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?