Second grade biologists are studying invertebrates. Look what arrived in the mail! I checked on the butterfly and ladybug larvae today and they have doubled in size in just a couple of days.
Click here to watch the tunnels the ants made in less than 24 hours.
My first grade engineers were asked to construct a bridge that could hold pennies with four sheets of paper. How could we fold, twist, bend, or roll the paper to make it stronger? Click here to watch the video that introduced this lesson.
Click here to watch a video that we watched after we tested our designs.
After a short lesson about batteries, my first grade scientists used a battery to make simple circuits. For one of our circuits, we used a C battery and a section of Christmas lights. I demonstrated how to strip the ends to reveal the wires.
We also used energy sticks to create human circuits. This is such a fun science tool! The entire class held hands to complete the circuit and then we divided into small groups to experiment with them. Click here to learn more about how the energy stick works.
In our final activity, I demonstrated how to complete a circuit using a potato as your energy source.
Kindergarten’s lab focused on balance. We stood on one foot, then the other, and then on one foot with our eyes closed. We observed what we did with our arms when we began to lose our balance. One of my little physicists suggested that we stare at something to help us keep our balance. Then we tried to balance books on our head and we walked forward and backward on a balance beam. My scientists used a number balance (one of my favorite math tools) with a lab partner to balance equations.
At the end of lab, we took out our balance birds. The children were fascinated with this simple science tool. Just look at those faces. I have the best job ever!
First grade scientists loved investigating static electricity! Like magnets, it is another invisible force that can make objects move. We made Styrofoam balls dance inside static tubes. After rubbing balloons on wool, the balloon pulled up our hair and stuck to the wall. We used static electricity to make the snake twist and the paper man dance. I used a fun fly stick to make foil shapes levitate. Static electricity was also able to pull a can across the floor. Click here to view the video that we watched about static electricity.
