Square of LifeSquare of Lifeby:by:

Mrs. Minimi’s 1Mrs. Minimi’s 1stst Grade Class Grade ClassM. Joan Pearson SchoolM. Joan Pearson School

Hello from Delanco, NJHello from Delanco, NJ

Here in Delanco, we are in a temperate climate Here in Delanco, we are in a temperate climate and live near a river. Before we investigated our and live near a river. Before we investigated our squares, we predicticted that we would find a lot squares, we predicticted that we would find a lot of different bugs (they always seem to be around of different bugs (they always seem to be around us) and different plants and weeds. It was early us) and different plants and weeds. It was early fall and we were also hoping to find some fall and we were also hoping to find some evidence of other animals that live in our town. evidence of other animals that live in our town.

We were correct in both predictions and even We were correct in both predictions and even found some proof of other animal being present.found some proof of other animal being present.

Hello Alaska!Hello Alaska! We chose Gustavus, Alaska to compare We chose Gustavus, Alaska to compare

because it has a very different climate because it has a very different climate then Delanco, NJ. Gustavus is near a then Delanco, NJ. Gustavus is near a glacier and it is much colder there in Fall glacier and it is much colder there in Fall then in Delanco. then in Delanco.

We thought they would have some things We thought they would have some things the same, but we predicted that some the same, but we predicted that some plants and animals would be different plants and animals would be different because of the colder temperature. because of the colder temperature.

Here is what we discovered!Here is what we discovered!Our living things diagram.Our living things diagram.

DelancoDelanco GustavusGustavus

Rowan

willow

Sitka Spruce

grass

Black beetlespider

ant

cricket

fly

mushroom

maple

oak

weeds

As you can see we shared only grass in common.

Our non-living thing Our non-living thing diagramdiagram

DelancoDelanco GustavusGustavus

dirt & mud

fence

trash

tire chips wood

chips

mole holes

stump

dead bug

pine needle

animal tracks

dead fireweed

Wow! We have nothing in common.

common

Our Lesson LearnedOur Lesson Learned As we originally predicted the climate differences As we originally predicted the climate differences

between Gustavus and Delanco made for slightly between Gustavus and Delanco made for slightly different squares. However, we found instead, that our different squares. However, we found instead, that our squares were very different. In addition, we had fun squares were very different. In addition, we had fun exploring and drawing our Venn diagrams to show our exploring and drawing our Venn diagrams to show our comparisons. We also used our imaginations and wrote comparisons. We also used our imaginations and wrote in our journals about what animal made the tracks in in our journals about what animal made the tracks in our Alaskan friends square. Most of us chose a bear. our Alaskan friends square. Most of us chose a bear. We like to think big. We had so much fun with this We like to think big. We had so much fun with this project and we hope we made some new friends, too.project and we hope we made some new friends, too.