Christmas Around The World

As we wind down to our winter break, let's take the time to understand other countries and how they celebrate the holidays. Are there similar traditions? Do countries celebrate differently. Each person will choose a different country to research...

Christmas Around The World

Solids, Liquids, and Gases

http://www.brainpopjr.com/science/matter/solidsliquidsandgases/matching/

Let's learn!

Turkey Time

It is Turkey Time at Thomas Jefferson. Here are some fun sites to take a look at...

First, an interactive site...
http://www.plimoth.org/learn/MRL/interact/thanksgiving-interactive-you-are-historian

Some great videos...
http://www.scholastic.com/scholastic_thanksgiving/webcast.htm

Learn more about popcorn, too...

http://www.popcorn.org/AboutUs/Media/PopVideos/tabid/114/Default.aspx

Gobble, Gobble!

For Our Electricians

Here are two ways to practice series and parallel circuits...

http://scienceofeverydaylife.discoveryeducation.com/views/other.cfm?guidAssetId=D1507F6E-09C3-4E7B-B1E9-16708E402009 

And this site my friends has a ton of games to play...
http://resources.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/revision/science/electricity.htm

Light em' up, fourth graders!

Our 3rd Graders Rock!

We are learning about the rock cycle in our 3rd grade science classrooms. I made a little activity that helps our kiddos review the three types of rocks using a graphic I put up on the projector. We are in the middle of creating this book for review.  I will post pictures next week when they get closer to completion.

I also used the following resources:
http://www.learner.org/interactives/rockcycle/index.html

http://studyjams.scholastic.com/studyjams/jams/science/rocks-minerals-landforms/rock-cycle.htm

http://www.cotf.edu/ete/modules/msese/earthsysflr/rock.html

3rd Graders Rock!

We are in our rock unit right now and we are learning about the rock cycle. We started a little research project and are making a book to go along with the three types of rocks. Here is a great study tool to review what you have learned.

http://studyjams.scholastic.com/studyjams/jams/science/rocks-minerals-landforms/rock-cycle.htm

Electrifying Websites

Hey, fourth graders... found this great website that has tons of electricity games. Give it a shot. It is truly electrifying!

http://resources.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/revision/science/electricity.htm 

After School Veggie Videos

Alright kids, It is time to learn about a really good veggie book at our library. Find the book, take a look at the book, and let people know some great reasons to check the book out. Remember to tell us:
The title, facts about the book and a great ending...don't give everything away. Here are some great veggie sites.

http://lancaster.unl.edu/nep/fruitveggie.shtml

http://www.nutrition-and-you.com/vegetable-nutrition.html

Now, get growing. Make a script. Check in with me.

Rock On!

In third grade, we have started our unit on rocks and minerals. We have been geologists testing for crystals and identifying different types that are found in our mock rocks. We detected kosher salt due to the square nature of the crystal formation with an X running through the crystal. Our I/E group will be testing other crystal formations to share with everyone. Here is a great link to keep things rockin".

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/scienceclips/ages/7_8/rocks_soils.shtml

Our Harvest Gathering

What an amazing evening. Over 150 people joined us to gather together to pick veggies, listen to presentations on safe routes to school, our reading program Project Jaguar, our Health Department Nutritionist sharing some great recipes, and eating together. What a great way to grow a sense of community at our school. Take a look at our harvest...

Safe Routes To School

Camouflage Cephalopods

The moving rock trick. Is it really a rock or is it an octopus? The amazing thing about this octopus is that even though this octopus is color blind, they still can change color. This animal can create color match patterns. Take a look at this cool video to see how these animals can camouflage right in front of your eyes.

http://www.sciencefriday.com/video/08/05/2011/where-s-the-octopus.html

Crystals, Anyone?

Third graders are learning about rocks and minerals. This week, after disecting our mock rocks we observed different properties of our rocks. We wanted to take a closer look at our rocks...even more. So, we added water to the rock dust and let the water sit in the dish. Guess what happened?  Crystals were found in the dish. Here is a link to continue the adventure of crystals at home.

