Why Are We Learning This?

Last Week

Pierre reads his short story to the class.

A student holds Fahrenheit 451,
a book on the
Bucket List of Science Fiction

Because of a staff illness, we had to rearrange some plans in Science. While the students were asked to keep up with their Lesson 4 reading, we worked on building inference skills as we read They Are Made Of Meat, a short story by Terry Bisson. As we read, students were asked to write what they knew and, as a result, what they could infer, (ex: we know that the characters collect samples and study them. We can INFER that they are scientists.)

Children experience a "bomb drill" to get context about the
short story, "There Will Come Soft Rains" by Ray Bradbury.

We also touched on how authors have used science fiction to investigate how science and technology effects our lives now and in the future. Many science fiction stories investigate themes such as nuclear war, peace, and religion. As an exercise in narrative writing, I asked the students to write their own science fiction story. I was impressed and entertained.

I am editing them for grammar, spelling, and style. (this was a pass/fail grade. They received full points for completing it) 

As a bonus, I gave my students a 'Bucket List" of Science Fiction literature.
What would you add to the list. Feel free to comment. 

Next week

5th through 7th will focus on the WHY's of scientific research in preparation for the UNIT test on Friday. They can use previous tests and flashcards as study guides.

8th Grade will take a test on Tuesday on the history of life on earth. I predict they will do well. From there we will examine classification. They are already familiar with the vocabulary and concepts I expect them to do well.

They have already had access to the cards. I am sharing them with you.

The Best Plane EVER!

Last Week

5th, 6th, and 7th grades studied about how we get scientific

Osamu Imamura places a paper airplane in a
wind tunnel. His plan? To launch this plane
from space!

knowledge. They learned how and why we form new hypothesis and come up with new scientific ideas. As a lab, the students are working on a long-term project of testing airplanes to see which types flies the farthest.
Next week, we will be completing our experiment, looking at our result, and sharing our procedure with other classes to get consensus on our findings. 

This mosquito is trapped in amber. It may
actually have fed on dinosaurs!

8th Grade studies fossils! We talked about how fossils are formed and made our own "fossils" using Play-Doh. This lesson was important in understanding the proof behind the theory of evolution. 
     


    
Next Week

Dyson claims that its vacuum cleaners
are superior. Can we prove it?

5th, 6th, and 7th grades Will be finishing their paper airplane experiment. Can you help them by making air planes at home. What other questions can you think of that involve paper airplanes. We will also be studying and reviewing for our Unit 1 test. You can help by asking them questions about what they learned in this unit. 



8th  grade we will be learning about the geologic time scale and how we measure and record the age of the Earth and the life on it. 

Learn and Do!

         
Next Week

These students are learning about light refraction and reflection
after testing. Remember children learn by experience. Please watch
"5 Dangerous Things For Your Kids to Do"
 in the Parent Resource Center
(right pane of this page)

5th, 6th, and 7th grades will be studying about how scientific ideas are formed. The chapter will be broken into two sections. Your child will be served well if you read with them or, at the least, talk to you about what they have read. If you can't tell you much, then maybe you should have them read to you while you are doing another task (driving, cooking, working in the garden). Most of the poor grades in this class are due to poor reading comprehension. Fixing this is going to be a TEAM EFFORT!

Reading comprehension is a challenge for this generation. Science and History studies are CORE classes that help students with text-to-world connections. 

8th  grade will be studying the evidence of evolution. This is a very tricky subject for the student and the teacher. Our faith gives us one picture of creation while science, at times, gives us another. It takes wisdom to know which story to believe and, more importantly, when the two stories are saying the same thing. What do you know about dinosaurs and fossils? Have a conversation with your child about your experience and thoughts on evolution. All conversation is good conversation. 
Below is a video that might help to get the conversation started. 
          
Flashcards for 5th- &th are below... or just check Engrade. 

5th - 7th grade Flash Cards (Law vs. Theory)

Let's Investigate!

Science Projects!
Science Fair is Coming! I am preparing material and time lines that will help students prepare for the Science Fair. Although the fair won't be until January 15th, there will be some steps to complete before we get there. 

Step 1: Come up with an idea. 

Sit down with your student, and talk about what their interests are. Then see what kind questions can be taken from that. 

