Investigation: Mini BeastsThe preschool classes are choosing a class name. This year each class will

be a mini-beast.

This is how the students were introduced to mini-beasts and a

name decided.

August 15, 2012

• Students used tweezers to hunt for bugs in the sand

• One student started talking about the biggest animal in the world. Then they thought about the smallest.

• Ms.Jen started a list of ideas of different bugs and insects.

August 16, 2012

- The students investigated the bugs in the sand and some in jars

August 16, 2012

- Some students tried some puzzles

- Others documented their thinking on paper

August 17, 2012

• Some friendsmade bugs at the Art table

Making a worm

Orb spiders made of buttons

Bugs in the Hand

• We sat in a circle and Ms.Jen gave everyone a plastic bug

• We compared them and tried to think about what each was

What do bees eat?

• On Thursday, a friend wondered:

• We watched ‘Magic School Bus’ and found out they eat nectar to make honey!

What do bees eat?

August 22 – How heavy are these bugs?

We observed some live creatures.

And did some ‘research.’

Everyone made a mind map of our ideas for what our class mascot:

We made a list of all our ideas and counted how many times each idea was suggested:

Then we voted on butterfly or spider.

But we had a problem! Each got 10 votes!

I want spiders! But it is a tie.

I want buuterflies!

Some friends thought of a solution:

I think using our

imagination is a good

idea.

We could be a flying spider or butterfly spider. Or

biting spider.

We voted again with our new ideas!

We are the ‘Butter-Spiders!’