Growing Crystals At Home

Technology In The Garden

We have just been awarded a $3500 grant to keep our garden growing. How exciting to be able to order an 8 x 12 greenhouse for our garden. We are writing another grant to try to secure Ipads for our students in our garden club to create videos using our new You Tube channel, TJschoolgardenclub.  We are using QR codes and teaching our students how to use Aurasma to link pictures to our You Tube channel. We will be displaying these codes in our school library around gardening and veggie books. We will be adding videos that the students create that tie in our garden harvest or harvest of the month facts. October is Farm to School Month. This Wednesday, we will be making a video to share some of the great things we are doing to celebrate our garden adventure.  See if you can connect to our first trial run.

Ketchup...Eat Tomatoes

This month's vegetable we are celebrating is the tomato. Harvest of the Month gives you tons of facts to help you see the value of the tomato.
http://www.harvestofthemonth.cdph.ca.gov/download/Fall/21712/Ed_News_Tomatoes.pdf

Garden Measurment

We are learning how to measure in the garden. Today, we set up six stations to help us measure in centimeters, grams, and milliliters. We measured our pumpkins and their circumference. We measured water to 30 milliliters and watered a plant. We even picked 10 cherry tomatoes and measured them in grams. After we measured them, we got to eat them, Yum! We learned that 10 centimeters was 1 decimeter. We looked for objects that were that size. I sure is fun to have a garden to grow in!

First Week Down

What a great first week back. The garden has provided us with such great learning opportunities. The kindergartners and first graders went to the garden to use their five senses. They saw tons of vegetables that the older students planted last year. The popcorn felt rough and smooth, pokey and soft. We smelled herbs that flavored gum such as peppermint and spearmint. We even smelled herbs that made pizza sauce. We heard everything from an airplane going by, to our classmates excited to see the pumpkin patch.  We even got to taste something new... a ground cherry. Most of the kids were very brave and tried this new fruit. The students described it as a cross between pineapple, orange, and I don't know "it just tastes good!"

Our second graders used the garden to be scientists. Scientists use tools to learn about the world around them. They used their senses and recorded what they saw, heard, smelled, touched, and tasted. They used hand lenses to investigate the garden even closer.

Third graders are learning about he metric system and how to measure. They used a metered tape measure to find out the length and width of different leaves in our garden. Did you know that some of the corn leaves were over 89 cm long? We noticed that the herbs in the garden have leaves that are small, but sure pack a flavor. Our bean leaves at the longest and widest often measure the same both in length and in width.

Forth and fifth graders went out to the garden to set up an experiment. The forth graders were learning about energy. Newton's third law states: for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. We used alka selzer tablets to test stored and kinetic energy. We saw how carbon dioxide gas was stored and needed to be released. The top popped off as we made observations. Fifth graders took the experiment one step farther. They are learning about variables. We tested a control, using 1/4 of a tablet with 1/2 a film canister of water. Then each group changed one thing. We concluded that the less water the better the thrust.

What a great first week. I can't wait to see what this year brings.

A Year In Review

I have enjoyed teaching science this year. We have learned a lot of different concepts this quarter. Let's take a look:

Grade 1

During the fourth quarter we learned about insects. We watched mealworms become darkling beetles and painted lady larvae become butterflies, as they each went though their respective life cycles. We created many make a takes, including a ladybug, dragonfly, and ant and butterfly books. We had an exciting year!

Grade 2

We learned about plants. We watched as our seeds matured into flowering plants. It was important for us to learn that plants produce their own food, but they need sunlight, air, water, and good soil to do this. At Jefferson, we were so very lucky to get a farm to school grant to help us start up our own Thomas Jefferson School Garden. We can't wait to try our first vegetables: spinach next week. When we get back to school, we will find out who wins the first peas to the table contest, just like Thomas Jefferson did back in 1771. We learned a lot as “budding” scientists!

Grade 3

We learned how sound is created and how to distinguish between different qualities of sound. We explored the concepts of pitch, vibrations, and how sound travels using a variety of handmade instruments. We really "rocked" it when we played in our band. We also were able to use what we knew to complete sound challenges.

