FOSS at Home
FOSS® at Home
Animals two by two
The FOSS® (Full Option Science System™) program offers a number
of ways to get parents involved in their child’s science education.
Included here are short descriptions of several ways to bridge from
classroom to home.
Letter to Parents. The letter to parents can be sent home at the start
of a new science module. The letter describes what children will
be learning and ways that parents can enrich the science-learning
experience.
FOSS Science Stories. FOSS Science Stories is a series of original books
developed to accompany and enrich the FOSS modules. The books
for grades K–2 are written in an expository format that presents
factual information in a clear and concise manner. The books are
designed around instructional photographs that directly relate to the
text, calling attention to particular details, suggesting comparisons,
and directing students to think critically about the images.
LETTER TO PARENTS
SCIENCE NEWS
Dear Parents,
Our kindergarten class is beginning a science unit on animals. We will be observing and comparing four
pairs of animals over the next several weeks: two kinds of fish (guppies and goldfish), two kinds of snails
(land snails and pond snails), two kinds of earthworm (redworms and night crawlers), and two kinds of
isopods (pill bugs and sow bugs). We will learn how to handle these interesting animals carefully and
will all participate in the care and feeding of our animal visitors. So be prepared; your child may come
home with lots of questions and stories about animals.
You can help your child learn about animals by taking walks in your neighborhood to look for animals
and by talking about animals in and around your home—everything from pets to insects. We will be
discussing differences and similarities in the animals we investigate and starting to develop the important
attitudes of respect for life and a sense of responsibility where living organisms are concerned.
If you are interested in seeing how we introduce animals in our class, please come by for a
visit. The children will be more than happy to share their enthusiasm for life.
Sincerely,
SCIENCE NEWS
Dear Parents,
Our kindergarten class is beginning a science unit on animals. We will be observing and comparing
four pairs of animals over the next several weeks: two kinds of fish (guppies and goldfish), two kinds
of snails (land snails and pond snails), two kinds of earthworm (redworms and night crawlers), and
two kinds of isopods (pill bugs and sow bugs). We will learn how to handle these interesting animals
carefully and will all participate in the care and feeding of our animal visitors. So be prepared; your child
may come home with lots of questions and stories about animals.
You can help your child learn about animals by taking walks in your neighborhood to look for animals
and by talking about animals in and around your home—everything from pets to insects. We will
be discussing differences and similarities in the animals we investigate and starting to develop the
important attitudes of respect for life and a sense of responsibility where living organisms are
concerned.
If you are interested in seeing how we introduce animals in our class, please come by for a
visit. The children will be more than happy to share their enthusiasm for life.
Sincerely,
FOSS Animals Two by Two Module
© The Regents of the University of California
Can be duplicated for classroom or workshop use.
Investigation 1: Goldfish and Guppies
No. 1—Teacher Sheet
No. 1—Teacher Sheet
Here are some suggestions for using FOSS Science Stories at home.
• Expository Readings. The expository readings provide
excellent opportunities for students and parents to discuss
the science content students are learning in the module.
Families can reread the articles together. Specific articles
include Learning about Animals, Goldfish and Guppies, Big and
Little Worms, Isopods, and Eggs and Chicks.
• Extending the Story. See the Science Stories folio in the
Teacher Guide for suggestions on how to extend the stories
at home. For example, after students read Land and Water
Snails, you might have students turn to page 10 and ask if
the tree snail and the conch are the same size. Although the
two animals appear to be the same size in the photos, the
conch is 36 cm (14”) long and the tree snail is 2.5 cm (1”)
long. The size difference can be demonstrated by using
precut lengths of yarn or tagboard. Students and their
families can continue the discussion by demonstrating the
differences between other animals presented in the book.
Animals Two by two
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Animals two by two
Student Sheets and Products. Throughout the module, students
conduct various investigations relating to the topic. They complete
student sheets and centers where they are asked to draw, color, and/
or cut out things, along with creating various products to explore;
they also write or dictate descriptions and observations to accompany
drawings. Students should bring the sheets, and/or their science
notebooks, and the products they’ve assembled home for families
to review and discuss. For example, student sheet number 2, Fish
Outline, is a good opportunity for students to explain and review with
parents that goldfish have identifiable structures, such as eyes, fins,
gills, and a tail, by drawing these features within an outline.
FISH OUTLINE
Goldfish
Goldfish
FOSS Animals Two by Two Module
© The Regents of the University of California
Can be duplicated for classroom or workshop use.
