Jan. 14, 2013 Blog Posting

Preschool Class –

Our students are still focusing on the three states of matter.  Today, we learned some properties of each:

Gases: molecules far apart, usually can’t see gas, takes the shape of its container

Liquids: molecules close together, visible, takes the shape of its container

Solids: molecule together tightly, visible, usually holds its shape

Your young scientist was presented with a Science Journal to record things he or she notices in their world.

We learned about tally marks today.  They may need to practice this with you or at least get a refresher.

HOMEWORK:  Watch a friend, parent or pet for one or two minutes.  Record how many times he or she blinks using tally marks.   If your child can write, he or she can spell out the name of the person or pet.  A drawing of the observed one is totally okay.

Level One –

Today in class, we reviewed observe and infer.  There should be a handout pasted in your student notebook. 

If you get confused or are unsure in any way, please email me: libbymonte@yahoo.com.

HOMEWORK:

1) Continue to practice the chant: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YyOUTZXaII

2) Observe a place, person or animal.  Record three factual observations – something that is a fact, not opinion.  Then, make one inference from all the information that you have.

(Example:  I see a neighbor’s house at night.  There are no cars in the driveway.  There are no lights on in the house.  There is a package from the postal worker on the front porch that has not yet been picked up.  Those are my facts.  I will infer that my neighbor is not home.)

3) Please record this in your science notebook and bring it back to class.

Level Two –

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

This week’s focus: Creating a Scientific Question

Your Learning Goal:  What is a good scientific question?

VIDEO:  A Testable Questions (Very short video with examples of Testable Questions)

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

There are notes from class and a homework assignment.  The notes should be pasted into your science notebook.

HOMEWORK:  Compose one bad scientific question for each of the points from your notes.  Example (Good Scientific Questions are not about opinions.  My bad question is:  Is hot chocolate the best drink for the winter?)  (Good Scientific Questions can be proven true or false.  My bad question is:  Do aliens live on Mars?)

When your bad questions are complete, think hard and create TWO scientific questions about which you could create an experiment or do a test.

If you are not sure and you want to chat with me, please email me any time – libbymonte@yahoo.com.

Bring your notebook back to class on Tuesday.  Please also bring any questions or cool observations that you would like to share. 

Level Three -

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

This week’s focus:  Testable Questions

Learning Goals: 

·       What makes a good scientific question?  

    Be able to list several do’s and don’ts. 

·       Continue to explore a note-taking format that best suits your learning style.

·       Continue to find out information on your scientist.  Try to find out what she or they did specifically in words that you and all of us will understand.  Please think about a good scientific question that she or they would have asked.  Think of good question that would be testable.

Videos to Watch:   

Science Fair: 

Asking Testable Questions Notes http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5XMbpfDxF8

A Testable Questions (Very short video with examples of Testable Questions)

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