Mammal Talk

I overheard a great conversation this afternoon with my third years.

While setting up the large number cards two boys were doing what I call "play arguing". They were arguing, but no one's feelings were actually being hurt. They were just going back and forth about nothing in particular. At some point, the conversation shifted to mammals.

R: Stop singing! You aren't a rock star. You're just a regular kid... and a mammal

J: Oh yea, I am a mammal! (giggles hysterically)

K: (Thinks over what he has heard and walks to me) If a person doesn't have any hair, are they still a mammal?

There are so many great things about this conversation. First, R has clearly gotten the point that humans are mammals. Every year, I have a few children who find it incredulous that we are actually animals. Usually, I'm able to win them over. R and J have accepted this fact and can giggle with it. Second, K is making the link between the classifications of vertebrates. He knows that mammals have hair (or fur). With the use of his imagination, he has thought of a person without hair (presumably someone bald) and wonders if the classification goes both ways. What a connection!