Squidward

In an effort to try my hand at homeschooling, this semester I started doing some supplimental science projects with my kids.  I ordered a dissection kit and each week we are tackling one marine creature.

This week it was the squid.

My background is in marine biology, so I was jazzed when the big box came…..several weeks ago.  Then illness set in in one form or another, and I put it off for a sunny day when everyone was well.

The kids nagged me.  You have never, ever heard such nagging. 

First, I had them read about Cephalopods here.

Finally, the afternoon before Valentines day, I dragged out the squid, and we went after it!

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We followed the dissection guide, and the kids were facinated by everything.  They learned first hand how the squid propels itself through the water, what a siphon is, where the beak is located, what a squid gill looks like and how to tell if it was a boy or a girl squid (based on whether it had papille on its 4th left arm-yes, arm….they only have 2 tentacles, but 8 arms).

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Even Mia enjoyed it.

At the dinner table that night, I asked Quinn to tell dad how a squid swims through the water, and he was able to tell Bill, using words such as mantle, syphon and ventral, dorsal and what not.

You know what?  I loved it.  I loved teaching my kids.  I loved showing them something new and exciting.  I also loved how it made my mind work like a scientist again……it has not done that in years so was a bit rusty. 

I think that not only will this benifit the kids, but I think it will be good for me as well.

We pick one animal a week, and learn about it online, then via dissection.

If you are interested, I found the stuff here.  Be sure and order the dissection guides as well if you order any single item specimens…..and get a kit that contains the dissection tools such as this one.

You will also need some latex gloves or something similiar.  Household kitchen gloves work fine.

Next week we begin the shark.  Yes, I said shark. I have one in my downstairs laundry room.  That and a clam, fish, frog, sea sponge, crawfish and a few other fun things!

Have fun! 

Parting shot…..Bill, surfing somewhere in Mexico…I think La Ticla

Billl surfing-mexico