2010 February SEE Program

ANIMALS

This month’s “SEE” program left us all with a little chill in the air. We combined Arctic Animals, the environment that they live in, and introduced the children to glaciers and icebergs. The first animal we explored was the polar bear. We learned that polar bears live in the arctic. They do not stay in one place they travel across the snow and pack ice while looking for food. Sometimes they swim far out to sea in order to find food.Polar bears are the largest bears in the world. Adults weigh 650-1300 pounds;males are always larger than females. A polar bears coat can be from very white to yellowish in color. Their white fur helps them to sneak up on their pray. Seals are the bear’s favorite meal. In the summer polar bears eat plants and berries. They also eat fish, lemmings, and bird eggs.

Next in line were the arctic whales. Since the whales have a thick layer of blubber (aka fat) they are able to live in the very frigid waters of the arctic. Only three whales make the arctic their home. The beluga, bowheads and the narwhals. Due to over hunting in the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries, these whales still remain on the endangered species list. How could we possibly travel to the arctic without learning about our favorite bird the penguin. The penguin is a large water bird with webbed feet that can only survive in the arctic. Penguins have short feathers that grow close together to keep their bodies warm. Did you know that penguins spend most of their lives in water? They can’t fly and instead of wings they have flippers that help them dive and swim fast. It was very interesting to learn of the many other animals that make the arctic their home, such as the seal, walrus, and the husky dogs. Learning about Glaciers and Icebergs and their role in the environment and the active part they play in the ecosystem, brought this month’s enrichment to a close. Next month we will learn about animals that are born live versus those that are hatched. We will also have a special spring planting that will take place in all the classrooms. Teaching your children continues to be a rewarding and positive experience for me. We will finish the year with a special lesson on dinosaurs. We will start at the smart board and end at our nature center with a special dinosaur dig. As always, please feel free to call me if you have any questions or concerns.

Sincerely,