Investigation 1: Goldfish and Guppies
No. 2—Student Sheet
No. 2—Student Sheet
HOME/SCHOOL CONNECTION
INVESTIGATION 1: GOLDFISH AND GUPPIES
The pictures below will make two fish-in-a-bowl twirlers, one with a goldfish and
one with a guppy. Cut on the solid lines so that you have two strips, each with
a bowl on the left side and a fish on the right. Color the bowl and the fish. Fold
each strip in half along the dotted line, so that the
pictures are back to back. Push a straw or pencil up
in between the two picture backs and securely tape
into place. Be sure the straw or pencil spans the full
length of the picture.
Hold the straw or pencil between your palms with
the pictures up, spin the straw back and forth, and
watch the picture. An optical illusion makes the fish
look as if it were in a bowl.
FOSS Animals Two by Two Module
© The Regents of the University of California
Can be duplicated for classroom or workshop use.
Investigation 1: Goldfish and Guppies
No. 27—Student Sheet
No. 27—Student Sheet
NOTE: All student sheets, including
the Letter to Parents and Home/
School Connection, are available in
FOSS Teacher Guides and online at
www.fossweb.com. They are also
available in Spanish. See Teacher/
Parent Info Section: Home/
School Connection on page 4 of
this folio.
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Home/School Connections. Home/School Connections are activities
developed specifically for the whole family to enjoy at home. For
example, in Investigation 1 (student sheet number 27), students can
color, cut out, and attach the fish and fishbowl back to back to the end
of a pencil or drinking straw. Students then hold the pencil or straw
between their palms with the pictures up, spin it back and forth, and
watch the picture. An optical illusion makes the fish look as if it is in
the bowl.
Interdisciplinary Extensions. Each investigation has suggestions for
art, language, math, social studies, and science extensions. These are
good family activities. For example, after Investigation 3 students
and their families can make a worm observation terrarium. A worm
observation terrarium is made by placing a clear container within
another container, with soil pressed in a thin layer between the walls
of the outer container and the inner container. The worms will be in
view as they burrow, and students can observe the length and shape
of the burrows. See Investigation 3, page 22 of the Teacher Guide for
complete instructions.
FOSSweb (www.fossweb.com). FOSSweb is an interactive website
where families can find instructional activities and interactive
simulations specifically designed for each FOSS module. NOTE: Pages 3 and 4 of this
folio can be photocopied and sent
home for parents to read. Those
pages provide information on the
resources for students and their
families on FOSSweb.
full option science system
FOSS at Home
FOSSWEB (WWW.FOSSWEB.COM)
The FOSS program maintains a resource-rich website for students and
their families and friends. To explore the resources available for the
Animals Two by Two Module, first enter www.fossweb.com in your
browser.
The FOSS website requires plug-ins for your browser. We recommend
that you click the “Test Your Browser” link at the bottom of the home
page before you begin to ensure your computer has the minimum
requirements.
Click the grades K–2 icon to get a menu that links to each of the K–2
modules. There you can choose Animals Two by Two and travel to a
wealth of information and activities specific to this module.
ACTIVITIES
In the Animals Two by Two Module, you’ll find an activity called
Find the Parent. Students try to match the baby animal in the picture
to its parent. You might ask,
•
How are human babies like their parents and how are they
different?
•
How is a puppy like an adult dog and how is it different?
•
How is a baby guppy like an adult guppy and how is it
different?
If necessary, review the animals that children have investigated
in the module and discuss their similarities and differences. At
the computer, have children decide which of the three photos on
the right represents the adult version of the baby animal. After
successfully identifying two or three matches together, have
children continue on their own. Encourage children to talk about
why they chose particular matches.
Animals Two by two
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Animals two by two
PHOTO GALLERY
In the Photo Gallery section, you can view images in two galleries,
one of young and adult animals and another of worms, isopods,
and fish. Many of these images are in the Find the Parent activity,
so you might use them before students do that activity or afterward
as a review. You can use the images to discuss the similarities and
differences between the animals. Students can choose one of the
animals to describe, draw, and research with a family member.
MOVIES
The Movies section includes several animals in action. The movies
can also stimulate discussion.
WEBSITES
The Websites section includes links to sites that can extend and enrich
children’s experiences with the Animals Two by Two Module.
Teacher/Parent Info Section
VOCABULARY
In the Vocabulary section, you will find the glossary words and
definitions used in the Animals Two by Two Module. They are
provided in English and Spanish.
Resources
This section includes an annotated list of books, videos, and software
recommended for the Animals Two by Two Module. You should be
able to find many of these titles at your local library. HOME/SCHOOL CONNECTION
The Teacher/Parent Info section includes the Home/School
Connection that describes ways for families to do science together.
For example, in Investigation 4, students can color, cut out, and
paste where the animals will live in the picture (student sheet
number 30). Look in this section for a downloadable PDF file,
including the Home/School Connection files and a letter to parents.
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Copyright The Regents of the University of California
full option science system
1014219