Jeeps and Sheep --A Seussical science supplies saga

As we began to discuss Force and Motion, I asked the children, “What is a force?”  My Second- and Third-Year students easily--and without hesitation--responded, “A push, a pull, or a twist,” (recalling our investigations from this time last year!).  “Great!  Let’s observe this chair.  What’s happening?”  "Gravity is pulling it down."  “It’s still.”  “How could we make it move?”  “Use a force!”  “O.K.  What is friction?”  “Rubbing!” they cried in unison.  “Wow!” I thought, “They remember all that work we did at the start of last school year!  They really got it!” and then, “Uh, Oh.”  My usual bag of tricks would need to be updated for this crowd.
   Thumbing through Picture-Perfect Science Lessons: Using Children’s Books to Guide Inquiry, I found my answer:  A fabulous force and motion lesson based on Sheep in a Jeep, a picture story book by Nancy Shaw.  What fun!  Two of my favorite things: Children’s picture story books and science! 

Immediately, I spotted a giant bug-eyed fly in the ointment.  Listed quite casually under MATERIALS, as if everyone has such things: "* Toy jeeps (1 per team)  * Small plastic sheep (1 per team)."  Where in the world does one find five toy jeeps and five appropriately-sized plastic sheep passengers?  Much less cheap jeeps and sheep?  First I thought of the now-defunct Variety Fair 5 & 10.  They would have had sheep and jeeps! 

Next, I consulted a science-minded friend with a child who loves all things animal and vehicle.  She suggested an independent toy store where she had seen miniature plastic animals.  I would need to make sure to get sheep that fit in the jeep.  First the jeeps and then the sheep? 

On the way there, I stopped at two Walgreens, in search of small jeeps.  One dump truck ($0.89).  No jeeps.  The toy store did have a lovely lamb ($2.99 for one) that would fit in my dump truck, but I left in search of cheaper sheep.  A third Walgreens yielded a second yellow dump truck, and then I thought of Arne’s!  Home of so many things cheap and plastic. 



As I scanned the wall of Made-in-China menagerie for cheap sheep, I began to wonder about some variation on “Sheep in Jeeps.”  Frogs on logs?  Goats in boats?  Pigs in rigs?  But I’ve got two dump trucks.  Hmm.  Dinos in Dump Trucks! 

Hurray!  One pack of 9 plastic dinosaurs: $0.87. 

But I still needed more dump trucks. 

After explaining what I needed and why, a very cheerful (and probably amused) employee led me to the motherload: 5 dinosaur-sized dumptrucks: $0.73 each. 

Supplies for all five Cooperative Groups to perform the experiment: Less than $5.  Win!

Colleagues often ask if I have a background in science.  Nope.  In fact, my undergraduate degree is in English (though, as my freshman year roommate--a scientist--laughingly reminded me when I visited her last year, I did take several science courses with science majors).  I had very little science in elementary school (save a butterfly box I still remember today) and much of the science I had in high school was poor. 

Soon after I began working with children, it became clear that children love science.  They are natural scientists.  They wonder about things.  They ask questions.  They try things out.  They dig in the dirt.  Science is a wonderful motivator for learning and a terrific way to challenge children to think critically.  Science is also an efficient way to integrate subjects.  In just one investigation, children are reading directions, discussing hypothesis, considering safety/hazards, summarizing procedure, creating diagrams, measuring, organizing data in a chart, displaying information in a graph, drawing conclusions, and communicating process and results in a written report.  Reading, Math, Language Arts, and Science all at once!  



WARNING: May result in serious science fun.

Side effects may include: Learning and love of science.

I can't wait!




There's a Book for That!
Forces Make Things Move by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
Sheep in a Jeep by Nancy Shaw

Adult Resources
Picture-Perfect Science Lessons: Using Children’s Books to Guide Inquiry
AIMS: Poppingwith Power (Physical Science)
How Science Works
101 Great Science Experiments: A Step-by-Step Guide
The Science Explorer
Science in a Box