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?