Science
October was an exciting month in science! Students continued their exploration of food webs with a variety of activities including a food chain card game and an ecosystem simulation. After our simulation, students recorded data related to the relationship between a predator, it’s prey, and resources such as food and water. The class then used the data to create colorful line graphs.
Graph displaying the number of deer, mountain lions, and resources after each round (year).
Each student created their own unique Plantimal, which is a cross between a plant and an animal that can produce its own food.
Plantimals: An elephant that produces its own leaves, and a horse that produces its own flowers.
Our study of producers (plants) led our class to an investigation on how solar light can be used as heat energy, and students built and tested three different styles of solar ovens. During this lab, we compared and analyzed the ovens for efficiency by recording temperature over time, and also by testing each oven’s ability to make smores.
Solar ovens: cone, box and parabolic cookers
Smore taffy??
After solar ovens, students were asked to discuss how plants turn sunlight into energy, and groups were given the task of piecing together the key elements of the photosynthesis equation.
Illustration of photosynthesis in action.
We celebrated Halloween (and National Candy Corn Day) with a candy corn science lab. This was also a great way to practice the scientific method. Student groups chose six different liquids and tested how long it would take for candy corn to dissolve in each one.
Testing candy corn is even more exciting with colorful fangs!
Coming up in November: Students will be studying types of fossils, how they are formed, and some of the processes paleontologists go through in their efforts to explain the past. At the end of November, we will have an exciting presentation from Dinosaurs Rock, where students will have the opportunity to experience real fossils. http://dinosaursrockprograms.com/dinosaurs-rock-school-assembly/