For a special Halloween science class, the 4th and 6th grade students made a bubbling witch's brew of water, vegetable oil, food coloring, and alka seltzer tablets. The project gave us a great forum to talk about density of liquids AND have some fun too! Here's a video to get a better sense of the project.
6th grade is in the process of creating unique creatures that meet all the criteria for life. Check back in on Friday to see some of the creative results!
Ask your 6th grader what "Mrs. Nerg" stands for. **Hint...hint...it has to do with the characteristics of living things. See the answer below.
Answer: movement, respiration, sensitivity, nutrition, excretion, reproduction, and growth.
It's hard to imagine that all living things respond to stimuli. Below is a video of plants responding to the light in their environment...phototropism.
Students in 6S did chalk drawings of microscopic organisms in the courtyard. Many of the students illustrated organisms that they had previously seen in their examination of Harlem Meerpond water.
6th graders learned how to make a wet-mount slide, and viewed pond water samples under the microscope.
They saw up close, various organisms from kingdoms plantae, animalia, and protista. The 6th graders are now in the process of sketching and identifying the organisms. Here are some photographs of the microorganisms that we took in class.
Students in 6S and their Grandfriends, checked-in on the bald eagle family in Decorah, IA. Here are some of the new facts that were uncovered...
According to William, humans are the most important source of mortality for this species. In fact, according to Emmet, Nick and Ashley, the bald eagle was threatened with extinction because of the pesticide, DDT, but now due to conservation, as of 2007, they are off the list.
Riya tells us that the bald eagle, native to North America, was originally bred in Central Alaska, Northern Canada, Central Arizona, and around the Gulf of Mexico.
Charlotte S. adds that they are accomplished and opportunistic food thieves and in mid-November, at least 4,000 bald eagles gather in Alaska to prey on salmon.
Nora and Arthur tell us that bald eagle nests can weigh up to 2 tons and that they are so adaptable that in one case, a couple nested on a giant cactus.
Finally, Lydia and Madison discovered that the bald eagle engages in a spectacular courting ritual in which a pair of eagles will fly very high, lock feet together, then tumble and cartwheel toward the ground, breaking apart at the last possible moment.
Yesterday the weather was perfect for a trip to Central Park! Students in 6D headed to the Harlem Meer to collect pond water to use for our study of microorganisms. Next week we will examine the pond water under the microscopes. Check back in to find out what we discover!
In keeping with this week's theme, Issues Facing our Environment (culminating in our Earth Day assembly tomorrow), the 6th grade students discussed and debated America's obsession with bottled water. Students watched a short video on the benefits of bottled water, produced by the International Bottle Water Association as well as short video entitled, "The Story of Bottled Water," produced by environmental activist, Annie Leonard.