Grade 4

During the fourth quarter, we explored the solar system. We traveled on a cardboard rocket to each of the planets in our solar system during our trip to the planetarium. The students researched and made a presentation on one of the planets. We finished with playing a solar system game as well as a solar system scavenger hunt. Don't forget the phases of the moon rap...here is the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79M2lSVZiY4
Grade 5

We explored the physics behind levers and pulleys (simple machines), and we began to understand how tools provide an advantage. We designed our own catapults to try to hit the teacher with a marshmallow, as well as deliver a pizza using all six simple machines, Rube Goldberg style. This year, we readied ourselves for scientific concepts we will use throughout middle and high school.

New Games And Sites

We are entering the last quarter of the year. How time flies when your having fun. Each grade is working on their last units of study.

First grade- insects (one more week of balance and motion after break)

Second grade- plants (Jefferson is creating a School Garden...stay tuned)

Third grade- sound

Fourth grade- Planets and the Solar System (we are going to the Planetarium in the end of April!!!)

Fifth grade- Simple Machines with a focus on Levers and Pulleys (both schools will hold an invention convention!)

Enjoy your spring break and check out the new games and sites to help you learn more about your new unit!

New Units Coming Your Way

We are in the middle of the 3rd quarter and I thought it would be nice to update you on where we are in our units.

First graders have just started a new balance and motion unit. We learned about gravity and Sir Isaac Newton. Tell you a cute story... after learning about gravity (what goes up must come down), I was reviewing what we learned about Newton's law of gravity. I asked them who was the great scientist who taught us about gravity and their answer... "You Mrs. Heinrich!!!" Here are some great answers from our latest test. I think you will enjoy them.
The question, what do you have to know about balance in order to balance the crayfish or the arch?
1. it spst to eckwell.
2. it has to be dobm wate.
3. you have to put it in the sentr.
4. you ned to pot the kowntrwats on the sids.

All great answers!!!! Can you figure out what it says?

Second graders are finishing up their unit on Solids and Liquids. We are studying for our test this week that includes our liquid and solid words. We also did some fun lessons on Mr. Snowman. We entitled our lesson, What's the Matter, Mr. Snowman. We watched Mr. Snowman all day long. We took notes and observations as he melted away. We are now watching to see how much he evaporates, showing us that Mr. Snowman is all three states of matter. We also learned about Newtonian fluids through our activities with Oobleck and toothpaste. Our next unit will be a mini unit on Vermicomposting and worms. We received a grant to purchase supplies to create a community garden at Jefferson which helps Stettin learn about worms too.

Third graders are continuing their unit on water. We are finishing the water cycle by learning about ground water and erosion. We will follow up with a unit test. To wrap up the water unit we are learning about how we use water in our lives. We will be creating a water wheel and look at water use. We rely so heavily on water. Our review of the water cycle will conclude with a water wonder party. Our next unit is a mini worm unit to start our vermicomposting activities.

Fourth graders continue to learn about the human body. So far they have learned about bones, joints, muscles, tendons, and ligaments. We are starting to focus on the nervous system and reaction and stimulus. We are conduction experiments to help us understand muscle memory and how our brain helps us send messages quickly. We will focus on the circulatory and respiratory systems, and digestive systems. We will learn how they all work together to do an important job. We will finish up before spring break, taking us to the solar system unit.

Fifth graders just finished up on their mixtures and solutions unit. The learned about how to separate mixtures and certain solutions. We learned the difference between the two. We also learned about diluting solutions and understanding saturated solutions. We created solutions that also created chemical reactions. We even made polymers and lemonade to connect our thinking and use of our vocabulary. Fifth graders will learn about the six simple machines after their mini vermicomposting unit.

Science is out of this world!!!!

Snow Days

Kids love snow days! How about enjoying snow any day! Here are some great links and ideas for snow much fun!

http://snowflakes.barkleyus.com/

Here you can make a flake. A fun way to make snow flakes.

Another great site has you learning about snowflakes and some great activities too!

http://www.its.caltech.edu/~atomic/snowcrystals/kids/kids.htm

Snowflake Bentley shared his love of snowflakes with us. Take a look at some great flakes...

http://www.nashua.edu/novakc/Snowflake/snowflake1.htm
Have fun!!!!