Week of April 7 - 11

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

• Kindergarten: We planted a seed of our own and learned about the parts of plants and a plant's life cycle.
• 1st grade: We participated in tree stations to learn about 3 important parts of trees -- bark, cones, and tree cookies.
• 2nd grade: We participated in ocean stations to learn more about the ocean ecosystem.
• 3rd grade: We did several light activities to illustrate light energy.
• 4th grade: We made circuit quiz cards to demonstrate our knowledge of circuits while practicing a few math questions for our upcoming STAAR exam.

Week of March 24 - 28

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

• Kindergarten: We learned the difference between living and non-living things.
• 1st grade: We learned about bats' extraordinary senses of smell and hearing by playing a "Mama Bat" game and testing our echolocation skills.
• 2nd grade: We learned more about wind and made anemometers.
• 3rd grade: We continued our investigation over simple machines by focusing on the inclined plane and the wedge this week.
• 4th grade: We investigated circuits by making our own with our shoulder buddy.

Special Thanks:

• Family Science Night: Our amazing PTO funded our first ever "Family Science Night," and I am so happy to report that it was a great success! Family Science Night was hosted by the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History; the museum had various science stations available for students to explore between 6-8 pm. All families that attended received 2 adult passes and 2 child passes to enter the museum for free. In addition, the Fort Worth Astronomical Society set up giant telescopes in the playground area and helped students and their families pick out the constellations and various other objects in the night sky. A big thanks goes to each of these organizations for providing a fun time for us! Here's a video with some pictures of the evening:

Week of March 17 - 21

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

• Kindergarten: We explored magnets by making magnet kites and having a magnet race.
• 1st grade: We learned about the parts of a plant and dissected a flower.
• 2nd grade: We showed off our knowledge of weather and how it determines what clothes we wear, what transportation we take, and what activities we participate in.
• 3rd grade: We started our three week mini-unit over simple machines by studying the lever.
• 4th grade: We learned about insulators and conductors while making circuits.

Upcoming Events:

• 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! Find out more about it by clicking HERE.

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!