![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() With their teachers’ guidance and a video as reference, students used disposable scalpels to open the body of the squid and plastic forceps to explore its internal anatomy and identify parts such as its gills, branchial hearts, ink sac and beak.įor many of them, it was their first experience with a squid - from seeing one in person to handling it. The dissection activity also helps students better understand the focus question for the lesson: How and why do scientists explore sea creatures?įor their dissection, students manned aprons and gloves while they handled the preserved squids. “It makes it so much more meaningful to them than just reading it in a book.” “We wanted students to be able to understand the parts of the squid that we have been reading about - from being able to actually experience cutting the mantle apart, opening up the tentacles to find the beak,” Patton said. Students examined literature, informational texts and art to understand how scientists use technology to discover new species and how poets and writers explore the sea through words and images. “Many of our students have never been to an aquarium to see a squid, so it was important to us to provide the experience for them,” Patton said.Īs part of the Wit and Wisdom language arts curriculum, third-grade classrooms across the district kicked off the school year studying why people explore the sea. On Monday, they capped off the lesson with a hands-on opportunity that brought what they read to life. It features informational text, photos and drawings about the search for the giant squid and recent discoveries. Giant Squid is the last book in the unit and several district elementaries included the dissection activity this year to increase student engagement and provide background knowledge.įor two days, Patton, along with fellow third-grade teachers Justice Crank, Beth O’Reilly, Rachel Shoemaker and Missy Callow, explored the Giant Squid book by Mary M. “When do we get to dissect the giant squid?” Under the words “We Are Reading” is a picture of the book “Giant Squid: Searching for a Sea Monster.”īefore Patton could dive into the nonfiction chapter book, several students had a pressing question: One glance at the language arts wall in Jami Patton’s third-grade class at Wilder Elementary and the students knew the next text they’d be covering in their language arts lesson. Assessment & Alternative Education Services.Office of the Treasurer / Fiscal Services.Policy Adoption Schedule & Update Information.Preschool Program at the Early Learning Center. ![]()
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