Things We Have Learned About Silkworms

Silkworms are caterpillars, not worms. They have 6 feet for walking and 5 pairs of suction cup "feet" to grasp on to things so they don't fall.


Silkworms grow. They eat mulberry leaves. They make frass. They eat A LOT of mulberry leaves. They make A LOT of frass.

Silkworms keep growing and growing amd GROWING!

Alive and Wiggling!

Kindergartners unearthed wiggly, slippery worms as we pulled and dug the roots of the mint tea in an effort to help first grade clear space for their strawberry plants. We started a Worm Count making tallies for every worm we found. The earthworms looked very different than the silkworms. How are they alike? How are they different? Where do they live? What do they eat? Is a silkworm a worm...or is it a different kind of creature. If so, why would it be called a silkworm? It was time to get out the books on our shelves all about earthworms and silkworms and see what we could find out.

It's Spring time in the Salsa Garden!

Silkworm Project: Late April/Early May

Late April:

So that we may learn more about these little silkworms through individual observations, we set up habitats in cups for each of 18 caterpillars. Each cup contains fresh mulberry leaves. Our silkworm habitats have everything a silkworm needs to live and grow: a lid with holes for safety and air and mulberry leaves to eat. The silkworm will get the water it needs from the leaves it eats.

We learned how to hold our silkworms safely and watched the silkworms move in our hands. We looked at the dry leaves from yesterday and compared them to the fresh leaves we were feeding them today. We saw holes in the dry leaves where the silkworms have been eating.

There was significant interest in the little black dots at the bottom of the habitats. Some children figured that the black dots are silkworm poop. Kaitlyn reminded us that we used the word "frass" when referring to caterpillar poop; we think we should probably use the same word when referring to silkworm poop.

Some children observed their silkworms dangling by a "piece of silk." Others noticed how the silkworm grips on and commented on the "sticky" feeling of the caterpillar on their fingers.

A few children have heard Tr. Ann use the word "caterpillar" when she could have used the word "silkworm." Many children wonder why.

Early May:

We read The Empress and the Silkworm by Lily Toy Hong, the story about Empress Si Ling Chi and the amazing discovery of silk in China five thousand years ago. The origins of the treasured "silk thread" we learned was kept a secret for three thousand years. Our silkworms produce the very same silk that the Empress used to make the very first silk threads and garments, that is the very same silk that is woven in the textile industry today. Silkworms are the only creatures that spin the kind of silk used in weaving.

We have begun recording observations of our silkworms in our silkworm journals. Our silkworms are growing. They are getting larger. Some kindergartners have found "skin" in the habitat cups. We found out that silkworms shed their skin in order to grow.

We made observations of earthworms too. Earthworms behave differently in our hands than silkworms do. Kindergartners shared their observations with one another. Some noticed "segments" on the earthworm that "scrunch" and "squeeze" when moving. Others noticed how fast the earthworm moves by "stretching" while silkworms "walk" and "crawl" and "stick on."
Earthworms are wet. Silkworms are soft but not wet. Earthworms like to hide under wet paper towels. Silkworms sometimes hide under their leaves in the habitat cups. Someone said they think silkworms are caterpillars because they have feet and earthworms don't.

River Ramble @ Lower Merion Conservancy

Kindergartners traveled to Mill Creek to learn about the water cycle and the creek as a habitat for living creatures. This was our third lesson this year with Tr. Lindsay, Educational Coordinator of Lower Merion Conservancy. In the fall, we traveled to Rolling Hills Park to learn about seeds with Tr. Lindsay and in the winter, Tr. Lindsay led an outdoor lesson on tracking in the middle of a 4 inch snowfall! Be sure to view more photos from our trip posted to the right in the slideshow!

Kindergarten Makes Watermelon Ice Pops

1. Slice watermelon into bite-sized chunks. Taste one to be sure you like it!

2. Add watermelon chunks to blender.

3. Compost the watermelon rind.

4. Blend watermelon chunks.

5. Scoop watermelon juice into small cup.

6. Add wooden stick. Freeze overnight.

7. Unwrap ice pop.

8. Enjoy eating the ice pop!

"Two of A Kind" visit FSH!

From "Two of A Kind' Concert

"I arrived at school for Early Birds and I saw David and Jenny / "Two of A Kind" on stage setting up. David said "I know that "All the Rivers Run" is one of the most requested songs for the concert today." I started to tell him about all the other requests I had but Tr. Becky called my brother and I to line up to go downstairs. We love to listen to "Two of A Kind" music in our classroom!

At 8:30 am we went to the gym to listen to the concert. I liked all the music they played! After the concert, we bought a new CD for our classroom. The album is called "Going on An Adventure." I have a favorite song on the album. It is called "Mama Don't Allow" and "Library Song."

I recommend that families with children go to a "Two of A Kind" concert and visit their website for upcoming performances." http://www.twoofakind.com/ShowEvents.asp

by: Noah B.