We Are SURROUNDED by VARIABLES!!!!!

We are beginning our next unit in 5th grade Science this week. We will be working with the Scientific Method for this “Variables Unit”. We will be learning about how the Scientific Method helps us to organize our experiments and conduct them in a step-by-step manner for optimal success. During this unit we will be setting up and executing our own experiments in class as well as working with Mrs. Reid’s History class to apply what we are doing in science with the scientific discoveries of that time in History. Scientists such as Newton and Galileo will have parts of their teachings used within class as well as those of Archimedes to help conduct our experiments and learn how they really made their discoveries.
This Variables unit will combine our prior knowledge with our new knowledge to drive our learning. Each lab will be conducted using the Scientific Method and the students will be introduced to the format of lab reporting. We will use various forms of presentation at the conclusion of each lab to experience public speaking as well as public presentation skills. We are looking forward to a wonderful unit!!!!!!!!

Plants, Cells and MORE!!!

This past week our 5th graders have been examining plants, cells, and the way that plants survive. Today we examined plants at every stage of their life cycle during a hands on investigation lab. We spent time looking at seeds, leaves, full grown plants, developing plants, and wood parts and types from full grown trees. We focused on connecting our vocabulary to tangible items and were able to see similarities and differences as we conducted our investigations. I have also encouraged the students to look at plants around their house and look at the similarities and differences in the plants and the way they are able to survive within the household. Please feel free to share the reasons you may have chosen certain plants for their ability to survive under many different conditions.

NEW PLANTS!

Our 5th grade classes have been studying plants and their parts and functions. We are currently experimenting with growth using tomato seeds. The students are responsible for keeping track of their growth as well as tracking via description and measurement once the new plant emerges. There is an interesting twist to these plants however...they are growing in plastic bags wrapped in moist paper towel. We have attached these experiments to our windows to stimulate growth in response to light.
Other sample plants have been placed around the room to see how plants placed in differing conditions will respond and grow. Our next step is to look at plants and animals on a cellular level and examine the similarities and differences between plant and animal cells. If you have the chance at home, search your yards for examples of "new growth" or seeds that may be exposed due to the quickly changing weather.
As the leaves change we will be exploring the reasons for the colors as well as the leaf structure itself. Stay tuned for plant updates as well!!!!!!!

We're Being Invaded!!!!!!!!!

Our Invasive Species projects are incredible. Our students completed their research and presentations between this past Thursday and Today. Everyone got the chance to share the information that they had gathered to their classmates and we all learned how dangerous it can be to introduce a foreign plant or animal to any new habitat. The presentations covered many different plant and animal species that have been introduced in the Americas as well as overseas. Many species that have been labeled "Invasive" began as "Introduced" species that were brought to different areas to help balance or fix an ecosystem. What had not been researched was what would happen if the particular species had no natural predators in their new habitat. After completing classwork on the Nile Perch I was very happy to see how well everyone was able to research their own species for their presentations. All of the students were prepared and discussed the natural habitat of their species as well as the new habitats that they were introduced to. We are now discussing how populations of organisms are influenced as a result of these new species interactions and what can happen to the natural food web of their particular ecosystem.

All About Plants!

Our 5th grade classes are diving into plants! We have begun with seed and plant parts and will continue our work next week discussing the definitions of each plant and seed part as well as its function. We are hoping for better weather next week so we can use our outdoor classroom as well as other areas of campus. Since each plant is unique we will be examining MANY different types to get a great perspective on growth and life.
This weekend, please work with your student to look at the different types of plants and trees around your home and help them make a mental list for discussion about the observations that you all make about the leaves, trunks, stems, and possibly roots of each.

Have a great weekend!

WELCOME BACK!!!!!!!

We are back to school again with our beautiful views and exciting outlooks for a new year. We have changed locations and in the building and are enjoying the lab space as well as open work space in the room.

Our fifth graders have kicked off their year working on Plants and the Environment and we have begun comparing different types of plants and will be working on plant parts over the next few weeks. Our school grounds provide us with a wonderful opportunity to see our plants in action before the weather turns too cold as well so we will be out and about to see nature in action.

The sixth grade have jumped right into Ecology where we have begun our study of our relationship with our environment around us in the new classroom as well as how we as a school influence the animal and plant populations around the school. We too will be heading out and about on campus to examine what we do, good and bad, to the environment we reside in.

We are all excited about kicking off this new school year and hope to see everyone soon!
Remember there will be questions to discuss posted here so check back often!

My first response question of the year is how might the growing population of people in Ridgefield influence the animal and plant populations here?

CELLS ALIVE!!!!!!

