eliminate waste. Mammals do this by exhaling, sweating, and going to the bathroom.
Living things grow. Living things also reproduce. They produce other organisms of the same kind.
Living things also respond to their environment. If you are cold, you put on a sweater. Move a plant away from the window, and it will grow toward the light.
All living things do these processes. Yet, there is still lots of variety among the living things on Earth
Lots of thoughtful discussions have been happening in the classroom. It would be great to talk to your children at home about this.
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