The First Weeks of School

The first quarter of the year science labs have taken place in sixth, fifth, second and kindergarten. Sixth grade has focused on light and sound waves. Labs have included a variety of experiences with seeing, feeling and hearing waves. Today was the final lab where students attempted to dart an escaped dinosaur that had been recently cloned with a laser dart gun (laser pointer). Students learned concepts of angle of incidence, angle of reflection, incidence ray and reflected ray using mirrors to reflect the laser beam to "dart" their dinosaur. Fifth grade is finishing up their unit on gravitational forces. Labs have included ones on pendulums, falling objects, paper rockets, and measuring friction in Newtons. They are currently wrapping all their knowledge up in a final project by supporting an argument that the gravitational force exerted by Earth on objects is directed down. They have to reference three of their for labs in supporting evidence. Second grade has focused on making observations related to a problem with sinking and floating sodas. Through observations, they learned that diet soda sinks and regular soda floats. After understanding why, due to the ingredients in Pepsi, students began designing and invention to keep Pepsi cans afloat. Their goal is to analyze a few of these designs, once built, to see which would best for using when out on a canoe trip, as canoes are known to flip and no one wants to lose their refreshing drink for lunch! Kindergarten has been working on observing the sun's impact on earth. Labs dealt with setting up different cups of "Earth", which included different soils, sands, and rocks as well as cups of water representing the oceans and rivers on the planet. Using digital thermometers, students witnessed the change in temperatures based on the sun hitting it. Students also learned the term evaporation for what they observed when water "dried up" from the sun. Fading was another concept seen, as colored paper placed in the sunlight quickly (over one week) faded into the designs of the shape placed on top of it. The first quarter is well on its way into learning about key concepts within the Next Generation Science Standards!

Science Teacher for School

This year I will be dedicated science teacher for the school, K-6.  To fit in high quality lessons, I will teach in half the grades the first quarter and the other half the second quarter.  Beginning the school year, I will be in 6th grade, 5th grade, kindergarten, and 2nd grade.  Third quarter will see me back in the grades I started in during the first quarter.  Fourth quarter will be the same as second quarter.  Let's go explore some science!

What Causes the Seasons?

One of the greatest misconceptions in science is the cause of the seasons here on Earth.  In an attempt to "crack" this misconception this year, students wrote down their theory as to the cause of seasons before beginning the lab.  Most students had at least one part mentioning that Earth is closer to the sun in summer and farther away in winter.  After analyzing graphs and charts of average temperatures across the globe in different seasons, interpreting charts on amount of daylight across globe, and using blow dryers to create direct and indirect heat on cardboard, we moved into the science of the seasons.  Students learned that seasons are caused by the tilt of the axis and the direct or indirect light this produces in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.  Many students also were not aware that when it is summer in the Northern Hemisphere it is winter in the Southern Hemisphere.  We still have more to go, but by the end of day one's lab, at least no one was saying the seasons are caused by being closer to the sun based on its orbit.

Living History Museum

The class did amazing at memoring and becoming their person in history.  Students "came to life" as their button activated them to hundreds of students from the school as well as parents.  Great job historians!

Greek Mythology

We have finished up our Greek Mythology and our reader's theatre of self-created plays with our final performances this Thursday and Friday.  It was great to see the unique styles in which the class merged the classic Greek myths with today's social experiences (Facebook, KFC, etc.).

Fly Fishing and Star Lab

Although we have been working very hard to review all we have learned for the CRT tests next week, we have still been able to create high quality, inspiring instruction.  In PE, we have been learning the sport of fly fishing.  Last week we learned the basic knots associated with fly fishing and this week we learned the 11 basic steps to a casting.

In science today we blew up the Star Lab in our classroom and had private star shows. The focus was on some basic astronomy, but we also learned about our galaxy and universe and basic identification of some major constellations.  The Greek and Roman mythology always seems to entertain as well.

Chemical Reactions in Science

We are well into our chemical reaction labs in science.  Last week an introductory lab allowed students to test a variety of unknown liquids with unknown white powders.  After recording observations of reactions or lack of reactions, they used their data to determine an unknown sample.  The purpose of the lab was to not only introduce reactions, but also focus on physical properties.

Yesterday we became "tardy" leprechauns (as St. Patrick's Day was a week ago) and turned pennies into "gold".  In reality, we learned about alloys. We first cleaned the pennies in Taco Bell sauce and through this inquiry learned that vinegar is an  ingredient in the sauce.  Relating this to the prior lab where we learned that acetic acid is vinegar, students quickly put it together that the acetic acid cleaned the penny.  When Lane asked why we didn't just clean them in vinegar I responded that this was more fun.  He replied, "Yes, and I now know taco sauce can clean pennies."  Next, we plated the pennies in zinc. Students really enjoyed seeing a silver looking penny.  Finally, we applied heat and allowed the copper and zinc to bond at the molecular level, creating brass.  This brass gave the pennies a "gold" appearance.

We have two more labs, a heat lab and a light stick lab coming up later this week, which will conclude our chemical reaction labs.  Astronomy will begin after the break.

