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.

Feb. 11, 2014 Blog Posting

Feb. 11, 2014 Blog Posting

Preschool Class –

Today, we continued our study of density – how tightly bound together molecules are. 

We demonstrated that salt water is more dense than tap water; therefore, some items can float on salt water and not on tap water.

HOMEWORK:  Find something at home that sinks in tap water.  Do you think it will float in salt water?  Draw a picture of your prediction.  Bring the item to class and we will test it on our salt water next week!

Level One –

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

Today, we once again demonstrated the property of water to stick to itself.  We put drops of water on a penny and watched the water form a dome before it overflowed.

We then reviewed the datum that soap weakens water’s surface tension.  We then tried to put the equal amount of soapy water droplets on the penny as we did with tap water.

HOMEWORK:  Think about what interests you for scientific experimenting.  Let’s talk about your science fair ideas next week.

Level Two –

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

This week’s focus: More on the Scientific Method

Your Learning Goal:

Think of questions and form hypothesis that would be testable.

Video to Watch and create your own notes:

Example of the Scientific Method

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FuG75c-xZ94

HOMEWORK:

Please think up one scientific question and a hypothesis that you could develop from that question.  If you have any problems, 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.

Bring your completed notes back to class on Tuesday.  Remember try to find the most important bits of data from the video and record those in your science notebook.  Please also bring any questions you have about the videos. 

Level Three -

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

This week’s focus:  More on the Scientific Method

Your Learning Goal:

Think of questions and form hypothesis that would be testable.

Videos to Watch:   

Conducting an Experiment Using the Scientific Method

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iuzu0OphyDY

You should have learned a bit more about experiments that follow the scientific method.

If your experiment is conducted correctly, then another person should ___________________________.

Why does she use four glasses and why does she repeat the experiment?

Scientific Method – Myth Busters

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAC0NSFNEPQ

Be able to identify the parts of the experiment.

HOMEWORK:

Please think up one scientific question and a hypothesis that you could develop from that question.  If you have any problems, 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.

Please bring your video notes, questions and hypothesis to class on Tuesday.

Scientist Assignment:

Where did your scientist(s) attend school?  What was his or her scientific training?

Feb. 4, 2014 Blog Posting

Preschool Class –

Today, we continued our discussion of states of matter.  We reviewed the concept of density – how tightly bound together molecules are. 

We found that salt water is more dense than tap water.  The colored tap water actually sat on top of the blue colored tap water.

We also demonstrated the different densities of liquids by pouring corn syrup, water, vegetable oil, and rubbing alcohol into a bottle and watching the layers form.  

Homework:  Find a bottle of Italian salad dressing.  Let the liquids settle and notice the layers.  Draw a picture in your journal.  If you do not have Italian salad dressing, ask your parent to mix some oil and water in a jar for you.

Level One –

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

Today, we practiced our prediction skills again and reviewed the surface tension of water. 

We learned that soap breaks that surface tension.   Several demonstrations of items that would float on water, but not on soapy water, confirmed this.

We also performed a few demonstrations of water molecules “running away” from the soap.

HOMEWORK:  Show your parents or sibling the floating pepper trick.  Have fun!

Level Two –

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

This week’s focus: Hypothesis

Your Learning Goals:

1. What is a hypothesis?

2. Why must you observe first to create a hypothesis?

3. In what format should you write a hypothesis?

Videos to Watch and create your own notes:

Science Pirates Songs – Hypothesis Song

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=giC6ZYBIeFY

The Scientific Method Part 3:  Writing a Hypothesis

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=toXn1iFaBzQ

When watching this video, please put these phrases in your notes and fill them in:

A hypothesis is a _________________ prediction.

The format for a hypothesis is a If, ________ statement.

Bring your completed notes back to class on Tuesday.  Remember try to find the most important bits of data and record those in your science notebook.  Please also bring any questions you have about the videos. 

Level Three -

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

This week’s focus:  Testing A Hypothesis

Learning Goals: 

·       Be able to define a controlled experiment.

·       What is a fair test?

Videos to Watch:   

Scientific Method – Test Your Hypothesis

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46R7Tnz0Fno

This video is 13 minutes long.  It has super great data.  There is a monkey dance song in the background that I found annoying.  What do you think?

There are four questions at the end of the video.  Please try to answer these.  We will go over these in class.

Scientist Assignment:

You should continue your research on your scientist.  How do you think your scientist performed a controlled experiment?  What did she or he do to ensure it was controlled?

All Earth Science Classes - Jan. 28, 2014

Jan. 28, 2013 Blog Posting

Preschool Class –

Today, we continued our discussion of states of matter.  We reviewed and then learned about density – how tightly bound together molecules are.  Some items are very dense – like a rock.  Some items are less dense – like a cotton ball.

We demonstrated this concept by weighing the same amount of different matters.

HOMEWORK:  Find something in your house that is more dense than water and will sink in your sink or bathtub.  Can you find something less dense than water that will float on top of the water?  Draw a picture in your journal.

Level One –

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

Today, we practiced our prediction skills again and reviewed the surface tension of water.  We reviewed that water molecules like to stick together and this creates the “strength” of the water’s surface to support weight.

We demonstrated the “stickiness” of water molecules by watching water rise above the surface of a container before it overflowed.  We used our magnifying glasses.  Yay!

We had a lovely time with classmates sharing their science treasures.  Thank you, Amelia, Ruby and Charleigh!

HOMEWORK:  Show your parents or sibling how water rises up over the edge of a glass before it overflows.  You can predict how many drops will hold together until the glass overflows.  Test your prediction.  Have fun!

Level Two –

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

This week’s focus: Scientific Variables

Your Learning Goals:

1. What is an independent variable?

2. What is a controlled variable?

3. What is a dependent variable?

Videos to Watch and create your own notes:

Science Variables

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2606GQmDqY

Bring your completed notes back to class on Tuesday.  Remember try to find the most important bits of data and record those in your science notebook.  Please also bring any questions you have about the videos. 

Level Three -

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

This week’s focus:  Writing a Hypothesis

Learning Goals: 

·       Be able to define and give examples of good hypothesis.

·       Be able to explain why you take notes in the format that you have chosen.

·       Be ready to share a hypothesis that your scientist may have created.

Videos to Watch:   

How to Write a Hypothesis

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5x0oBMAk9g

This one (the one above) is nine minutes longs.  It contains lectures from two different teachers.  Listen carefully and see if you can understand the specific formula for all hypotheses (the plural form of hypothesis).

How to Formulate a Hypothesis

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bp2fbzWZDmA

Science Pirates Songs – Hypothesis Song

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=giC6ZYBIeFY

Scientist Assignment:

You should continue your research on your scientist.  Please come to class ready to share one hypothesis your scientist may have formulated.