Week of September 23 - 27

Here's what we did in the Science Lab this week;

• Kindergarten: We learned about germs and how to wash our hands. Home extension: ask your student to demonstrate how to properly wash their hands and why it's a good idea to wash our hands a lot.
• 1st grade: We started our matter unit this week. We learned about the 3 types of matter and got to hold each one. Home extension: ask your student about our investigation. He/she can name each of the 3 types of matter he/she held today.
• 2nd grade: We started our matter unit this week. We practiced observing and wafting and found out one way to change matter. Home extension: ask your student to name examples of the 3 types of matter.
• 3rd grade: We continued on our quest to learn more about science tools; we had fun with measurement stations this week. Home extension: ask your student to tell you how to use a stopwatch, a Celsius thermometer, a ruler, a compass, and a pan balance.
• 4th grade: We learned more about microscopes this week. We learned how to make a wet mount slide, the parts of a microscope, and how to operate 2 different kinds of microscopes. Home extension: ask your student to describe how to make a slide and how to operate a microscope. 

 

Week of September 16- 20

Here's a look at what we did in Science Lab this week:

• Kindergarten: We learned more about science safety. Every student got to wear goggles and figure out how they protect eyes. Home extension: talk to your student about what other types of safety things are in our world. Why would a scientist need to be safe?
• 1st grade: We reviewed the use of a magnifying glass this week. Home extension: ask your student what he/she discovered about magnifying glasses. How do they help scientists?
• 2nd grade: We learned more about science tools, focusing specifically on the stopwatch, a beaker, a dropper, and a ruler. Home extension: ask your student how scientists use stopwatches, beaker, droppers, and rulers.
• 3rd grade: We learned more about science tools with a QR counting hunt. Home extension: ask your student which science tools he/she saw today and what they're used for.
• 4th grade: We learned more about science tools with some measurement stations. Home extension: ask your student to explain how to use a Celsius thermometer, a graduated cylinder, a spring scale, a pan balance, and a triple beam balance.

Week of September 9 - 13

Here's a look at what we did this week:

• Kindergarten: I got to meet my kinder friends this week! We talked about what scientists are and what they do, and what we might learn in Science Lab this year.
• 1st grade: We learned how to waft this week. Home extension: ask your student why it's important to waft in the lab. Allow your student to practice wafting in the kitchen while cooking!
• 2nd grade: We learned a bit more about science safety and tools by playing "What's in my Bag?" Home extension: ask your student why it's important to be safe in the lab and how we can be safe in the lab.
• 3rd grade: We discussed safety this week by playing a science safety game. Home extension: ask your student why it's important to be safe in the lab and how we can be safe in the lab.
•  4th grade: We discussed safety this week by participating in a QR code safety scavenger hunt.  Home extension: ask your student why it's important to be safe in the lab and how we can be safe in the lab.

Green Team permission slips were due today. If your child turned one into me, he/she should receive an "invitation" early next week. The first meeting of the Green Team is on Thursday, September 19. Pickup is at 3:20 at the east doors (by side car pick-up).

Don't forget to follow our class Instagram and Twitter to find out more details about lab investigations!

Have a great weekend!

Week of September 10-14

Dragons,

Here's what happened this week:

• Kindergarten played my "magic box game" to preview and predict what we might do in Science Lab this year. We also decorated the cover page of our science notebooks.
• 1st Grade learned about lab safety. We started off with a demonstration that exploded! Then we talked about how to keep ourselves safe during experiments. Finally, we practiced wafting and wrote about it in our science notebooks.
• 2nd grade learned about lab safety and some science tools. We played a game called "What's in my Bag?"
• 3rd grade learned about lab safety and some science tools. We went on a scavenger hunt to identify various science and safety tools around the room.
• 4th grade learned about lab safety. We borrowed some iPads and had a QR code scavenger hunt!

Some classes had the opportunity to send a tweet this week, too! I told the students about our class Twitter and explained how Twitter works. Then I gave students an opportunity to contribute a sentence to our summarizing tweet and encouraged them to tell the world what we learned and did in Science Lab that hour. I typed exactly what students asked me to type -- right down to smiley faces and hearts (for "We < 3ed it!" -- a student request).

You do not have to have a Twitter account to read our messages; just go to www.Twitter.com/MrsKHasClass and scroll to read. If you prefer to have updates sent to your phone via text message, you do not have to have a Twitter account for that, either! All you have to do is text "follow @MrsKHasClass" to Twitter's shortcode, 40404, and you'll start getting realtime updates. (Standard messaging rates do apply, so I don't recommend this option for anyone without an unlimited texting plan.)

I hope to begin posting pictures of the students in action (both on the blog and on our class Instagram) sometime next week. (I'm currently waiting to make sure that all parents have given permission for their student's picture to appear on district-related websites.)

I've spent some time reviewing the supplies in the lab, and I've realized that I could use a few donations. I don't want anyone to go out and buy these things, but if you've got them hanging around your house and you're not going to use them, I'd love to see the following items make their way to the lab:

• Food coloring
• Snack size baggies
• Aluminum foil
• Colored paper
• Beans (dry)
• Rice (dry)
• Cinnamon essential oil
• Peppermint essential oil
• Baby powder
• Vanilla extract
• Plastic cups (preferably clear and 9 oz, but we will take what we can get!)
• Straight pins
• Clear tape
• Glue sticks
• Coffee filters
• Paper towels
• Kleenex
• "Wet ones" or Clorox wipes
• D cell batteries

I also wanted to let you know that the sign-up sheet for volunteering in the science lab has been posted; you can find it by clicking on the "Volunteer" tab at the top of this page.

Thanks for making my first few weeks at OUES so fabulous!