Posterous theme by Cory Watilo

What Happens When You Microwave Ivory Soap?

3/7/13

I know this is something that everyone has been wondering! 

So far, the students have hypothesized, observed the results, and brainstormed a list of questions and information necessary to gather before we can really understand WHY we got the results that we did.  Talk to your 4th grader about the experiment. 

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This is the Ivory soap before.
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This is the Ivory soap after 90 seconds in the microwave.

Here is a video of what it looked like inside of the microwave...it's pretty astounding!

 

 

Periodic Table Hangman

2/28/13
Working during Discovery Center and several lunch periods, Brian, Will and Clara (4G) developed a game that combined their love of the Periodic Table of Elements with hangman. The three students came up with game materials and a format for implementing the game with the whole class. Thanks to Brian, Will and Clara, we had a blast!

(download)

Digestive System

2/27/13
As 5th grade students continue to study the human body, they used everyday objects to model the digestive system. Here are a few of the facts the students found particularly interesting:
-The small intestine is about 7 meters long.
-The large intestine is actually shorter than the small intestine, but larger in diameter.
-Humans have an appendix even though it doesn't serve any real purpose.

(download)

3rd Graders Sow Seeds

2/25/13

Today and tomorrow, the 3rd grade students are sowing seeds that will eventually be planted in courtyard SIPs (Sub-Irrigated Planters) as well as individual SIPs.  As part of the lesson...

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...students learn about perennials and annuals,
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and dissect the common and scientific names of the plants in an effort to understand the characteristics of each plant. 
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Next students work in teams to fill each plant tray cell with potting soil and sow a variety of seeds according to the specifications on the seed packets.
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Then students water the seeds.
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Finally, students take time to write in their science notebooks,
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and predict what their plant will eventually look like based on the characteristics of the common and scientific names of each plant.

Thank you to parents, Meika and Allison, for coming in and teaching us how to sow seeds!

4RJ... Case Closed!

2/14/13

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Mr. Kelleher should be relieved! The 4RJ forensic investigators dusted the evidence (DVD case) for latent prints and it was determined that suspect E is the friend that committed the crime at Mr. Kelleher's party!