Harvest
Sound
Fourth grade scientists investigated sound. We used tuning forks to feel and hear vibrations. Then we struck the tuning forks and held them on lab tables. The volume of the sound increased, but we could really hear the sound when we placed our ears on the tables. Sound waves (unlike light waves) need to travel through a medium such as a solid, liquid, or gas. The sound waves move through each of these mediums by vibrating the molecules in the matter. The molecules in solids are packed very tightly. The spacing of the molecules enables sound to travel much faster through a solid than a gas (air).
In our next investigation, I swung air tubes. As air spiraled through the tubes, we heard sound. The sound has a higher pitch the faster the tube moves. If the opening is covered preventing air to enter the tube, sound stops. We will each have a chance to use these in our next lab. Click here to learn more.
We wrapped string around our fingers that was attached to a spoon or a hanger. As we hit the objects against different materials around the lab, the sound waves traveled up the string into our ears with surprising results.
Conference
I had a great time being a student at the National Science Teachers Conference. My favorite session was hosted by the Bug Chicks. I learned more about choosing and caring for arthropods in the classroom. Click here to meet these fun scientists who LOVE bugs!
I think we need a millipede in the lab!
I plan to purchase some silkworms, so we can watch them go through metamorphosis.
Some of the fun items I purchased for the lab.
Father Daughter Dance
Feeling a little nostalgic this week. Thought I’d share a photo of my daughter, Kelsey, and her dad at the first KRCS Father Daughter Dance. She was in fifth grade. Can’t believe almost 18 years have passed since this moment! Sometimes the days seem so long, but the years really do pass quickly. Enjoy each precious moment with those beautiful children. Love well!
Solutions
When you add some solids to water, they dissolve and seem to disappear. But other solids sink to the bottom and can still be seen and separated from the water. Why? Click here to watch the video that introduced this lab.
My first grade chemists continued their study of matter by pouring salt, pepper, jello, flour, sugar, and oats in water to determine if they would make a suspension or a solution. We completed a lab report as we worked.
This is a great lab to extend at home. Try mixing other solids and liquids that you have in your pantry or refrigerator with water. Did you make a solution or a suspension?