I love creepy, gross science. It seems to be what second graders love too. So, our first science inquiry lesson was on the Goldenrod Gall Fly. These flies are tiny and fly around without us even noticing them. They lay an egg on a goldenrod stem. When the egg hatches, the little maggot burrows into the stem and causes the goldenrod plant to grow a lump called a gall. Inside the gall, the maggot eats and eats and finally turns into a brown pupa. A few weeks later, it hatches into a fly and burrows its way out of the gall to fly away.
The students had to use their observation skills to draw and color their gall. Then we formed questions about the galls. The number one question asked was, "What is inside?" We decided the best way to find out, was to cut the galls open. Everyone was super amazed to see a little worm. Now our question changed to, "How did it get in there?" After some more drawing and observation, I shared with them the biology of the Goldenrod Gall Fly. Finally we went out into a field near the school, where the kiddos found their own goldenrod galls.
The students will be sharing what they have learned by writing a report that will be displayed in the hallway near our room. Come check it out!
The students had to use their observation skills to draw and color their gall. Then we formed questions about the galls. The number one question asked was, "What is inside?" We decided the best way to find out, was to cut the galls open. Everyone was super amazed to see a little worm. Now our question changed to, "How did it get in there?" After some more drawing and observation, I shared with them the biology of the Goldenrod Gall Fly. Finally we went out into a field near the school, where the kiddos found their own goldenrod galls.
The students will be sharing what they have learned by writing a report that will be displayed in the hallway near our room. Come check it out!