In class today, we had lot's of surprises! UH was curious and wondered whether Cate Pillar was burrowed under the soil, lost, or even dead! So, we decided to be inquirers and find out. First, we carefully removed all the parts of the terrarium (branch, jar with cotton and plant, and soil). We were especially careful with the soil because Cate was in there. We searched gently using the branch. We were fooled a few times by parts of the soil. Finally, we found Cate. But, Cate looked different and wasn't reddish-brown when we placed Cate in the terrarium. We wondered what happened.

Suddenly, Ms. Edelie asked from near the computer, "Does Cate look like this?" She had pulled up the picture of a pupa from the internet. My goodness! It looked just like Cate. Cate wasn't lost or dead! Cate had molted and become a pupa. MS exclaimed, "World's first active pupa!" A butterfly pupa is supposed to be inactive. This one was wiggling around! See our video for proof!

In math we reviewed three ways to compare fractions. Three ways!

1. draw a picture
2. make the denominators the same
3. write equivalent fractions

During Unit of Inquiry, we received step-by-step packets to help us write reports on an animal in a habitat. First, we learned how to take notes; notes are not taken in complete sentences. Then, we spent time reading our library books about the animals we chose. Next, we made notes. This was challenging for most of us. Some of our books needed to be changed, but most of us were able to find some information that we needed for our reports. We learned that when we are taking notes and looking for information, we do not have to follow the order in which the information is asked. We can skip around and make notes as we find the information!

Some of us realized that we will need to do research at home. AM asked, "I thought we had to do all of this at school." It's true! Research can be printed at home and brought to school where it may be used to make notes, write reports, and make presentations. DT said, "Finished!"a few times today. We learned that the point is not to finish in one day with one-word answers on the Research Part 1 and Part 2 forms. We want to do a good job of researching by including interesting information and specific information in our reports. This was only our first day. We will be doing this for at least a few days. Besides, we have two weeks of researching and preparation to do!

Most of us are excited to be working on this. IT said to another teacher, "I have go to back to class. They are all doing their project. I want to do it when them!" IT is excited about the golden eagle. We hope that our excitement will carry us into, through, and beyond our expectations into taking action and showing how we can take responsibility for the human impact on the habitats of the animals we love!