In 6th grade science, students have been learning how to determine the density of solids and liquids. Magic density columns of liquids of known densities were created and objects were dropped in; students could then infer the density of the object. Students showed their understanding of how the density of both the liquid and the object determines if objects will sink or float. Ask your student which is more dense, coke or diet coke, and how they know! We have also started to do some work on science writing and we will soon begin learning about physical and chemical changes, mixtures, and the basics of chemical reactions.
The seventh-grade science rooms are heating up! At the beginning of the month, students visited stations to explore thermal energy, methods of heat transfer, and the properties of conductors and insulators. Students then learned about the need for alternatives to wood for cooking in third world countries. Using the design process, students applied their knowledge to the design and testing of a solar cooker. Engineering teams will present their final product to the class explaining how they maximized the principles of heat transfer in their solar cooker.
In Science Exploration, students will be preparing the tank for the arrival of the trout eggs. Once the eggs arrive, the temperature in the tank will be kept at 45oF to keep the eggs from hatching. When we are ready, the temperature will be slowly raised and the trout eggs will begin hatching. Students will be responsible for maintaining the proper water quality in the tanks to ensure the survival of the trout. Weekly observations in a Trout Journal will track the development of the trout.
November in 8th grade began with an investigation of Physical and Chemical Properties and Changes just as the last quarter moon rolled in. Students learned important vocabulary using Nearpods and other types of practice. As we approached the coldest Thanksgiving on record, students conducted some wet labs such as the Electrolysis of water, to see evidence of chemical changes in the classroom. Students also learned how to carry out flame tests for hydrogen, oxygen, and carbon dioxide.
This month in Engineering students either finalized their solar car, created a passion project in Genius Hour, or completed different coding challenges using EV3 robots. They will be moving on to a new project during the month of the winter solstice!
