We have a cocoon in our classroom. This cocoon was given to us at the beginning of the school year (like the first day of school almost) by another school employee. At one point I was absolutely sure it was dead. I wrote about this in another entry a few months ago. Well, the jar is on our science table and the children are allowed to pick up the jar, shake it, and use a magnifying glass to look at it as much as they want. You can hear it and feel it scritching and scratching on the outside of the cocoon if you shake the jar a little (or a lot). I must do some research on cocoons because I have a hard time believing that it is still alive after all this time even though I know it is because I can feel it scratching. Is it afraid to come out? Is it hibernating? Does it have brain damage from all the shaking? When it does hatch and we put it outside in fifty degree weather will it not surely die? I feel like quoting a kindergartener who recently put her mouth over the lid of the jar and in a very stern and firm voice said, "waaaakkkeee uuuupppp!"
Another thing, I recently tried the classic experiment in my classroom with a potato and a jar of water. You know the one were it grows roots in the jar? Well, the potato was there for a full three week and nothing happened. I think I teach in the Bermuda triangle of classrooms. A strange place where moths are trapped in their cocoons and potatoes are sterile. What does it all mean?