May 13, 2014 Blog Posting

Kindergarten and Level One

We continued our exploration of the five senses with sight.

Next week will be our last class on the senses as we learn more about hearing.

May 27 will be a fun review day with cupcakes!

HOMEWORK:  No homework.

Level Two and Three

Our class has explored the age of the earth and how fossils are formed.  We will continue on this topic next week with strata cake.

May 27 will be a fun review day.  Questions will have point value.  Cupcakes and candy can be purchased with test points.

HOMEWORK: No homework!

April 29, 2014 Blog Posting

Kindergarten and Level One

We have moved from animals to humans in our studies.  The five senses are our next line of study.  The sense of touch was our focus today.

We found out that our finger tips are the part of our body best equipped to touch and examine objects.  Blindfolded, we tried to discern certain objects with our sense of touch.  The elbow and leg did not give us enough sensory information.

We will continue with the other four senses in the weeks to come.

HOMEWORK:  No homework.

Level Two and Three

Moving from moon craters to earth craters!  We saw pictures of very old craters on our Earth’s surface.  We learned three reasons that the moon’s surface is full of impact craters and our Earth’s surface is not.  I hope your cherub can tell you these.

There is a completed worksheet from class.

Our next field of study is fossils.

HOMEWORK: No homework!

April 23, 2014 Blog Posting

Kindergarten and Level One

Today, we learned about arctic mammals.  We used vegetable shortening to demonstrate how blubber actually keeps the warm-blooded animals warm! 

After this, we practiced using an intersecting Venn diagram.  Some of the arctic mammals were also ocean mammals.  The students did this task very well.  We are going to practice with other Venn diagrams next class.

Here are a few fun videos of arctic mammals that we did not see in class:

Laziest Walrus Colony Ever

Listen to these animals snore and notice their blubber (fat).  Remember what that does for this large warm-blooded arctic mammal.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6a0Wkq9wZE

Wild Kratts Walrus Show (27 Minutes)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMQ_XwQzmIQ

Baby Arctic Foxes

60 grams equals about 23 pennies

-50 degrees Celsius = -58 degrees Fahrenheit

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VX-nH79PMqc

HOMEWORK:  No homework.

 

Level Two and Three

We discussed the moon’s surface.  We defined craters, meteoroids, and moon seas.  Our demonstration of moon craters involved flour and cocoa.

If you would like a moon map, here are some links:

Moon Maps:

http://www.canaryzoo.com/space%20map%20of%20the%20moon.htm

http://www.johnstonsarchive.net/astro/moonmapbig.jpg

HOMEWORK: No homework!

March 31, 2014 Blog Posting

Kindergarten and Level One

Today, we learned about pouch mammals.  I am working on having the students learn to identify groups of animals with sets.  For example, all rodents are mammals but all mammals are not rodents.  I am using a very basic set diagram.  I will be introducing the intersecting Venn Diagram in two weeks.

Level One practiced placing toy animals on a large diagram in the correct set.  They did wonderfully.

Here are a few fun videos of these pouch mammals (marsupials) that we did not see in class:

Pet Kangaroo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=itS4LrdCtfE

Some other marsupials:

Playful Wombat at the Zoo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qE82eFD7AjI

The Snowboarding Opossum

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21XBFaG5zGY

Koala Hospital (Koala is not a bear!)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nyAwTuHYgDs

HOMEWORK:  No homework.

 

Level Two and Three

We reviewed and/or learned some moon facts.  We demonstrated the moon’s gravitational pull that causes Earth’s tides.  The Bay of Fundi has the most dramatic tides on Earth.  We watched a time-lapse video of a 12-hour period.

Here’s some review:

Moon and Earth’s Tides:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRPtNAA-9UE

HOMEWORK:

Review the moon phases and tides for another candy quiz on Tuesday! 

 

March 25, 2014 Blog Posting

Kindergarten and Level One

We are continuing to study mammals.  Today, we learned about the only two egg-laying mammals: the platypus and the echidna.  Both live in Australia.

Here are a few fun videos of these mammals:

Playing with a baby platypus – Super Cute!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6QHzIJO5a8

Wild Kratts Episode on the Platypus

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_QyjeoKohJ8

Video about echidna (Note: the word monotreme simply means egg-laying mammal)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Qm6O-HG02E

Baby echidna called a puggle:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGleaTJoy1U 

HOMEWORK:  No homework.
 

 Level Two and Three

We have begun studying the moon.  We learned the eight phases of the moon today with a live demo and oreos!Here’s some review:
Moon phases:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhokvJZFURg 

Fun Moon Phases Song:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MyWd_F3iS00

Do you like it? 

HOMEWORK:Review the moon phases for a candy quiz on Tuesday!  Let me know what you think of the song. 

March 4, 2014 Blog Posting

Kindergarten Class –

Today, we started our animal study.  We began with mammals.  There should be a list of mammal traits in your child’s Science Journal like this:

                             MAMMALS

·      Breathe air

·      Have backbones

·      Warm-blooded

·      Have hair or fur

·       Babies drink milk from mother

HOMEWORK:  Draw two mammals in your Science Journal.

Level One –

Today, we began a new study on animals.  We began discussing mammal traits.

There should be a list in your child’s science notebook.  If not, here is the list:

·      Breathe air

·      Have backbones

·      Warm-blooded

·      Have hair or fur

·      Give birth to live babies

·       Babies drink milk from mother

HOMEWORK:  Draw two mammals in your notebook.  The option of cutting out pictures and pasting those in is totally okay.

Level Two –

Link to our song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eA86dYxrg4Q

Today, we learned more about the scientific method with M&M’s.  What better way!  We will continue with this study next week.

HOMEWORK:

Think about your Science Fair project.    If you have any questions, please feel free to email me:  libbymonte@yahoo.com.

NO OTHER HOMEWORK!

Level Three -

Link to our song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eA86dYxrg4Q  

Today, we learned more about the scientific method with M&M’s.  What better way!  We will continue with this study next week.

HOMEWORK:

Think about your Science Fair project.  Start filling out your  project worksheet.  If you have any questions, please feel free to email me:  libbymonte@yahoo.com.

I will not be able to answer any email on Monday before class; therefore, please email me before then.  Thank you.

Feb. 25, 2014 Blog Posting

Preschool Class –

Today, we began discussing our Science Fair presentations.  Several students said they might do something on animals.  I offered the class to start a new study on animals or planets.  Animals won.  We will begin this new topic next week.

HOMEWORK:  NO HOMEWORK!

Level One –

Our chant to practice: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YyOUTZXaII

Discussion on our science fair presentations was part of today.  We also worked on an experiment with a toy car and how different surfaces affected its speed. 

HOMEWORK:  NO HOMEWORK!

Level Two –

Link to our song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eA86dYxrg4Q

HOMEWORK:

Think about your Science Fair project.  Remember to think about your variables.  If you have any questions, please feel free to email me:  libbymonte@yahoo.com.

I will not be able to answer any email on Monday before class; therefore, please email me before then.  Thank you.

Level Three -

Link to our song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eA86dYxrg4Q  

HOMEWORK:

Think about your Science Fair project.  Start filling out your  project worksheet.  If you have any questions, please feel free to email me:  libbymonte@yahoo.com.

I will not be able to answer any email on Monday before class; therefore, please email me before then.  Thank you.