Example:
 I and my son love to play Wii Boxing. My son believes that, when his character has been knocked down, that frantically rocking the controller will make him get back up faster. I didn't think so and I could find no instructions or documentation to support that hypothesis. So we tested it. 
*POOF* Science project!

This morning, we wanted if the loud music playing in the car effected his performance on piano tiles. 
*POOF* Science Project!

Yesterday, my son wanted to know how an airplane is made. 
*fizzle* Not a science project. 
There is nothing to test here. Just look it up. Very few testable questions start with "How?" 

Below is a quick video that will help you get started. Remember, you must be patient and you must talk. You are going to have a LOT of lemons before you find a good idea. 
 


         
This Week
5th, 6th, and 7th grades studied the scientific method. We did several

experiments in class that taught us the difference between the independent and dependant variable and how to let out data define our conclusion. This is an idea that we will need to explore more because it is foundational to how we practice science. 


8th  grade studied the Theory of Evolution. They needed to know the difference between natural selection and artificial selection and what factors contribute to natural selection. There are a lot of relationships that we need to explore that we will continue to explore next week. 
            

Next Week (no change)
5th, 6th, and 7th  will learn about the scientific method. This will prepare them for Science Fair greatness! Scroll down for flashcards to help with study. Click Here to play more games using the vocabulary words. 

8th grade students will learn how to make an artificial life form and study it as the learn about evolution and Darwin. This would be a great time to talk them about how you view The Theory of Evolution as a Christian. Click here for vocabulary flashcards.

Scientific Investigation Cards

Evolution Flashcards

Week of 09/08/2014

Class Pets
We have classroom pets! One is a goldfish named Mr. Lecter and they other are a pair of African Dwarf Frogs named Bill and Bob (or Salt and Pepper. We are still trying to decide.) Mr. Lecter looks bored in his plain tank. We would like to decorate. If anyone has aquarium rocks left over, please send them. We won't need many. It is a small tank. Mr. Lecter thanks you!
         
This Week
5th, 6th, and 7th grades learned about science and scientist. They learned that science depends on Empirical Evidence. that means that you have to prove your claims. 

8th  grade learned about the and what things need to survive. Do you know what those things are. Ask your qualities that define life 8th grader to test you. 

Students experiment to test the claim that Mr. Raines is psychic.

The DC2 students observe algae and plankton using microscopes. 

            

Next Week
5th, 6th, and 7th  will learn about the scientific method. This will prepare them for Science Fair greatness! Scroll down for flashcards to help with study. Click Here to play more games using the vocabulary words. 

8th grade students will learn how to make an artificial life form and study it as the learn about Evolution and Darwin. This would be a great time to talk them about how you view The Theory of Evolution as a Christian. Click here for vocabulary flashcards.


Scientific Investigation Cards

Evolution Flashcards

The Week of 09/02/14

This Week

Pretty cool,right?
Apple has been going through
 this cycle for 10 years
 and now they are 
releasing the iPhone 6!

Along with classroom procedures, The students learned about the Iterative Process. This is the process that engineers and inventors go through to invent new things or improve old ones. In summary the iterative process is:



Here are some of the things we have done week one. 

Two students from GC 5 engineer a "flying flashlight"
using the iterative process.

Students get to see plankton under a microscope
projected onto the screen. The plankton and algae are samples
taken from the tank of our classroom fish. 

Next Week

The 5th through 7th grades will begin their exploration of the scientific method. They will learn how science is practiced. They will also begin reading assignments that will help them learn how to draw information from text. They will be reading Unit 1, Chapter 1 of their Introduction to Science and Technology books. They will be tested on their understanding of this material on Saturday. 

The 8th grade will begin their investigation of life. By the end of the week they should be able to explain why something is living. Wednesday, we will walk to the beach to collect samples from Lake Michigan to examine under microscopes. Question: Is fire alive?

Let There Be Light!

 


Here are some pictures of the
2nd and 3rd graders using Play-Doh to make 
squishy circuits. This is a VERY easy way
of introducing children to simple circuit building. 

Students did the same thing using 

2AA batteries and light bulbs.

All of these experiments can  one at
home using very common supplies.
See the video below.