1st Grade - Solids

First graders began their investigation of matter with a look at solids.

Though students know much about solids through everyday experiences, it is important to develop skills of observation and classification in order to start viewing the everyday world with a scientist's eye.

We explored properties of solids such as length, mass, hardness, texture and shape.

Ask you student to pick four solids in your home.

Have them compare the solids. How are they the same? How are they different?

In coming weeks we will examine liquids and gases and how they are the same and different from solids.

3rd Grade - Chemical Change

Contrasted to our last lab on Physical Change this week we examined Chemical Change.

Chemical change happens when the molecules in a substance break apart and form something new. There are five signs that a chemical change has occurred. Today we found out that one of those signs is the production of a gas.

Ask your student the name of the tiny particles that make up matter. (molecules)

Ask your child to describe what happened when we combined baking soda and vinegar.

Ask them if they observed a physical change or chemical change.

We have completed our 3 labs on matter. Next up is a special lab that ties into Halloween. It you have any spare pumpkins, we need them in all sizes. Drop me note to tracey AT ananmalay DOT com if you have some to spare.

5th Grade - It's all Green to Me

As we investigate the systems of living things, the 5th grade took a closer look at photosynthesis in the lab. We learned that the glucose molecules that are made by plants using carbon dioxide and water are very large.

Ask your student if they remember how many atoms in a glucose molecule.

We took a close up look at the amazing "factories" that are leaves. Who knew that so much could happen inside such a thin object.

Students opined on which leaf in a group would produce the most food. The one with no chlorophyll was not the winner.

We also examined how water moves up a celery stalk.

Ask your student what part of the celery was colored.

Science Rules!

3rd Grade - Physical Change

During our last meeting, we explored the physical change of matter. Physical Change describes when something changes from:

- a solid to a liquid (popsicle melting)

- a liquid to a solid (making ice cubes)

- a gas to a liquid (condensation on the bathroom mirror)

- a liquid to a gas (puddles evaporating).

Ask your student about the tasty treat that we enjoyed in the lab and what steps we needed to take to make it.

We also discussed how the molecules behave differently in each type of matter.

Ask your student whether molecules in a gas or solid move more quickly.

Bonus question: Ask them why gases are invisible.

Next up, we'll explore Chemical Changes.

Science Rules!

1st Grade - Math & Science

Math & Science go hand in hand at all levels. This month, first graders applied their numeracy skills to an investigation on how the mass of grapes and raisins is different. We used the balance scales to compare the mass of grapes and raisins.

Instead of doing a direct comparison, we used the standard mass of a "teddy bear weight". This gave us a concrete example of comparing things using a common measurement unit.

Ask your 1st grader whether grapes or raisins have more mass.

Then ask them why? We love "why" questions in the science lab.

You could also ask them if bigger things always have more mass (think about a golf ball compared to a balloon).

Science Rules!

5th Grade - Building Blocks of Life

What many of us began learning in high school is now introduced in 5th grade. Our grade five students are exploring cells, tissues and ultimately organ and organ systems in plants and animals.

Ask your student how a cheek cell varies in size from an onion skin cell.

Ask them what a leaf has in common with your kitchen.

Labs for this unit will include investigations on cells, photosynthesis, digestion and respiration.

3rd Grade - It Matters

3rd Graders are exploring Matter during the month of September. In third grade, we define matter as "anything that takes up space".

Ask your third grader if light is matter.

We will explore matter as a solid, a liquid and a gas and see how matter can change from one state to another.