Science Fair Fun!

We have been doing so many science investigations, experiments, exploring, and LEARNING! As you already know, I LOVE Science! Science is an area where questions rule. The best part is that once you have one answer, you may have compiled many more. It is a subject that can be approached from many roads, that can also lead you to many other roads. There is so much exploring, learning, and and doing. I love that it is so hands-on. Some of the topics we have been able to learn about are Space, The Body Systems, Atoms/Periodic Table, Mixtures & Solutions, Air/Wind, and much more. The amount of science this year was so much, but at the same time I wish we had more time to do even more. This year, we decided to have a Science Fair as a culmination and as part of our Open House. Most of you did an extraordinary job with your experiments as well as with the presentation of that information. I hope that by having so many examples of great work, you were able to get ideas for future projects. Once again, congratulations on your hard work!

Balloon Skewer

This investigation has been one of my favorites due to all the learning and the excitement/nerves of popping balloons. I know you all had so much fun as evidenced through your laughter and eagerness in your voices. It is great to see that even though we think one thing, through learning we can change our minds about understandings we have and revise them as we learn and experience new things.

Learning is Power--Power is Learning

To Infinity and Beyond!

I loved this trip! I loved everything about it. Not only was it very informative, educational, fun... it was "so hands on" just to quote my brilliant Jocelyn.

 Captain F. Garcia

The Columbia Memorial Space Center is truly one of my newest and favorite kid places. Just like you, I had never been there, and you never truly can assess a place from the internet site alone. Therefore, as soon as I entered, I felt like a kid in a candy shop. In this case, a teacher/learner in learning heaven. There were so many things to do, see, explore, and learn from. I hope you have the opportunity to go again with your family members.

Here is a recap of our fabulous trip!

Kool Aid Squeeze Rocket Launcher

It is amazing what can be created with very simple materials that we all have at home or easily can get a hold of. making our rockets was pretty simple.

1. 1 empty, clean, and dry Kool-Aid plastic bottle.
2. 2 straws (regular size and a smoothie size one)
3. We used scotch tape to seal the larger straw on top and duct tape around the mouth of the bottle and the straw.

While we were all having so much fun launching our rocket straws, you were actually learning about Newton's Third Law of Motion. According to Newton, for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. As you squeezed the bottle, you forced the air out of the bottle and against the larger straw with the tape plug. As a result force caused the straw to "launch" through the air. Pretty simple, right, for very academic science. The power of air is amazing to witness, but it is even better to be the one doing the experimenting.
Click on the link below to see the video I made of us having a blast with our rockets.

Rockets

St. Patty's Day Green-Ness!

St. Patrick's Day was so much fun! We got to do lots of fun activities-even if we had to use our recess and lunch!

We began our day by taking a picture of our absolutely awesome shirts made by no other than our super-duper Mrs. Franco! We then made some delicious green, chocolate-chip pancakes...yummy! --Chemical Reaction--After filling up our tummies, we made our Crystalized shamrocks--Super Saturated Solution--This was so chaotic with all the stirring, hot boiling water, breaking jars (2), borax everywhere, and finally observing our shamrocks crystalize. Even with all that chaos, they were absolutely worth it. They came out soooo cool! By then we were so hungry, that we went ahead and let the mischievous little leprechaun, Me of course, turn our cheese sauce into green goo.  They were so scrumptious.

As you may not already know, I LOVE SCIENCE! Therefore, of course we were going to do some fun, fun, fun, tasks, but we were also going to do some learning, learning, learning. I really liked making the Gak (stevespanglerscience.com). -Chemical Reaction--You can all make it at home by following the simple steps you wrote down in your science journal and with adult supervision. You can also make the green play-dough by following the steps you wrote down. -Chemical Reaction--Let me know how any of those turn out when you try it at home.

I really hope your last St. Patty's Day at Bridge was as much fun as it was for me.

Shine bright my little leprechauns...

Water Wise-STEM-UP

We are so fortunate to have STEM as a school partner. They have been here to demonstrate Circuits, Rocks & Minerals, Plants, and now Water Filtration. You were able to test a couple of unknown mixtures for their pH level, build your own MOCK water filtration system for a water mixture and then test the pH level.  This was a great simulation of our local water recycling process at our local water plants.

With permission from STEM-UP, I have included a copy of the instructions. You can recreate or modify your filters to test other water mixtures. Have fun my budding scientists! I can't wait to see what you create, conclusions you arrive at, and the learning that will take place.

Water Cycle

Here is a video on the Water Cycle to help you review the academic vocabulary, and to develop deeper conceptual understanding of what occurs in the cycle. Enjoy!

Water Planet

I love this unit! There are so many things to learn, lots of academic language, and many investigations. Here is a list of some tasks we have done so far and I will continue to update as we go along:

1. Sorting & classifying the planets by their composition

2. Putting the planets in order (inner-terrestrial planets & outer--gas giants)

3. Planet experts-reading informational text, making a learning poster & presenting to the class

4. Planet Foldable--placing the planets in order and writing important facts about each one

5. Gravity & Isaac Newton-Took a look at one of Newton's laws of motion---objects travel in a straight line and at constant speed UNTIL something exerts gravity (push/pull) on it

6. Pendulum & Galileo Galilei--learned about his solar system observations with the telescope and how reaffirmed Copernicus' observations that the Sun is the center of our solar system and that earth (and the other planets) orbits the sun.

Remember to review your notes often so that they become permanent in your schema. :)

It was great to SUM-UP our learning with a trip to the CA Science Center to see the Shuttle Endeavour up close. I was speechless and in awe at its size and exterior. It was great minds working together that were able to accomplish such feats.

Hard work, patience, perseverance, and imagination can lead you anywhere.

Monster Slime!

It was so much fun making monster slime. Even though we were having a little trouble at the beginning, we did not give up, and as a result we got our product. Remember you can make monster slime at home.  You need the following items:

• 1 teaspoon Borax powder
• 1 cup water and 1/2 cup water 
• 4 oz. (or 1/2 cup) of Elmer's glue (clear or white)
• food coloring
• glitter (optional for the white glue)

If you have younger siblings, you can get them excited about science and they will also have a blast. Besides, if you teach it to others, you will be retaining the highest percentage as an active learner.

Why do leaves change colors?

Here is a really cute story that explains why...enjoy!

StickFiggy and the Painted Le...

See more at memetales

"Vomiting" Pumpkins

Friday's science lesson was super cool! We were able to measure, estimate, and carve out our pumpkins. We also saw how when you combine baking soda (NaHCO3) with vinegar (CH3COOH) they react to produce H2O, sodium acetate, and CO2 which is what causes the fizzing.

NaHCO3 + CH3COOH = H2O + Sodium acetate (CH₃COONa) + C02

 It was so cool to see the different colored "vomit" coming out from the pumpkins' mouths. This is a great activity for you to try again at home with your family. Try different combinations of baking soda and vinegar to figure out which one gives you the best "vomit". Let us know your results.