Third and fourth grade students have the option to participate in the annual Invention Convention. These entrepreneurs create and then share an innovative product with their classmates before moving to the Minnow Tank which is our version of the TV show Shark Tank. As they worked on their inventions, they applied twenty-first century learning including creativity, critical thinking, initiative, and communication skills.
Scientists classify everything! PreK scientists continued their study of the ocean with a lab that focused on shells. At the end of lab, they were each given a bag of shells to classify by physical properties of their choice- types, color, size, texture, luster, etc.
To conclude lab, I took our hermit crabs out of their habitat for us to observe.Hermit crabs are born in the ocean and find a shell in which to live. They have five pairs of legs and their eyes are on stalks. They are nocturnal, oviparous, and omnivores. Although terrestrial, they breathe through gills and require both freshwater and saltwater to keep their gills wet (a fact that many pet owners don’t realize.)
Have you ever seen a hermit crab change shells?
This scientist won the opportunity to be my lab helper for the day. We fed the lab animals, went to kindergarten play practice, put up an International Day bulletin board, and set-up, taught, and cleaned-up four labs. He ate lunch with the other teachers and was able to choose selections from the adult salad bar. What a fun day for us both!
When electricity flows in a wire, a magnetic field appears. This discovery led to the development of electric motors. They can be found in many electronics today.
Third grade scientists made a simple electromagnet which is a temporary magnet that is made by coiling wire around an iron core. When current flows in the coil, the iron becomes a magnet.
First grade meteorologists investigated vortexes in this weather lab. A vortex is a mass of whirling fluid or air. A tornado is an example of a vortex. Click here to learn more about tornadoes.
What do you wonder about this vortex bank? What if we placed more than one coin inside at the same time? Would the size of the coin (nickel, dime, or quarter) change the speed? How would a marble or a ball move? Click here to watch one in action.
A milk frother can form a vortex.
This jar is just filled with water, a little dish soap, and glitter. Twirl it and a vortex that looks just like a tornado appears.
At the end of lab, we used tornado tubes. How do they work? Through our investigation, we discovered that the air and water are changing places.
I used a tornado tube between two jars filled with Styrofoam balls and water. What is happening? Why?
I filled this air vortex cannon with water vapor. Watch it in slow motion. Click here. (Wait for it!)
I pulled out our new wind tunnel. It came with three different materials of various weights, sizes, and shapes. Airflow can be adjusted by opening and closing the vents on top. We had fun thinking like scientists and trying to predict how the materials might move. We also tried some other objects.
