Ali Carrizal and Patti Sutphen's Kindergarten Classes - La Porte ISD, La Porte, Texas
Phase III
Phase III: Concluding the Project
As we draw near the end of our study on oceans, the students
have gained a vast amount of knowledge regarding oceans.
They have developed new terminology and are able to participate in
lengthy discussions regarding oceans.
They like acting like oceanographers and using their new vocabulary
of words relating to the ocean such as counter shading, baleen,
camouflage, migration, and echolocation.
We have invited members of the faculty, parents, students, and
other teachers to come and experience our excitement.
We have also received so many positive comments regarding our
displays in the hallways.
The children decided they would like to perform and sing for other children in the school. They sang a variety of ocean songs while acting and performing to the music. The students received applause in recognition of their outstanding performance!
We sent home a parent questionnaire and some of them had the
following comments to make:
- My child seemed to have a good level of interest in this subject. He enjoyed the field trip to Moody Gardens and told me all the things he had seen with great excitement. He also taught me a few things that I did not know about, that he had learned. I believe my child benefited from this project while having fun learning about it.
- My child really liked learning about oceans. She liked learning about the different animals, except for the shark. She said, “I didn’t like the sharks because they bite.”
- My child learned so much about whales; the different types of whales, where they live, what they eat and how each whale is different. I was impressed that she had learned that the whales had almost become extinct because of whale poachers.
- I was so happy that my child could tell me the difference between a mammal and non-mammal. He really enjoyed learning so much about oceans and the animals that live there. He had a great time!
My partner and I feel the project
was a success and know this by the children’s knowledge and excitement
regarding oceans. We are
proud of the independence the children developed and enjoyed their
enthusiasm throughout the project. When
the children were asked what they liked best about the topic of oceans,
they said:
- “I liked learning about the oceans in order from largest to smallest.” A.S.
- “I liked the Blue whale because it is very big.” V.E.
- “ I liked learning about the zones of the ocean.” J.B.
- “I learned the Killer whale is really a dolphin.” A.S.
- “I know the Blue whale is a 100 feet long.” S.P.
- “When fish and other animals protect themselves from other animals they are counter shading.” S.B.
- “When starfish break their legs they can grow back.” S.G.
- “It is called regeneration when a starfish grow their legs back.” C.C.
- “Starfish eat their food upside down.” K.K.
- “I like the Hammerhead shark.” R.M.
- “I liked the sharks the best.” C.C.
- “I liked that sharks can have up to 20 rows of teeth and their teeth are very sharp.” J.G.
- “I learned that whales are mammals and that they breathe through a blowhole.” T.R.
- “I liked that the daddy seahorse has the babies.” S.K.
- “I liked the clownfish because it has stripes and looks like a clown.” B.B.
- “I learned that the Blue Whale was longer than a school bus.” J.S.
- “I like how the octopus’ mouth is on the underside of the octopus.” S.C
Conclusion
Our children enjoyed learning about the ocean and the different animals that live there. They have learned many facts about the ocean and call themselves oceanographers. We are pleased with the progression the children made with this unit and look forward to investigating new topics in the future.
Phase III Information Copyright © 2001, Ali Carrizal and Patti Sutphen | Design Copyright © 2001, Cory Moravits | Property of LaPorte ISD