The ocean covers almost 3/4 of the earth, we can expect it to be full of life.

A big word has been being used in the classroom this week: INVERTEBRATE

Morah Katie: Are we invertebrates?

Levi: No

Morah Katie: Are you sure, how do you know?

Ben: We have backbones.

Morah Katie: Do we all have backbones? Lean down and touch your toes, reach back and touch your back, what is that thing you feel?

Dena: Our backbone!

Morah Katie: So we are vertebrates. An animal without a backbone is an INvertebrate.

So let me ask you, if I did not have a backbone, what would I be?

Kian: Not a vertebrate

Levi: An invertebrate.

This week we are learning about a few of the many ocean invertebrates.

Morah Katie: Please tell me something interesting about sea stars.

Ben: They move very slowly.

We ran/crawled the slowest sea star race.

Unlike most races, the SLOWEST sea star to reach the finish line won.

Morah Katie: What else can you tell me about sea stars?

Levi: They can regrow their arms.

Morah Katie: How do sea stars see?

Noah: Eyes on their ARMS!

Morah Katie: Where?

Ben: At the end of their arms.

Morah Katie: Do they see us like we see them?

Levi: Only light and dark.

Morah Katie: Do we see light and dark?

Noah: We see it ALL.

Morah Katie: Would you invite a sea star to dinner?

Dena: NO!

Morah Katie: Why not?

Dena: They spit out their stomach.

Ben: Then eat up what they want.

Shalom: And then they tug it back in.

Kian: That would be gross.

We learned that although they look like plants, sea anemones are animals.

We also now know that sea anemones can split themselves in 2!

Or just create a "budding" and grow mini ones of themselves!

Sea anemones appear stationary, but in fact they move!

They move slower than sea stars, but some can fill them selves with gases and float away.

Please ask your child to demonstrate sea anemone swimming.

Sea anemones are predatory invertebrates who use their stinging poisonous tentacles to catch fish.

Morah Katie: If you were a sea anemone, what would you eat?

Tori: Fish

Morah Katie: How would your get your fish?

Levi: Using the tentacles.

Morah Katie: But what do the tentacles do?

Kian: Grab them and bring it to their mouth.

Morah Katie: If you were a fish would you swim near one?

Tori: NO, I would swim away.

And in addition to all our time in the sea, we also spent time in our new Market!

Trading and sharing fruits and vegetables,

So much fun!

A short week, filled with playing and learning.

Enjoying the snow before the rain washed it away!

10 sets of hand prints = 100 fingers

Filling our classroom with rainbows this week helped us learn about the letter R.

Creating and reading words.

Playing with magnets.

Looking through a periscope on our submarine.

Playing hide and seek.

It's not just soccer, it's moving goal soccer!

We will be oceanographers for the next few weeks.

Morah Katie: Look at the picture of the earth, what is all that blue?

Dena: The water.

Levi: The oceans.

Morah Katie: Is there more blue or green on the earth?

Tori: Blue

Morah Katie: Water covers about 70% of earth!

If we cut earth into four pie slices, 3 would be blue and 1 would green!

Kian: It's a lot of blue.

As oceanographers, we are also marine botanists.

We know that seaweeds and algae provide food and nutrients for all types of ocean life.

Morah Katie: Does the seaweed plant look like anything familiar?

Levi: A plant.

Morah Katie: Yes, it is a plant. Where would you find seaweed?

Dena: In the ocean!

Morah Katie: The seaweed looks like a land plant, they are similar.

Instead of roots, it has a hold fast, and it's stem is called a stipe.

Seaweed has something special - a float! What do you think it does?

Levi: It holds the leaves.

Morah Katie: The leaves, or blades, are attached to the float.

When you float in water, are you at the bottom of the pool or tub, or the top?

Kian: The top.

Morah Katie: What do you think the float does for the seaweed plant?

Levi: Keep it floating.

Morah Katie: Yes, the float keeps the blades of the seaweed near the surface of the ocean, why do the blades need to be near the surface?

Morah Katie: What do plants need to grow?

Tori: Water

Dena: Sun

Morah Katie: Yes, why do the blades need to be near the surface of the water?

Levi: To get the sunlight.

Oy Baby!

A morning of music and fun!