Squeaks and Mister Brown are learning about senses! Did you know that animals that have whiskers can use them to sense things? First Grade Next Generation Science Standards Crosscutting Concept: Structure and Function: The way an object is shaped or structured determines many of its properties and functions. Disciplinary Core Ideas: LS1.A: Structure and Function - All organisms have external parts. Different animals use their body parts in different ways to see, hear, grasp objects, protect themselves, move from place to place, and seek, find, and take in food, water and air. Plants also have different parts (roots, stems, leaves, flowers, fruits) that help them survive and grow (1-LS1-1). LS1.D: Information Processing - Animals have body parts that capture and convey different kinds of information needed for growth and survival. Animals respond to these inputs with behaviors that help them survive. Plants also respond to some external inputs (1-LS1-1). Performance Expectation: 1-LS1-1. Use materials to design a solution to a human problem by mimicking how plants and/or animals use their external parts to help them survive, grow, and meet their needs.
Tips for Parents
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Here's how to talk to your child about it
After watching the video, you learned that animals have whiskers to help them sense things. Whiskers tell animals about their surroundings, like how much space is around them or where their food is. Other animals also have special body parts to help them sense their environment.
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Some activities you can do with your child now
- Encourage your child to observe animals with whiskers and discuss their functions, such as cats using their whiskers to sense space and seals using theirs to find fish in the water. - Engage in a sensory activity with your child, like a touch and feel guessing game, to explore the importance of different senses. - Help your child design and create their own animal with special sensory body parts, encouraging them to think about how those parts would help the animal survive. - Visit a local zoo or nature center to see animals with unique sensory adaptations, like bats with echolocation or elephants with their long trunks.
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Pretend play with your child
GAME: Whisker Sensations Instructions: Take turns with your child pretending to be different animals and using your fingers as whiskers to sense things around you. Close your eyes and use your "whiskers" to feel objects and guess what they are. Talk about how animals use their whiskers to sense their surroundings and discuss other special body parts animals have to help them learn about their environment.
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1 take away from the video for your child
"Animals use whiskers to sense things. Just like our eyes and ears, whiskers help animals learn about their surroundings and make important decisions, like finding food or navigating through tight spaces."
