Last week, my class discovered some slimy little friends hiding out on the playground and it has sparked quite the investigation in our classroom. I knew when we found these little guys that this had the potential to be a juicy in depth project, so this week I started introducing these guys through a few slug based provocations.
Without the need for extensive planning, I think one of the most curiosity provoking activities we engaged in this week was merely interacting with these guys. They love to nap and burrow inside of their habitat, and it can be easy for the kids to forget that they are living creatures because they are so still. So we set aside some “slug time” each day this week, where my kiddos could observe them outside of the tank. They actually move pretty quickly once you wake them up. I love seeing my class light up with wonder as they watch our slugs wiggle and climb.
I read this week that slugs love to eat mint. Our class picked some fresh mint for our new pets to eat. This sparked the question “what else do slugs like to eat?” Which is a great jumping off point for further investigation as we progress with this project.
Some of my kids were even brave enough to touch the slugs! We talked about how the slugs feel "slimy" which is another great investigation point we can further research.
Stepping back and watching my students interact with these creatures was the source of so much inspiration for me. I was filled with ideas, questions, and potential explorations that I think could further our learning about slugs in a hands on way.
I used this planning web to help me organize my idea for this lesson. I think planning webs are a great resource for brainstorming. I found this one from the website of another educator:
We started investigating how slugs feel through the use of slug themed sensory bins. To make these I used potting soil and rubber fishing lures, to give the slimy effect of slugs. We added some tools and my kids had so much fun digging for their slugs. It also gave us the opportunity to talk about how slugs like to hide under the earth.
This study is important because it aligns with the following North Carolina Foundations for Early Learning and Development:
-Goal CD-14: Children observe and describe characteristics of living things and the physical world
-Goal CD-15: Children explore the natural world by observing, manipulating objects, asking questions, making predictions, and developing generalizations.
-Goal APL-2: Children actively seek to understand the world around them.
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