Today in science we were looking at how heat can cause some solids to become liquids.  We looked at how ice can become liquid when heat is applied.  Then we looked at a challenge.  We read the story Cool It, Dude from More Everyday Science Mysteries.  In the story there were 2 people in a sub shop complaining that they did not like crushed ice in their drinks.  They felt they changed to a liquid faster and watered down their drinks.  They complained to the employee of the sub shop and they told them their boss told him that crushed ice lowed the temperature the drink off faster.  The two characters in the story were not sure if that was true.  The class had to decide if they felt it would not matter ice is ice or if the boss was right.  They went to two different points in the room and discussed with other people that agreed with them.  They they picked one student to try and convince the other group that their thinking was correct.  At the end of the discussion there was only two students left in the crushed ice was faster group.  We tested the theory and found that crushed ice does lower the temperature of the drink quicker.  Congratulations to Manny and Parker for their thinking.  Here is the explanation that Manny gave for the group before we tested.
"The crushed ice lowers it faster because it is spreading around and more drink touches the edges of ice it so it lowers quicker.  On a cube only a little drink is touching the outside of the cube."Manny

Today in science we are working on effects of heating and cooling matter.  Today I read them a science story from Yes More Everyday Science Mysteries called Cooling Off.  The story had two brothers doing their science homework at home.  On the homework is asked them what would happen if they had two cups with equal amounts of water and equal temperatures and they poured them together.  One of the boys in the story thought the temperature would be the same and the other brother thought the temperature would double.  We did a 3 corners activity.  They went to one corner if they thought they would stay the same.  They went to another corner if they thought it would double and finally a 3rd corner if they thought it was neither.  Then they had to some up with a way to convince the other group their thinking was correct.  There were split equally between same and double before discussions.  Here was their thinking:
"When you add two of the same temperatures they will stay the same until something hotter or colder gets into them or close to them." Alexa for the group they would stay the same. 
"The same heat and when you take two hot it makes it hotter." Jack for the group that thought they would double.
After discussion they could change groups if their thinking changed.  Most of them moved from the same to double after discussion.  There were only 4 people left in the group who thought it would stay the same.  Then we went and tried it.  They discovered they would stay the same. 

Because of the half days for parent conferences we eat our lunch in the room.  So after lunch I gave them some free time.  A large group of kids got out some building supplies and built a really tall building.  Even in their free time they are wonderful engineers.

Today in science we started to see how heat can effect matter.  We popped a corn kernel in a test tube over a candle.  Then we made observations of the changes that took place.  We talked about what happened to the kernel and what caused the changes. 

We started our new engineering challenge today.  They were put in groups and decided on the jobs they would perform for this challenge.  The new challenge is the Bird Nest Challenge.  Using found natural materials, they need to make a bird nest that can hold three eggs (marbles).  They can only use found natural materials so if your student comes home and wants to collect something from outside for this project please allow them.  Their nest must work!  It has to hold the eggs without them falling through.  They will not be able to use any other materials such as glue or tape.  I can't wait to see the creative ways they complete this challenge.

We tested and presented our geodesic domes today.  All the presentations were great they told about how they built and redesigned their domes.  Then we tested the domes until failure.  The winning design had a small base and they doubled the toothpicks when making the triangles of the dome for strength.  Their dome was able to hold 7 supply boxes filled with 3 boxes of crayons in each.  Wow!!!!  I got so excited I forgot to take a picture.  Sorry but here is the building group and their dome before testing.  Great job.

Today was building day in our building challenge.  Our challenge was what is the strongest geodesic dome they could build using gum drops and toothpicks.  They spent some time researching and planning and today they were building.  Check out some of the first round buildings.

We are continuing our study of matter.  Today we moved to the properties of liquids.  The students were given many containers of different types of liquids.  They were to pick at least three and then write down some of the properties of the liquid in the Popplet App. 

In Social Studies we have been working on map keys and creating maps.  We read Mapping Pennies World.  Then we did the mapping our world activity.  They were broken into groups then they were given instructions they had to follow to build a map.  They got to create the map key and then make the map.  Check out some of their amazing maps. 

I am so excited we started our study of matter today.  We spent today reviewing from first grade about the 3 forms of matter. Then we took a closer look at solids today.  They were given a bag of solids and they had to brainstorm properties of the solids they were given.  They recorded their properties in word mover.  Check out their observations and a work sample.

Today in science we looked at our project for matter.  The class is going to help me with my ice cream problem.  Check out the project.  matter project  

Reminder:  Tomorrow is wear red, white, and blue day to celebrate the U.S. Constitution.  I can't wait to see all the patriotic colors tomorrow.

Genius Hour

         Hopefully, your student will share with you  about Genuis Hour today.  If you do not hear about it here is some information.

On every other Friday this year, when we do not have Specials, we will be incorporating 'Genius Hour' into our classroom. Genius Hour allows students the opportunity to choose something to research and learn about, that they have wondered about and/or been interested in. Students decide on a question that they want to discover the answer to. Then, they submit their question to me for approval. If the question can be answered too quickly, it will not be approved for study. It must be a genuine question that requires research, study and learning something new.

