To the Zoo!
We took the metro to the zoo because we thought it would be fun for the kids. Not only did they enjoy the trains, they also enjoyed learning about momentum, air flow and mapping.
At first when Riesling would fall forward or backward when the train stopped or accelerated we asked her what ideas she had as to why that happened. We talked about her standing still and the train accelerating and that she had to catch up to the train and that the train slowed down faster than she did. We did some experiments. Joe dropped his keys and they didn’t fall straight to the floor. He held a bag by the strap and it swayed in the same direction we swayed (or fell if we weren’t holding on!)
Joe also talked about how the trains push the air out of the tunnel ahead of them and created a vacuum behind them. We stood close to the entrance to experience it first hand.
We looked at the metro map to figure out where we were at and where we were going and how many stops we had to get there using the color coded lines. Riesling matched the sign on the wall of each stop to the names next to the dots on the map which represented a station.
Of course there were lots and lots and lots of things to see and do at the zoo. We visited many different animals. We talked about mammals, reptiles and invertebrates and what makes them different from each other. Cashel tried to say the name of each animal. Riesling looked at where the animals lived in the world before they came to the zoo. We discussed what the animals were doing and possible explanations as to why. I learned the difference between a seal and a sea lion, which I had confused with each other. Riesling found the different types of turtles fascinating. She told us all about what was similar and what wasn’t between the sea and land turtles. Cashel loved the crocodiles with their big teeth!
As we navigated back to get to our train with a sleeping Cashel in one stroller and a tired (too big for the stoller she was in) Riesling we had to take the elevators. Riesling looked out the windows and could see the cables outside. Joe discussed with her what the cables were for and how the elevator worked.
When we got back to Beth’s, Riesling and Cashel played some more with Colleen and Joseph. I sat on my hands and zipped my lip as I wanted to cheer or suggest while they negotiated toys and games with out killing each other. I read Piglet’s (or maybe it was Pooh’s) Big Movie to all the kids. Then we went outside where they rode and ran around until dinner.
