Dispersal Series

Now that weʻve learned about the creation and formation of our islands, we wondered how our islands were populated with different types of plants, animals, and insects. Theses wonders led us to the big idea of Dispersal…. and learning about the three “Wʻs” and “Mʻs”.

This week in 4A, we are EXPERIENCING each method of dispersal

Monday- WIND

After watching Bill Nye the Science guy, keiki focused on this question:

How do I make the paint move and dance across the page using only a straw?

Tuesday- Wings

After watching another episode of Bill Nye the Science Guy, keiki focused on this question:

Which paper airplane design will fly the farthest?

Thursday-Waves

How did plants and animals survive the long distance travel across the vast Pacific Ocean?

Today we played a game called “Dispersal Bingo”. We infused the classifications of Endemic, Indigenous, Invasive, and Introduced in our game play. The purpose of the game was not only to figure the method of dispersal and its classification. The purpose was to understand that the pictures I showed of each plant and animal was the adult form and not the form they were dispersed. For example, we looked at the naupaka kahakai plant, and I questioned the students if this planted floated here to our islands. Some said yes, no, and others were confused. After much discussion, students understood that the seed of plants were dispersed here. For some insects, like the carnivorous caterpillar, which is endemic, it arrived in our islands in itʻs larva stage.

After playing Bingo! I sent students on a seed scavenger hunt to find the seeds and spores of various plants on our campus. Near our Kīnau building, we observed the seeds of the naupaka and puakenikeni plant. We felt and observed the spores of the kukui tree, hapuʻu tree, and lauae fern.