UNR Fieldtrip

The weather for our excursion to the University of Nevada, Reno couldn't have been better.  Our learning began with an hour and forty minute tour around campus.  We had eight students from our class who had not ever even been on campus before. Even those who had learned something new.  I heard lots of discussions from students regarding how neat college will be to attend.  A few students were 110% energized about attending college, as the energy level regarding what they were taking away from this tour really showed me how important it was.  After our tour we sat outside the Joe Crowley Student Union and ate lunch.  Following this, a challenge was set for the 85 students to calculate the height of the J.C. Student Union.  After some practice using clinometers on trees and lamp posts, and after a quick lesson on the geometry of a 45-45-90 degree triangle, students put their new knowledge to use.  Measurements came in from 80 to 91 feet tall from the groups.  Not too bad for using a straw, a string, a washer, and a paper copy of a protractor!

Reading Week

Our class is jumping on board with Reading Week.  With a school district focus on "college and career ready", Reading Week took on the same theme.  Our class created a life-sized microbiologist drawing and researched what it takes to enter this career.  Our scientist is hanging the lunch room along with other career fields from other classes.  Today was "dress up as your future career" and many sure took the opportunity to do so.  We have lawyers, soccer players, scientists, actresses and more.

In social studies we have moved from Ancient Egypt into early Chinese culture.  With the fourth quarter starting this week we began our in-depth unit of geometry, which will take us most of the last quarter of school to complete. In reading we are analyzing poetry and even writing our own.  Science will be filled with "magic" as we explore chemical reactions over the next few weeks.  These experiments are surely to be remembered for years to come!

Next week we tour UNR to begin thinking about not only what it takes to be college and career ready, but also to get a visual of what college life entails and looks like. After we eat our sack lunch on campus we will explore how the geometry of a 45-45-90 degree triangle can help us form very close estimates of objects that are too tall to measure easily.  We will use clinometers to help measure tree and building heights.

Pi(e) Day

March 14th was a special day in our class, as we celebrated Pi (3.14).  The day began with reading where we read about the historical components of pi which led up to today's usage of the irrational number.  Next, we measured the circumference and diameter of many pies to calculate pi.  We quickly realized that it was difficult to measure the outside of a circle accurately, even with multiple hands holding a tape measure.  After lunch we reversed this process and used the diameter of a paper plate and pi to calculate the circumference of the plate.  After checking our math by actually measuring the plate we learned how to use pi to calculate the area of the plate.  The day ended with a voluntary  Pi Contest.  Students in our class and the other 5th grades demonstrated how many digits of pi they had memorized.  Skylee in our class won first prize by memorizing 93 digits of pi (Yes, NINETY-THREE!).  Second through fourth place went to students in Mrs. Espinosa's class with numbers in the sixties, fifties, and fourties.  Pretty impressive.

Mummified Oranges

Tuesday we applied what we have been learning about in social studies to mummify oranges.  Going through a similar process of the Ancient Egyptians, students scooped out the innards of the orange and replaced them with sodium bicarbonate, salt, and spices.  Next, they wrapped up the orange.  We simply have to wait a few months to see if this experiment works!

Using a Grid System in Drawing

In art we have been learning how to use a grid system to focus on small details instead of looking at an entire piece of work to draw.  In doing so, students were able to draw a very accurate bighorn sheep.  We will be using a similar technique as our class art project for the art auction this year. 

Looking at Cells

Our science is moving into the basic understanding of cells.  Yesterday, students made wet-mount slides of a slice of onion and observed the cells under the microscopes.  Most were able to identify the nucleus after we stained the cells with iodine, and ALL could certainly see the cell walls.  This week in class we move into understanding the basics of what is inside a cell.

As for social studies, we have moved into the Egyptian culture.  Students will design an Egyptian city for their "pharaoh"  Ramses II.  They must use what they've learned about the culture, and their leader to incorporate these into their design.  Next week we will combine science and social studies and have kids begin the multi-month task of mummifying oranges and comparing/contrasting this method to real Egyptian mummification.

Writing in Ancient Cuneiform

After learning about ancient Mesopotamia, students translated their Latin based words into the ancient cunieform.  Next, they read several recipes of salt dough and selected the one they felt was best for a "clay tablet".  Finally, they used a triangular shaped scribe to write their message on their tablet.

Calculating Tree Height

A challenge was presented to the class this week, to calculate the height of the trees on the playground to the nearest centimeter safely and using math.  After analyzing the situation on the playground yesterday, eventually the class realized that if they used ratios and proportions they could complete the challenge.

After a day of posed practice problems in the classroom, student groups set out today to find several tree heights.  First, they measured the height of one of their members, as well as the person's shadow.  They then set this ratio up into a proportion against the tree's height (a variable) and the length of the tree's shadow.  Returning to the classroom and using calculators and a team effort, students successfully (we imagine, as it will be hard to actually calculate without climbing) found the heights of the trees.

It was fantastic to see the excitement of everyone as they raced against time as well as the sun coming and going out from behind the clouds.

Inventions!

We have began our journey of inventing something new to help solve a problem for society, both serious problems and recreational ones.  This week we spent three days developing our invention ideas.  Many students surveyed other people on their top three ideas to even further narrow down to the best concept that people "need".  Time was spent doing research on the United States Patent and Trademark website and Google Patents.  The goal here was to have hard evidence that it is a new invention and not something that has already been invented.