Axolotl Love

A love for axolotls, the amphibious salamander, and the discovery of the joy one feels when they care about another living creature led Ms. Rosas' and Mrs. Reynolds' Junior Kindergarten class study of the interesting creatures.

First the students listed questions they had about Axo, the class axolotl. Some questions included: “How do axolotls breathe?” “How do they swim?” “What are the things on Axo’s head?” “Why do they have legs?” They took turns feeding him, and used a magnifying class to observe him closer while he remained in his tank.

Before researching the beloved class pet, teachers asked the children, "Why are axolotls endangered?" The children thought deeply about the question and began sharing their thoughts. 

• "That means there are not many left," explained Charlotte. 
• "Fish are eating them," guessed Christian. 
• "People are building on their home," stated Charlotte. 
• "Mommies are going away," mentioned Lodi. 
• "They can't escape," surmised  Coral. "Can't escape predators," added Cam. 

One of the young Chargers' favorite activities was creating mock axolotl habitats with foil, tree blocks, and loose parts. As they thoughtfully construct their version of Lake Xochimilco, they shared their knowledge.

• "My baby axolotl is hatching," Lodi pretended. "Mine already hatched," shared Aidan. "Mine too, he's sixteen," mentioned Christian. 
• "We have to build their habitat. We need swampy water," said Christian. "We need to build a bridge for the axolotls to get to the lake," stated Aidan. "There's a waterfall," added Florence. "Swim, swim, swim, axolotl," said Florence. 

During a class discussion, Ava suggested that everyone make axolotl clay structures. “I can bring my sculpture kit from home,” she shared. The children excitedly nodded their heads in agreement. Their teachers presented them with modeling clay. The children quickly molded their axolotl.

"We were impressed with their attention to detail! When unsure how to shape an axolotl’s head, gills, legs, or tail, the children visited Axo," Mrs. Rosas shared.

Shorecrest parent Dr. Leigh-Anne Plattner visited in October to share her knowledge and love for axolotls. She displayed some photographs of axolotl anatomy and their natural habitats. The children shared some facts they knew, which impressed Dr. Plattner. She then introduced new vocabulary words such as amphibian, regeneration, and translucent. The children were fascinated to learn that axolotls use their gills, lungs, and skin to breathe. They were also surprised to hear that Axo (the classroom pet) could feel the vibrations of their voices (which is how he knows when people are present). The children were also intrigued by the process of regeneration when an axolotl gets injured. 

A class favorite was meeting Axo up close (out of his tank). "Are we going to be able to touch him," asked Ava. "Yes, but we have to make sure that our hands are clean," shared Dr. Plattner. The children jumped in excitement! Before touching Axo, they observed him moving/walking around the table. The children learned that when he is out of his tank (or a lake), it is important that his skin remains wet. They also examined objects used to clean Axo's tank.

The following month, Axo had a baby named Toothless. The students were very eager to meet him. The children even suggested that Toothless should be at the Family Potluck. The teachers surprised the class by bringing Toothless (and his tank) into the classroom over the Thanksgiving break. Toothless was quickly welcomed and loved by the children.

The students also used Barefoot World Atlas, a child-friendly iPad app that allows children to explore the world without getting on a plane. They wanted to learn about Mexico, where axolotls live. They started out rotating the attached globe to observe all the different continents and oceans. The children then zoomed in and clicked on the countries and landmark icons. Once familiar with how it worked, they were asked to narrow their focus to an icon found in Mexico. The children listened to different facts and viewed authentic photographs when they clicked on the icons. The photos helped the young artists draw depictions of Lake Xochimilco with oil pastels.

Throughout the week, they observed the differences between Axo and Toothless. "Toothless is more active," said Lucas. "He eats his food in one big chomp," shared Christian. "Toothless likes to say hi by swimming up to his tank," mentioned Casey. 

After making countless connections the children decided to invite their parents for a Community Gathering. It was a celebration that the students planned, organized, decorated and enjoyed with their loved ones, closing 2023 with a bang. Delicious food, face painting and the joy of togetherness was enjoyed by all.

It was a memorable moment that will live in their hearts for the years to come, one that will act as a reminder that we share our world with living beings big and small, and that it feels good to celebrate in friendship.

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