Science

The class wrapped up our unit on sound and light waves with a partner challenge.  Each team worked together to set up a system that would bend light around a corner using a variety of mirrors and clay.

February in science was dedicated to our inventions unit.  To introduce the idea of inventions, students created skits to portray how common items, such as bandaids and silly putty were invented. Then, looking at inventions such as the first cars and airplanes, our class explored the idea that inventions are always being improved upon and made better. For the invention convention, each student selected a common item, such as a dog bowl or roller skates, looked at past and present versions of it, and then designed a future version.  The class worked hard to create models of their inventions, as well as display boards to go along with them.

After the invention convention, students were given a fun bubble blowing engineering challenge.  Students first tested different bubble blowing techniques with only straws to determine which methods formed bigger bubbles and more bubbles. They were then challenged to build a bubble blower that could either produce bigger bubbles, or more bubbles than the ones created using just a straw.

Currently our class is exploring what is in the sky. Students have been learning more about the sun, and we are in the middle of a whole class project to build a large working sundial.  Stay tuned for photos of the finished product in the future!

One story that was a big hit during our inventions unit was Papa’s Mechanical Fish. This book is available at the library if you are interested in reading it at home. Another activity that you could do at home would be to observe the night sky, and discuss with your child what they notice.