May 29

Good-Bye Science Lab

When I was chosen to be the science coordinator seven years ago and tasked with creating a science lab, I began with an empty room. Creating an inviting, engaging, learning environment has been such a labor of love.

Moving In

As I looked around the room one last time before I closed the door and took the first step in my new chapter, I thought of the classic story, Good Night Moon, in which the character says good night to all the items in his bedroom before going to sleep. I laughed at myself, as I said good-night to all my favorite spaces and materials in the lab, and thought of all the young scientists who have shared this room with me. I already miss them!


May 27

One More Worm Lab

My favorite labs are those that teach my young scientists about the natural world around them. I believe that as they understand how all living and nonliving things are interconnected, they will develop a desire to care for creation. Kindergarten, first, and Prefirst scientists learned about the habitat, lifecycle, and bodyparts of worms, as well as their role in the ecosystem.

We read Wonderful Worms together.

Wonderful Worms by Linda Glaser

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May 23

Electricity

Third grade electrical engineers used electricity kits to learn the difference between simple, parallel, and series circuits, as well as how to open and close circuits with a variety of switches. A circuit is a complete path around which electricity can flow. Click here and here to learn more about electricity and circuits.


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May 23

Hexagons

First grade expert reports are one of my favorite school events. I took a photo of this report about hexagons because of the clear connection between math and science. Great job!

May 21

Bubbles!!

To mark the end of Lower School science, fourth grade celebrated with a bubble lab! They made cube bubbles, bounced bubbles, and made bubbles inside bubbles. Observations led them to wonder and ask questions. So much science in bubbles!


May 19

Round and Round

After reviewing that objects move because of a force (a push or a pull), PreK scientists continued their study of motion with a lab about things that move in a circular path.

We observed Euler’s Disc. The chrome plated steel disk is 1/2 inch thick and three inches wide. The disk spins on a concave mirror base. The action of the disk is called spoiling which means rolling and spinning. Just give it a twist and gravity does the rest. Will it ever stop? Click here to watch it in action. Fascinating!

So much fun to watch the movement of a flow ring. Click here to learn more.



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After reading the story, Squiggle, we used ribbon dancers to mimic the character in the story. We moved them fast and slow, above and below our heads, and into a variety of shapes.

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May 18

Color Mixing

This is always a favorite investigation! The primary colors of pigment (red, yellow, and blue) mix to form the secondary colors (orange, purple, and green), but how do you create the intermediate or tertiary colors? First graders were tasked with using varying amounts of the primary colors to create 24 different colors. Click here for additional information. I used color fizzers which do not stain. How fun to have a job creating crayon or paint colors! After we mixed the colors, we named them. Click here for the color names of Crayola crayons. I witnessed an abundance of collaboration as they asked their classmates how they created the colors in their trays.

May 15

Energy Sticks and Circuits

Third grade physicists experimented with energy sticks to investigate simple circuits. The energy stick’s sensing circuit is so sensitive that it can detect even a very small amount of electricity that travels across your skin! I explained that a circuit is the flow of electrons in a closed circular path. We discovered which materials conduct electricity and how to open and close a circuit. These scientists concluded that metal objects, water, and playdoh were conductors. Salt is the conductor in playdoh. When each child placed a finger tip in a puddle of water on lab tables, the circuit was completed. This lesson provided the perfect opportunity to discuss the importance of keeping electrical appliances away from water. Click here and here to learn more about one of my very favorite science tools!

I also demonstrated this energy stick conductor.

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