Once they have completed their research, students must then create a presentation to share with the rest of the class, to teach what they have learned.  The presentation can be a poster, a paper book, or a digital presentation on the IPAD.

Most of the research and presentation will be done during Genuis Hour at school, however, you may help your student at home with the research and presentation as long as it is just help and they are still doing the project.

We will work on the first Genius Hour project for several weeks and then have the students present them.  Once that happens, we will start the process again and the students will get to chose a new topic to study.

I am so excited about this addition to our class this year and I can't wait to see what the students learn and present.  I have attached your student’s inquiry question so that you can keep up with how they are doing.

We were so lucky this morning.  The Grapevine Mustang Football players came to visit Cannon.  We were lucky enough to get Jared visiting our class.  The kids really enjoyed asking questions about football and high school.  Then he read them a story.  They all really enjoyed the visit.

Today we talked about what tool a meteorologist would use to measure rain.  We talked about without the tool you would only have general descriptions of the level of the rain such as drizzle or pouring.  We talked about how the tool needed to be able to measure in inches the amount of rain that fell with any given storm.  They brainstormed things that would need to be present in the design for the results to be valid.  Then they designed and we tested their rain gauges. 

This week in science we are looking at some weather tools that help meteorologist do their job.  Yesterday we investigated the thermometer and today we looked at the wind vane (weather vane).  We watched a short movie learning the function of the tool. Then we went to a website to research the way wind vanes are built and to look at some examples.  website  Then they were given the design challenge to build a working wind vane.  They were put into groups and told their supplies. (playdough, index cards, paper cups, straws, and push pins)  They had to follow the engineering design plan to come up with a working wind vane.  Check out their building.

Reminder!!!!!
Form 6:00-7:00 tonight the Dad's Club is having their 2nd annual Dads and Kids Pizza Night at school.  You will meet here at the school cafeteria at 6:00 p.m. for free pizza and drinks.  At 6:30 there will be a presentation about our WATCH D.O.G.S. Program.  Dads, granddads, uncles, step-dads and adult brothers this is your chance to have a night out with your student. 

Today in science we talked about properties of matter.  We read Seashells by the Seashore then they were all given a shell to observe.  They took a picture of the shell and then brainstormed properties of their shell.  Then we shared the properties we observed. 

This week in social studies we worked on where we are in the world.  We read the book Me On The Map .  Then we practiced searching for images using school clip art for our planet, continent, country, state, and city.  We then imported the images into Skitch and added labels.  Then we took the new labeled images and imported them into a story creator app and made our own Me on the Map book.  As soon as we have e-mail set up on the ipads I will share with you.  They look great!!!!!!!!

Today in science we worked on asking deep questions like a scientist.  We read Goldilocks and the Three Bears.  Then we thought about the questions the bears asked in the story.  We came up with some deeper questions they could have asked to solve their mystery sooner.  Then I showed them a lunch sack with a mystery object in it. (plastic spoon)  I told them they were only going to get ten questions to solve what was in the bag. So they were going to have to make their questions count.  We talked about how simple guessing was not going to be an effective method for solving the mystery. They solved the mystery in 9 questions.  Check out their deep questions.

Today we practiced the scientific tool of drawing conclusions from the observations we make.  We begin by reading Imaginative Inventions.  We talked about what are some other inventions they have used?   Each team of two or three students were  provided with a household object that isn’t often used today.  The task was to come up with as many possible suggestions for what the object was used for in the time provided.  They had to take a picture and record their ideas in Educreations.   I reminded student that in an activity like this, there is no wrong answer they are just using their observations to draw conclusions.   The students then presented their objects to the class and provide what they thought it was used for.  Then we talked about each items real use.  We talked about in the past these objects were considered good inventions at that time.  We also talked about that all inventions have a life span during which they serve a specific purpose and then they are modified or something new is invented that will serve the same purpose in a better way.  It is redesigned.  

Also check with your child and see if they have taken the continents and oceans test yet.  If they haven't and you have time they might appreciate the extra practice.

One final thing for today I promise.  A parent found this great resource if anyone is interested.

Parents,

I received this invitation from the Engineering Dept. at UTA.  Just fyi....

 

We hope your year has started off well! We wanted to remind you about the free family STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) event, Engineering Saturday, at the University of Texas at Arlington this weekend. Please let your students know that they can go to www.uta.edu/engineering/saturday for more information and to register for the Saturday event. Parents are also welcome to attend and learn more about UT Arlington and our engineering programs. Thank you!

Dr. Carter Tiernan

Assistant Dean, College of Engineering

University of Texas at Arlington

Beth R. Isbell

Director,

Engineering Student Services Center

Nedderman Hall, Room 242

 

Parents this year there is some changes in the GCISD dress code.  Please read the dress code on p. 36 of the handbook so you are aware of the changes. Handbook  Thanks for helping us follow the dress code.