Messy Summer Science!
Keep science-ing this summer! Use the links below to look into some science activities that are probably best done outside :)
(Disclaimer - please make sure to ask permission before emptying materials from your cupboard, or making a giant mess)
Exploding Chalk Art - We all know vinegar and baking soda are fun... This activity uses that reaction combined with food coloring and corn starch to make some colorful sidewalk art!
https://www.growingajeweledrose.com/2013/05/play-recipe-sidewalk-chalk.html
Walk on oobleck - (I hope) We all have gotten a chance to play with this crazy stuff. If not - definitely try it! Mix cornstarch and water together to create this crazy "fluid" that doesn't always act like a liquid!
This activity takes it to the next level. I'm NOT suggesting you fill a kiddie pool with this stuff (YIKES $$$), but maybe one of those disposable cake pans could work - try to step in and out of the pan without getting your feet dirty!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUMX_b_m3Js
Giant bubbles! - This activity does involve a kiddie pool. You'll make your own bubble solution using dish soap and water, then use a hula hoop and some yarn for the "bubble maker". See if you can fit someone inside the bubble!
https://www.stevespanglerscience.com/lab/experiments/giant-bubble-experiment/
Exploding watermelon! - You've probably seen the Youtube videos on this one - put rubber bands around a watermelon until it explodes! I've personally done this one - it's fun! It does take a lot of patience (and a LOT of rubber bands...), but the good news is, if you're willing to rinse watermelon bits out of the rubber bands, they can totally be reused.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PK8dsAeMmPk
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Happy (belated) Holi!
During our topic on South Asia, the 6th grade spent the last week learning about the origins and beliefs of Hinduism. We took some time on Friday to investigate Holi, the Color Festival. While Holi is officially celebrated in March, it is considered welcome to the spring season - and lately it's been feeling like we're still waiting for spring to really arrive!
We read about several of the myths surrounding the origins and traditions of Holi, including the famous throwing of the colored powder (called "gulal"). We learned a bit about how gulal is made, and even tried our hand at making some of our own!
A long awaited tradition - the 8th grade frog dissection - took place this past Friday!Photo Gallery
We spent a few days learning about some of the anatomy that we would be seeing and some of the evolutionary features that make frogs special.
Did you know that a frog's tongue actually attaches at the FRONT of their mouths so they can fling it outwards to catch insects?
While there were some feelings of fear and trepidation, everyone participated and did a great job!
Photosynthesis in Action
The 7th grade has been learning about the products and reactants of both photosynthesis and cellular respiration. To get a visual, we used an indicator liquid that changes color in the presence of carbon dioxide. Normally blue in color, it turns yellow when carbon dioxide is present. Our student volunteers blew through a straw into beakers of this solution, turning it yellow and proving the presence of carbon dioxide in our exhalations (a waste product of cellular respiration). We then placed aquatic plants in both containers. One was placed in the windowsill and the other was placed in a dark cabinet for 24 hours.
Can you tell which beaker's plant was taking carbon dioxide out of the water for photosynthesis?
Starch Detectives
The 6th grade spent some time learning about the different molecules used by our cells - mainly, carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids.
We used iodine as an indicator to determine which of the three substances we were testing contained starch (a carbohydrate).
Diffusion in Action!
The 6th grade is learning about how materials are moved in and out of cells.
We discussed diffusion, and then to get a visual, placed a drop of food coloring into a glass of water. We timed how long it took to evenly spread throughout the cup - no mixing required!
Modeling Earth's formation
The 8th grade used magnets and iron filings to demonstrate how Earth may have formed back in the early stages of our Solar System.
We hid a circular magnet under a piece of paper to represent the invisible pull of gravity.
The iron filings modeled the ice, dust, and rocks that clumped together to form the beginnings of our planet.
An up-close look at cells!
As a part of the 6th grade's unit on cells, we got to use microscopes to look at some prepared slides!
We started with some instruction on how microscopes work, the different parts of a microscope, and how to use one.
Then we looked at thin slices of cork, just like Robert Hooke looked at when he coined the term "cell"!
Modeling Ocean Currents
7th grade got to see first-hand how wind impacts ocean currents
By dripping ice-cold colored water into a shallow tray of warm water
and then gently blowing across the surface of the water, we got to see how moving air across the surface of the water causes water under the surface to move.
Photo Gallery
6th grade got a little hands-on in a lesson on soil conservation!
We got to see first hand the impacts mining can have on the land, even when we were trying to be careful.
We even tried "restoring" the land, and concluded that even if we can make the land look a bit better, we can never truly return it to how it was before we mined for resources.
8th Grade Science
Earth is how old?!
8th grade created a scaled timeline of the evolution of life on Earth.
Each half-meter section represented 100 million years, and we still had to use the ENTIRE gym to show Earth’s 4.6 billion year history!!
Another successful Flex day in the books!
The 6th grade discovered how the pH of acids and bases can change during chemical reactions, and then got to model water drainage in different types of soil.
It was a great, busy day!!!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
We had so much fun celebrating in our jammies today! We laughed a lot while playing a silly blindfolded drawing game, and enjoyed some hot cocoa and a Christmas movie. See you in January!!
We laughed a lot while playing a silly blindfolded drawing game, and enjoyed some hot cocoa and a Christmas movie. See you in January!!
Candy Cane Tower
RESOURCES
SCIENCE YOUTUBE LINKS
Enjoy these channels (in no particular order), they can provide some great information!
https://www.youtube.com/user/scishow <–SciShow
https://www.youtube.com/user/destinws2 <–Smarter Every Day
https://www.youtube.com/user/1veritasium <–Veritasium
https://www.youtube.com/user/minutephysics <–MinutePhysics
https://www.youtube.com/user/Vsauce <–Vsauce