Wow, it's been a while but so much has happened. We have recovered from some technical difficulties and there is much to discuss. In the sixth grade we have been studying micro-life and we completed our CELL projects just recently. Everyone did a tremendous job!!! We plant cells, animal cells, and even some bacteria cells. All models were 3-D so you can clearly see the organelles(tiny structures inside the cells) and really get a feel for how and why they work so well! We will have pictures to follow.
The students have done a great job researching how cells are the building blocks of life and we have discussed and experimented with how microscopic life changes the way our everyday life functions. The best case has been our colds and illnesses throughout the long winter we had here in the northeast this year. Wonderful breakthroughs in modern science have allowed us to stay healthy and continue to fight off little invaders that might otherwise keep making us sick. Great job medical field!!!!
Pictures are soon to follow of some of wonderful projects that everyone turned in!

Catapults!!!

Our 5th grade classes have been working on testing simple catapults using knowledge that they have gained through experimental design. We have worked with pre-made catapults thus far and we are now on to designing our own. In this day and age some people have brought back the art of catapults for amusement. Do any of you know what they are using them for? Reply via post to the blog if you think you know what they are being used for today!!! I will give you a hint. They are being used to propel a common fall fruit.
I can't wait to see your responses.

Did it get digested?

Have you ever wondered if something you ate really got digested? That wonderful thing your parents say to you when you swallow gum, "that's going to stay in your body for the rest of your life!!!" Well, in our Body Works unit, we are wrapping up the digestive system by learning how our bodies break down all different types of food and materials and use them for nutrients and squeeze every last drop of water out of them for energy. Now we are on to the Respiratory and Circulatory systems. We have already learned that our lungs are not just for breathing air in and out but that they are responsible for getting the oxygen molecules into our blood!!! We have observed the gas exchange that occurs when the oxygen molecules are passed into the bloodstream and the carbon dioxide molecules are passed back into the alveoli and head back out of the lungs as we exhale. It is exciting to be in science today!!!! Remember, if you find a current event article or see something on TV that pertains to class please write a summary of what you heard and why that is an important topic in health or the human body and you can get extra credit!!!
Stay tuned for the way blood flows through the body in our upcoming posts.

The Body

Have you ever wondered what happens to your food as you chew it? As you swallow it? After that????
We are no longer wondering...we are learning the answers. We have begun our unit on Body Works. We have started with the digestive system and we are learning not only the parts, but also how they function. There are many vital organs that go into our everyday health and as we have found many of them are part of the digestive system. We will be learning all of the body systems as well as their structures and functions culminating with a poster sketch of the systems and how they fit and work together. During this unit we do lab work pertaining to the system we are currently working on. We have conducted our first digestive lab to discuss the ways that we break down food and we will be conducting another to further learn about mechanical and chemical breakdown.
We encourage the students to share what they are learning at home so be sure to talk with them about the body systems.

Buoyancy Bonanza!!

Our 5th graders have been challenged and have passed with flying colors. We have been learning about how variables are used to conduct and test experiments. We learned about how Archimedes discovered the principles of Buoyancy and we have put them to work in our classroom. First we discussed carrying capacity and why boats are built with a purpose and a limit to how many people and items they can hold. We then tested our own "boats" in the classroom and reviewed our results of our "passenger" tests. Our passengers being pennies were placed inside our floating "boats" and we counted the capacity by using the number of pennies the boats carried before sinking to the bottom.
This week we are finishing our boat challenge by constructing and testing our own home made boats. Each student was given a 12"by 12" piece of foil and constructed their own boat to hold as many passengers as possible. They came up with many creative designs and most have been holding well over 100 passengers!!!!!
As we wrap up this phase of construction we are now going to focus on the experimental design process as we head into our experimentation in the AIR!!! Flight will be our next step and the discoveries to be made are just as exciting as those we have had thus far.

4th Grade is Electric

Hello again,
We have begun our experiments with electricity and electrical circuits. You may have heard about our "glowing ball" and our Van DeGraff Generator. We have used both to demonstrate one of our two types of electricity. Static electricity is responsible for the wonderful things we experienced during our classes the last few weeks. We have also started work with Current Electricity. This as we have discussed is what we have in our homes, schools and businesses. We are very excited to continue to learn how many ways we use electricity and can save it and also learn how to create the circuits we use everyday ourselves!!!

Winter Weather Woes

It has bee an interesting couple of weeks with the way the weather is treating us, however, we have been going strong here in our lab. In 4th grade we are making the transition into our Studying Electricity unit. We have begun by learning about static electricity and exploring the roots of our modern day electrical capabilities.
In 5th grade we are diving into our Variables unit and experimenting and learning about how variables change and drive our experiments. Currently we are working with buoyancy and capacity. We have also begun another cross curriculum project with technology by researching famous scientists to create interactive presentations on for computers and science. We are looking forward to wonderful presentations from our students!
The 6th grade is wrapping up Studying People Scientifically and heading into Body Works. Both units focus on how our body works and how things that we do and take affect our body systems. This is a unit that works closely with what is happening in the news every day when it comes to improvements in our health care and new discoveries in the world of the human body and medicine. Although it is cold outside, we are heating it up inside with hands on activities, experiments, and demonstrations!