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Ladybugs Week One & Amazing Video!

Yesterday I explained how our ladybugs gave us a surprise by arriving two weeks early to our classroom. Since we know we cannot put a ladybug’s life cycle on hold, we started our scientific work as soon as they arrived.  After my students put on their imaginary lab coats and took out their “magic” magnifying glasses, it was time to become very observant scientists.  

First, we discussed the four big stages in the ladybug life cycle:  egg, larva, pupa, ladybug.
We looked at pictures of each stage and matched our ladybugs with the stage they were currently in.  We figured out our ladybugs arrived in the larvae stage. Ladybug larvae look like tiny alligators when they hatch from their eggs. Look really closely.  Do you see the black “dots” that are stuck to the paper strips?  We observed and found out that our larvae had already molted before they reached our room.  They will continue to eat, grow, and molt many times before going into the pupa stage.

We reviewed descriptive writing and details before we completed our first Ladybug Observation Sheet.  We will complete these observation sheets several times over the next three weeks to keep track of the progress our ladybugs are making.  We will also use these observations to compare and contrast, summarize the life cycle of a ladybug, and practice nonfiction text features such as labels and close-ups.
I’ll be keeping you posted on our ladybug journey over the next few weeks. 
I had to change Wednesday’s Pinterest Pick of the Week to a video I ran across last night that I think is AMAZING! 
If you follow my blog, you know I am in love with Whole Brain Teaching.  (If you don’t know what Whole Brain Teaching is – RUN to Google, look it up, and start watching and reading everything you can on it.  It will change the way you teach and manage your classroom!)  
Take a look at this first grader who is leading her class in a whole-brain teaching lesson on the parts of the brain!  (And, I must applaud this little girl’s teacher for the amazing job she clearly does with Whole Brain teaching and learning!)  
*This video is over 10 minutes long – you will not want to watch the whole video but take 2-3 minutes to check out this amazing kid and class!* You will be inspired. 🙂
Happy Learning,

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