ES: Bio Grammar

As you have read on our other ES pages, we are mixing up our science studies this year.  We aren't dedicating one year per Biology, or Earth Science, or Chemistry, etc.  I have let my children decide which units of ES they would like to learn this year.  On this page, you will see how we document experiments, reading, and drawings from Elemental Science Biology for Grammar Stage.  Thumper will also dabble in Earth Science grammar so head over there towards the end of the year!

**We've added a few extra books to use with our Habitat studies and Animals studies.

Also, we will not be doing most of the "demonstration" labs.  So far we have discussed them and don't feel the need to go any further.  We do choose some of the optional readings or find videos online, such as Discovery Education.  For every reading assignment, I have Thumper read aloud to me, jot down 1-3 sentences of what he learned, and then usually his colors the picture next to his narration.  Sometimes we buddy read because it can be a lot.**

Animals Unit 

Week 1 - 2

Habitats and Animal Behavior

Thumper decided he didn't want to make a habitat diorama. (Frankly, he is a bit tired of it.  He has made plenty in the past.) Instead, we are keeping track of our animals in this unit with the habitat posters given in the teacher's book of Grammar Stage Biology.  We are also going to be making great use of our Planet Earth dvd's!  For Week 2, Thumper dressed in all Camouflage for the whole day instead of doing the Demonstration.  

 Week 3 - 10

Mammals

Thumper and Dad demonstrated to me how Cat's Eyes work in Week 3 Mammals.

I can't list the lab itself but the purpose is to see why & how cat's eyes glow at night.

 So far we have been busy, busy reading about mammals and placing our animals on the habitat posters.
In Week 8, we studied the topic of Warm-Blooded and completed the Demonstration.  We demonstrated how animals can lose body heat quicker in water.

recording temp before experiment

This one goes in the freezer

This one goes in the ice water bowl.

Great practice of how to write out a lab sheet!

Week 11 - 14

Birds!

For Week 11, studying birds for the next 4 weeks, we are not going to make a bird feeder.  It is real simple to do and would probably be enjoyable, but we have free range chickens and do not want to draw wild birds to our yard.  Before we had chickens, every winter we put out bird seed and loved watching and keeping track of what birds visited our yard.  We have a great amount of bird guides, books, and documentaries!  We intend to make use of those this month!  If you haven't seen David Attenborough's Bird Documentary, it's a must!  Thumper watched it last year and intends to watch it again this month!

Week 15 - 16

Reptiles and Amphibians

Saving for spring!

Week 17

Fish Lesson Plans

Saving for spring!

Week 18-20

Invertebrates

Saving for spring!

Beginning in February, for the next 10 weeks, we are going to study the Human Body with Bambi & Flower! 

Human Body Unit 

Week 1

Basic Building Blocks

We will eventually add more to this page..... Blogging & Documenting has been a struggle for me these last two years.