Week of November 11 - 15

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

• Kindergarten: We saw how heat and the absence of heat can change matter. 
• 1st grade: We made compared and contrasted 5 different types of soil.
• 2nd grade: We learned about the 3 main types of rocks and observed them.
• 3rd grade: We studied about and made our own fossils.
• 4th grade: We learned about density by making a density tower.

Upcoming Events:

• November 19th: 4th graders are doing an activity that requires the use of one clean 1-liter bottle for every student. Mrs. Mertens and Mrs. Arefi are offering 10 tickets for every 1-liter bottle that is brought in! 
•  December 2 - 6: All students will come to Old Union's 2nd annual Super Science Sale. Previews will be on Monday and Tuesday (similar to Book Fair), and purchases are welcome the rest of the week. Hours are 7:30 - 3:30 except on Thursday, when the hours are 7:30 am to 6:00 pm.
• December 12: 3rd graders are making and erupting volcanoes. This activity involves soil, baking soda, vinegar, and food coloring. If your student is allergic to any of these items, please contact me ASAP.

December 3 - 7

Wow! I cannot believe it is already December! We are having such a blast in Science Lab that time has been flying. :)

Before we get to the weekly update, I just wanted to say an extra THANK YOU to all of those that helped or supported OUES's first annual Super Science Sale last week! It was a lot of fun and a great success! 

Here's what we did this week:

• Kindergarten: We learned about temperature this week. We studied how the temperature changes through the year, how temperature impacts our lives, and how to measure temperature. Home extension: If you don't already, start having conversations with your student about the daily temperature, and let him/her decide what to wear, based on the weather.
• 1st grade: We learned all about air this week. We learned that wind is moving air, and we did an investigation to figure out how much wind it takes to move certain objects. Home extension: Ask your child about the wind investigation and allow him/her to re-create it at home with random, household objects.
• 2nd grade: We learned more about sound energy this week. We saw how sound waves look by modeling them on an slinky, we made "clucking chicken" noises with sponges and cups, and then we made our own cup telephones. It was fun to observe the vibrations and the way sound travels. Home extension: Fill various-sized glasses with water and allow your student to tap them with a spoon to create sound.
• 3rd grade: This was week 1 of our volcano exploration unit! Students learned all about volcanoes and made a model volcano on paper. We are so excited to create model volcanoes with soil and sand next week...and even more excited to make them explode! Home extension: While your driving for errands or the holidays, ask your student to look out the window and identify as many landforms as possible. There probably won't be any volcanoes where you're going (), but we've learned about other landforms, too, that your student could be on the lookout for.
• 4th grade: This was our first week into our matter unit, and we kicked it off with a fun investigation about making potatoes float. We got to conduct an experiment with our table groups to see if potatoes will float in salt or sugar water, and, if so, how many spoonfuls of sugar or salt it takes to make the potatoes float. Home extension: Allow your student to try a variation of this experiment at home by taking something that doesn't usually float and adding salt or sugar 1 spoonful at a time to see if you can make it float. Your 4th grader is an expert at this, so let them show you how it works! 

Green Thumb Club members, if you and your child would like to attend the Tuesday, December 11 meeting at Calloway's Nursery, please arrange transportation for your child. We will begin the meeting at 3:15 pm. If your child can't attend, no worries! We will gladly welcome him or her back at our next meeting on Tuesday, January 22. 

October 29 - November 2

Here's what happened in the Science Lab this week:

• Kindergarten: We used our best estimation skills to predict how big around my pumpkin was, and then we checked our estimations. We also measured my pumpkin in a non-standard unit (beans) and did a quick sink/float investigation. Home extension: allow your student to practice measuring in non-standard units by providing some random objects to measure (pencil, shoe, book, table, etc.) and a non-standard measuring tool (beans, paper clips, pretzels, etc.).
• 1st grade: We spent the whole hour conducting a float/sink investigation. We tested lots of objects and learned that the shape (not necessarily the weight) influences whether it will float or sink. Home extension: give your student a piece of clay, playdough, or aluminum foil and allow him/her to experiment with different shapes to see what floats and what sinks.
• 2nd grade: Due to the Storybook Character Day parade and classroom presentations, we had a shortened lesson today. Nevertheless, we learned about salt water and fresh water on this day. We very briefly got to discuss the differences between the two types of water and some facts about surface tension, and we did a couple of quick investigations with the water. Home extension: allow your student to mix up his/her own batch of salt water and perform his/her own experiments with it.
• 3rd grade: We finished our matter unit by conducting experiments to make paper clips float in water. Home extension: ask your student to show you how to make a paper clip float in water. He/she can also explain a little about surface tension.
• 4th grade: This was week 1 of our living organisms adaptation project. Students were asked to take this hour in the Science Lab to research more about adaptations and to begin planning their project. Next week, students will use kitchen/art/craft resources to create their very own Texas organism with adaptations. Although I do have aluminum foil, some tissue paper, beans, toothpicks, feathers, and construction paper, supplies are limited, so students are welcome and encouraged to bring additional craft supplies from home next week. Home extension: talk to your student about his/her living organisms adaptation project. Ask him/her where his/her organism will live and what kind of plan he/she has created. Discuss the adaptations that organism will have and why it would be necessary for it to adapt that way.

As a reminder, the first annual OUES Super Science Sale will take place from November 26 - 30. You can read more about this sale and its parent volunteer opportunities by clicking HERE. You can also view the paper flier (sent by Heath Scientific) that lists some available items/prices and the animal purchase permission slip by clicking HERE.

Enjoy your weekend!