We launched our new inquiry into biodiversity -- the variety of life withing a specific ecosystem -- with a walk across the street to Lakeshore East Park. The children were tasked with finding and photographing living and nonliving things.
The next day we learned how to use the awesome iPad app, My Story, in order for each child to explain their reasoning as to why objects are either living or nonliving. Mr. Hellbusch and I helped them refine their thinking and vocabulary by introducing the terms biotic (biotic things can be living and once living) and abiotic (abiotic things are and never were alive). Be sure to quiz your child as your walk around town, asking them if things you see are biotic or abiotic. Also ask them to show you their My Story "book." Here Eli, Nicholas, and Luisa are presenting their work to each other:
