Week of January 20 - 24

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

• Kindergarten: I didn't see my kinder friends this week because there was no school on Monday. We'll start exploring sound energy next week, though! 
• 1st grade: We observed and recorded changes in the moon by learning more about its phases.
• 2nd grade:We learned how useful magnets can be in our lives by making a compass at our desk.
• 3rd grade: We continued our investigation of the solar system by completing our models of the solar system and playing a couple more solar system games.
• 4th grade: We started week one of a two-week series that involves solving the powder puzzle mystery.

Upcoming Events:

• February 4th: 4th graders will do a special STEM program. A company called All About Learning will come to our school and teach students more about wind energy and wind turbines. Thank you to our wonderful PTO for providing this opportunity!
• February 19 - March 4: StarLab is visiting OUES. Please make sure your student wears socks during on Science Lab days during that time. Younger students may wish to wear slip-on or Velcro shoes, as we will need to take our shoes off before we get into the tent. 
• March 27: Our amazing PTO funded our first ever "Family Science Night." FSN is hosted by the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History. The museum will have various science stations -- including a StarLab -- available for students to explore between 6-8 pm. All families that attend will receive 2 adult passes and 2 child passes to enter the museum for free. In addition, the Fort Worth Astronomical Society will set up giant telescopes in the playground area, starting at 6:30. Mark it on your calendar -- it will be a fun night!

Week of January 6 - 10

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

• Kindergarten: I didn't see my kinder friends this week because they were still enjoying the winter holiday break. :) I'm excited to see them next week, though!
• 1st grade: We learned more about clouds and made models of them out of cotton balls. 
• 2nd grade: We continued our investigations over force and motion by conducting an experiment to see if a plane's design affects the way it moves.
• 3rd grade: We learned more about the our solar system and its components by playing some space games.
• 4th grade: We started a 2-week investigation about matter and mass by dehydrating fruit to see how much of it is liquid.

Upcoming Events:

• February 4th: 4th graders will do a special STEM program. A company called All About Learning will come to our school and teach students more about wind energy and wind turbines. Thank you to our wonderful PTO for providing this opportunity!
• February 19 - March 4: StarLab is visiting OUES. Please make sure your student wears socks during on Science Lab days during that time. Younger students may wish to wear slip-on or Velcro shoes, as we will need to take our shoes off before we get into the tent. 
• March 27: Our amazing PTO funded our first ever "Family Science Night" this year. FSN is hosted by the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History. The museum will have various science stations -- including a StarLab -- available for students to explore between 6-8 pm. All families that attend will receive 2 adult passes and 2 child passes to enter the museum for free. In addition, the Fort Worth Astronomical Society will set up giant telescopes in the playground area, starting at 6:30. Mark it on your calendar -- it will be a fun night!

Week of February 4 - 8

This was our last week in StarLab for 2013, and I think it's safe to say that everyone had a great time! StarLab is so much fun and a great learning opportunity for all that get to go inside. I can't get enough of it!

Students were able to see the constellations again this week -- both in the "real" sky and in the "dot to dot" version of the sky -- and hear some more fun stories about each. Students have been reminded that these stories are just pretend, much like Spongebob or Cinderella. Still, it's fun to learn the stories associated with each constellation.

Ask your student what constellations we were able to find the StarLab this week, and then take your student outside to see if he/she can spot them in the real night sky. I think you'd be surprised and impressed about how many constellations OUES students can name!

Green Thumb Club members: our next meeting is Tuesday, February 12. Hope to see you there!

Week of January 28 - February 1

StarLab is at Old Union this week! All students got a "refresher" on how the Earth rotates around the Sun before we went into our very own little planetarium. We got to see the "real" stars in the night sky, as well as what we call the "dot to dot" canister of StarLab. {The "dot to do" canister makes it easier to pick the constellations out of the sky because each shape is outlined for us.}


All students got to see a variety of constellations, including Orion, Cassiopeia the Queen, King Cepheus, Leo the Lion, and lots of others. Ask your student to tell you about the constellations we saw in StarLab this week. If possible, you could go outside with your student after it gets nice and dark, and go star gazing!

If you're interested in discussing these constellations with your student at home but are unable to go star gazing outside, you may consider downloading one of the following apps to your smartphone:

• Star Walk
• Pocket Universe
• Sky Orb
• Starmap
• Planisphere
• Stars New
• Star Guide

 

Week of January 14 - 18

Here is what we did in the lab this week:

• Kindergarten: This week, we did a magnet exploration. Students were able to rotate to test a variety of objects for its magnetic ability. Home extension: give your student a magnet from the refrigerator and allow him/her to explore the magnetic objects in your home. {Students have already been cautioned to keep magnets clear of computers and other electronic devices, so there should be no worries!}
• 1st grade: This week, we worked on observing and recording changes in the moon. Since our Science Lab lessons take place during the day time, we had to use a couple of videos to show how the moon changes its appearance. We practiced making each moon shape in a pie plate filled with sugar, and then we played some moon games. Home extension: once it gets dark, take your student outside to "moon watch." See if he/she can identify the shape of the moon in the night sky. I've encouraged my first grade friends to keep a moon observation journal at home to document what they see!
• 2nd grade: This was week 2 of our pendulum investigation. We have been studying ways objects move, so we were testing our pendulums this week to figure out if the length of our pendulum affected its swing. Home extension: during daily activity or errand-running, ask your student to be on the lookout for pendulums in everyday life. If you ask your 2nd grader about pendulums, he/she should be able to give you a list of examples of pendulums we see every day.
• 3rd grade: We completed week 2 of our planets in the solar system investigation. This week, we reviewed the planets and the order they appear in the sky. Then we used ratios and our measuring skills to make models of the planets; we demonstrated how far each planet is from the sun. Home extension: ask your 3rd grader to show you how far away the planets are from the Sun and to explain astronomical units (AUs).
• 4th grade: We started our force, motion, and energy unit this week by talking about conductors and insulators. Students were able to use strips of foil, D Cell batteries, a light bulb, and various random items to see which materials are conductors and which materials are insulators. Home extension: If you have some aluminum foil, a D Cell battery, and a light bulb at your house, your can allow your student to demonstrate how some objects are conductors and some are insulators. Ask your student to pick 5 of each and show them to you in a presentation.

Green Thumb Club members: our next meeting is Tuesday, January 22. Hope to see you there!

Week of January 8 - 11

Hello, everyone!

Our first week back to school went so well. Here's a look at what we did in the lab this week:

• Kindergarten: Because of our Teacher Work Day on Monday, I didn't get to see my kinder friends this week. I'm looking forward to seeing them next Monday, though!
• 1st grade: We learned about clouds this week. Specifically, we learned about the different types of clouds and what they look like. Home extension: go outside with your student and "cloud watch" with them. Allow your student to try to identify the types of clouds in the sky.
• 2nd grade: We started week 1 of our two week project on pendulums and how things move. This week, we answered the question, "Will the mass of a pendulum affect its swing?" Home extension: ask your student to tell you about week 1 of our pendulum project and describe some ways that objects can move.
• 3rd grade: We started week 1 of our two week project over planets in the solar system. This week, we learned more about each planet and how big each planet is. Home extension: With your student, research why Pluto is not considered a planet anymore, and have your student tell you about each of the 8 remaining planets.
• 4th grade: We investigated mass and density by measuring various liquids' mass, and then adding them to our "density tower." Students were able to predict the layers of the tower based on physical properties, and then they had an opportunity to change their hypothesis after they learned the masses of all the liquids. It ended up looking pretty neat! Home extension: if you have any of the liquids or materials listed on this experiment page, feel free to try this investigation at home. Because of time constraints in class, we didn't have an opportunity to investigate all of the materials listed on Steve Spangler's experiment page, so... try it at home!