Water

Water: Creating a dam

During class we were provided a lot of different materials to create something to stop the water from going to one side of the plate to the other. We had materials like clay, sticks, and floam. These are the items that we created our dam from. We first started with wrapping the sticks inside of clay, and then wrapping that with the floam to create a sturdy structure. We tried this out, but it didn't work so well, the water went through. We then knew that we had to really seal up the cracks, and extend the clay/floam wall. Once we built this up a bit more, we tested it again, and it worked! 

1. 2.  3.   4.

This is a great activity to think about the materials that your given, give them a purpose, and then to succeed. This will help with team work and problem solving skills, but in a fun and creative way. 

Family Strategies Ideas

Family Strategies Ideas:

Family Science night:


Providing a family science night for parents, children, and other community members is a great way to promote science. Children can get more access to science materials and think of themselves as scientists. Parents can gain more knowledge about what science concepts they can be practicing with their children, as well as many activities that they can do with their children at home. There may even be parents, and other community members who work in a field of science and want to come in and share activities and other knowledge with the children and fellow parents. 


Online bulletin boards/blogs:


There are many parents and other families members that may not be able to come into the classroom and see science that their children are working on. The teacher can set up an online bulletin board or blog to post activities that the children have done, activities to do at home, videos for the parents to share with their children, websites and apps for the children to further play with science through technology, and many more different types of items that could be posted online for easy access to members of the family. 





Science within your home:


What better way to include parents than having the children find science within their family homes or community. Over time children can take pictures, bring in items, or document science that they see around their homes. The teacher can send home an information sheet about some things that parents might not know is science around their homes. This can spark an interest in science for the children as well as their parents. It could create a fun game or activity for the family to bond over. Children will then be recognizing science not only in their classroom or other abstract locations, but in their own homes and community. 

Nature connections: December

December:

Activity #1: 

Activity #2:

Activity #3:

Landform Dinosaurs

Landform Dinosaur

Process:

• We began this process as a class by all drawing and learning something about a different landform. We put them up all over the room and had the chance to look at everyones. Once we completed this part, we got into small groups, and had to create a dinosaur that included all of our landforms. It was not an easy process thinking about to to include all of the landforms and make them fit into the shape of a dinosaur. Although it was a bit challenging, it was a fun challenge to work out. This activity also taught me about landforms that I didn't know much about 

Landforms:

Dinosaurs:

Rocks and Minerals

Minerals:

 Rocks:

Children's Books:

Nature Connections: November

Nature Connections: November

Activity #1


Activity #2

Activity #3

Nature Connections Part 2: Learning the Sky

 Learning the Sky

Activity #1


Activity #2



Activity #3

Nature Connections: October

Activity #1

Activity #2

Activity #3

Make your own planet

Planet: Sandy Beach

Recently in class we were given an assignment to create our own planet. This planet could look however we want, and we can make up what it would be like to live on our planet. My planet has temperatures that range from 70-90, without humidity. Everywhere on the planet is a beautiful beach. Though they are different beaches. Ranging from tropical beaches, to Maine beaches, to all different types and colors of sand. The water on this planet ranges from 80-100 degree, and home to gorgeous marine organisms. Though these beaches will have areas of shade. This planet is only for kind people, and those who love warm weather! I created my planet this way because I love warm weather, and being at the beach. I also will only allow kind people, because I don't want to deal with bad people at this beautiful place.

The process:

1.  I began this project by collecting some materials at the store. 
1. Styrofoam ball, glue, gold glitter, blue glitter, yellow paint, and blue paint. 
2. I then mixed blue paint with the blue, and began painting it onto one half of the Styrofoam ball.
3. Once the blue glue was down, I began to cover this half with blue glitter.
4. Then I painted the other half with the yellow glue, and coved it with gold glitter. 
5. Once the ball dried, I glued little shell like beads to the sandy area of the planet. 

This would be a great activity to do with children. They can let their imagination go wild, and create art at the same time. I know I had a fun time creating my own planet, so I know children could have a blast too. 

Physical Science

Physical Science

In class we have been going over physical science concepts. This past week everyone in class did a mini demonstration of a physical science lesson. Everyone had a variety of different concepts within physical science. We had activities that involved density, magnetism, physical changes, chemical changes, ramps, and much more. We also explored objects such as prisms, mirrors, lights, ramps, boom whackers, gears, and more. The activity that I did was about density. How hot air rises and cold air sinks. 

Hot vs. Cold

This activity is super simple to do. As you can see all you need is a ballon, a bottle, water, and two containers. Children will find this so fascinating that the balloon just suddenly fills up with only being submerged in water. You can also connect this activity to real life objects such as hot air balloon. This is essentially how a hot air balloon works. 

Electricity 

I thought this activity was so much fun. Again there are simple materials that demonstrate a pretty complex concept. Children can use a balloon and walk around the classroom and start discovering things that attract and other items that repel. 

Magnetism 

Magnetism was also another concept that was presented in class. With just a magnet and some random objects children can explore magnetism. You can start by giving children different objects that may or may not be magnetic, and then let the children explore the magnetic items throughout the classroom. 

Children's books:

bubbles

     Bubbles 

During our last class we read the book the bubble factory by Tomie Depaola. After reading the bubble factory, as a class we came up with questions that children might ask about bubbles. Everyone loves bubbles, and are curious about how they work. Here are the questions we came up with in class, but now with answers:

Bubble questions: 

1. Why do they float?
1.  Bubbles float due to the more dense element of carbon dioxide. 
2. Why are they circular?
1.  Bubbles are circular because of surface tension. This tries to pack the molecules as tight as possible, and that formation is a sphere. 
3. Can bubbles be other shapes?

1.  You can't blow a bubble into a different shape, surface tension will always try to condense the bubble. Although if you create a 3D shape, and dip it into a bubble solution, you can see the bubble inside. 
4. How much do bubbles weigh? 
1.  Bubbles can be all different weights depending on their size. If you really wanted to figure out the average weight of your bubbles you could weigh your solution, blow some bubbles, count your bubbles, weigh your solution again, subtract your amount you used, then divide the amount of bubbles by your weight of the mixture.  
5. What about their color? 
1.  the colors on a bubble are all reflections of light. Different amounts of soap effect the colors that are being reflected onto the bubble.
6. What makes the best bubbles?
1.  There are many different bubble solutions. Some solutions do different things for the bubbles, some make the bubbles float higher, others make the bubbles more durable, and many other characteristics. One solution for a durable bubble is: 2 cups hot water, 1/4 cup dish soap, 1 (.25 oz)  packet gelatin, and 2 tablespoons of glycerin.
7. Can bubbles freeze? 
1.  Yes! It has to be below 5 degrees celsius though. 

Bubble Books: