Axolotl Friends: Do They Really Smile?

Welcome back, Discovery Rangers! After learning all about axolotls and whether they actually smile, it's time to put on your explorer hats and investigate some smiley faces right in your own home.

The Big Question

Do all living things show emotions the same way we do?

What You'll Need

• Paper
• Crayons or markers
• Objects around your home with faces or that can be made to look like they have faces

Mission Steps

1. Find Faces. Look around your house for things that have features that look like a face (eyes, nose, mouth). This could be a clock, a stuffed animal, a picture, or even a faucet!
2. Draw Faces. Use your paper and crayons to draw some of the "faces" you found. Try to capture their expressions.
3. Make Faces. Now, try making your own faces! Can you look happy? Sad? Surprised? Think about how your mouth and eyes change.
4. Compare Expressions. Look at your drawings and your own faces. How are they similar or different from each other?

Talk About It

• What things did you find that looked like they had faces?
• How is a face on a clock different from a face on a person or an axolotl?
• Do you think objects like clocks feel emotions, or do they just look like they do?

Take It Further

For our older Rangers (ages 9-12), consider researching how different animals communicate emotions. Do dogs wag their tails when they're happy like humans smile? How do birds show they are scared or excited?

FAQ

Q: My child is having trouble finding things with faces. A: Encourage them to look for patterns that suggest eyes or a mouth, even if they aren't perfect. You can also help by drawing simple faces on pieces of paper to add to the collection. Q: Is it okay for my younger child to just draw made-up faces? A: Absolutely! The goal is to think about what makes a face look like a face and what different expressions mean.