Surface Tension

We investigated forces such as gravity and surface tension today.  Students were challenged to make a paperclip "float" on top of the water in their cups.  Only one group was able to get it to work.  I sent home paperclips for my competitive friends that wanted to keep trying!

Distance & Speed

Today in science we read about distance and speed.  We learned that two things might go the same speed, but can stop at different distances.  We also learned that we can go the same distance, but move at different speeds.  We discussed how to measure with a clock and with rulers.  To test these concepts out, students had to work in teams to record the time it took to walk down the hall, and compare it to the time it took to crawl down the hall.

Force & Motion

We started our final chapter on force and motion today in science.  We read about different types of motions (back & forth, zig-zag, straight line, fast motion, slow motion), then headed outside to try them out!  The students had to work with a partner to demonstrate a motion while their partners recorded it on the iPads.  We came back inside to show our videos and explain the motions we demonstrated.

Reflection & Refraction

We wrote words on notecards today, then held them up to the mirror to see how the reflection changes it.  We also put pencils in a glass of water to see how refraction

 bent the light to make the pencil look broken.

Conductors & Insulators

We have been learning about heat in science.  Today we continued our discussion of conductors and insulators.  I filled 3 trays with hot water, and put butter on a piece of wood, a sponge, and a metal lid.  The students recorded their observations at the beginning, and after 5 minutes.  We then had to determine which materials were conductors, and which ones were insulators.  Check out our results!

Beginning (metal)

After 5 minutes (metal)

Beginning (sponge)

After 5 minutes (sponge)

Beginning (wood)

After 5 minutes (wood)

Ag in the Classroom

Mrs. Clodfelter visited our classroom yesterday to talk about growing vegetables.  She read a book to us, and talked about hydroponics.  The students had an opportunity to create a "garden in a glove" where they started germinating corn, pea, cucumber, radish, and carrot seeds.  We just love it when she visits!

Sorting with Magnets

We've been talking about magnets and electricity in science, and today we used magnets to help us sort objects.  The students had to sort paperclips and plastic beads by hand, and then again using a magnet.  The sort was timed, and our data was recorded in our science journals.

Magnet Lab

We discussed different magnets today, and made predictions about whether or not the shape of a magnet determined its strength.  We tried out horseshoe magnets and bar magnets, and recorded our data in our science journals.

Electricity Unit

We kicked off our unit on electricity with a visit from Sheldon Finley from Finley Electric today.  He showed the students how to build series and parallel circuits to light a bulb.  We added switches to the circuits to make them more complicated.  The students even had a chance to build circuits to start a fan, and ring a bell.  We had a great time, and I think I have a few future electricians in 3B!

Science News

We made models of windmills today to see how wind energy works.

Science Lab

Check out these pictures from our foil boats lab today!

Science Lab

We started our chapter on matter today by doing an activity with volume.  Students filled containers of various shapes and sizes with 100 mL of water.  We discussed why some containers appeared to have more water than others.  Have your kids ever done this at home when they think a sibling got more to drink than they did?  We recorded our results in our science journal, and will learn more about matter and volume tomorrow.

Water Pollution

We have been reading about different types of pollution in science class.  Today students were provided with a container of "pollution" that can harm the water.  As I read a story to the class, each student had to listen for his or her item, then add it to the water.  Check out our pictures below, and ask your child, "Who polluted the water?"

Soil Layers

We have been reading about soil layers in science class.  Today we used some fun snacks to make a model of the bedrock, subsoil, topsoil, and humus.

Cookie Mining

Today in science we started our chapter on resources.  In order to better understand natural resources, we discussed mining and how it impacts the land around it.  We used chocolate chip cookies and toothpicks as models to "mine" for chocolate chips!

Ag in the Classroom

Mrs. Clodfelter visited our classroom today to tell us all about soybeans.  We watched a Bean Team video and made our own "Beanie Babies."  We love it when she visits!

Science News

We completed a lab activity in class today to learn about how landforms such as mountains are formed.  We recorded our observations of a stack of dry paper towels, then got the towels wet.  We pushed the sides together to form a peak in the middle similar to a mountain, then recorded our new observations.  The students completed a lab results table and response questions in their science journals.

Ag in the Classroom

We had Ag in the Classroom today, where we learned all about corn!

Adaptation Lab

We have been discussing ecosystems in science class.  Today we went outside to find toothpicks in the grass.  So what in the world does this have to do with ecosystems?  We discovered that some of the colors of toothpicks were more challenging to find than others.  The toothpicks were just like animals that blend in to their environments.  These adaptations help animals survive in their ecosystems.

After we came back inside, we used our math skills!  Students had to tally their findings, make a frequency chart, then create a bar graph of their results!  We even practiced skip counting our tallies!

Ecosystems

We have been discussing ecosystems in science.  We read about the difference between a freshwater and a saltwater ecosystem.  We tried to float tennis balls in saltwater and freshwater to see if there was a difference.  Ask your child what he/she observed today!