"When the mantis was back in the bush,
I could hardly see it. Its green color helps
it hide in the leaves.
More camouflage!
The animals are HIDING.
Question: If I look closely,
will I find more animals?"
A school assignment given early in the school year has Chloe creating a science journal to describe all she sees in her own backyard. The teacher specifically asks for all animals found there. Chloe wants to lead the way by finding the most!
Once Chloe begins, she is surprised to find she cannot find a single one! They are not on the tree branches, in the grass, under the leaves, in the bushes, on a tree trunk, or on the ground. Where are they? By the second day, Chloe is determined to use her detective skills to impact her search. She sees clues that they have been there, but it isn't until she uses her magnifying glass that she finally spies a
camouflaged spider on tree bark.
As she makes her discoveries and adds illustrations to the journal's pages, she also includes the many questions she has about what she is seeing first-hand. After doing her research, she includes what she has discovered, and sets it apart with a Mystery Solved! stamp applied next to her answer.
It takes a great deal of patience, close observation, and a knowledge of the scientific method (though that is not implicitly mentioned). It is great to watch the development of a young scientist as she tackles an engrossing school assignment.
Reading this nature journal shows young readers that keeping such a record is a creative pursuit while also providing a space to share a lot of interesting scientific research. The backdrop for the entries looks like a lined notebook, adding authenticity.
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