Did you know that there are different types of crab claws?  The porcelain crab, hermit crab, and shore crab each have a different type of claw.  The porcelain crab has a scooping claw, while hermit crabs have a grasping or pinching claw. Shore crabs have claws that scrape. To help students better understand how each type of claw works, I set up three stations with a plate of beans. Students tried  to pick up the beans using clothes pins, ice cream scoopers, and small spoons. Later, students determined which type of claw they would prefer.

Students use clothes pins to mimic grasping claws.

Students use ice cream scoopers to mimic scooping claws.

Students use small plastic spoons to mimic scraping claws.

After trying each of the “claws,” the students explained which claws they would prefer to have and why. Here are some of their ideas:

On a side note, isn’t the students’ writing progression amazing!? I am so pleased to see the children spelling more words using conventional spelling. If you have a minute, look back at their writing samples from September!

https://mdelwiche.edublogs.org/2014/10/01/journal-writing/