Students took the last test of the year on vertebrates. They will work on a travel brochure (or travel log) about the digestive system for the rest of the week. The pamphlet will talk about what happens throughout the ‘tour’. There is no 7th grade science final. I took another 10 kids to the museum last friday.
Last week we discussed mass, and the boys got some practice measuring the mass of various objects. We looked at various instruments for measuring mass, and Mr. Stamos showed the boys how to use the triple beam balance. We identified the importance of effectively organizing data and communicating findings, and the students generated data tables.
This week we started with a look at the field of biomedical engineering(BME) in preparation for our trip to the BME labs at Columbia University on Tuesday. We will discuss what we saw during our trip and then move into final preparations for our balloon experiments. We will conduct an initial test of the experiments on Thursday, and the boys will make any final design changes before conducting their experiments over the next week.
This week in Lower School Science, we are busy working on our final units. As the Kindergarten finishes their study of performing arts by learning about sound and sound waves, first grade is learning seed vocabulary and creating sprout bags. Second grade starts a mini-unit on the planets, which will include a mobile of the solar system (yes, we’re still including Pluto, but explaining its demotion!), and third grade continues to dissect owl pellets. Fourth grade is heading out for an environmental sail on the Hudson River, reinforcing our studies of ecology, natural resources, and vertebrates.
This week in Lower School Science, we are finishing up on the science of performing arts (the interdisciplinary unit) and moving on to our final studies of the year. Kindergarten is finishing performing arts with activities on balance and center of gravity, while 2nd Grade will work on the science of juggling. 1st Grade is moving onto plants, by learning the form and function of flowers and the transport systems in roots, stems, and leaves. 3rd Grade is excited to begin their owl pellet dissection, and 4th starts a study of vertebrates by identifying the five classes of vertebrates and having an overview of the human skeletal system.
Students will take the invertebrate test. We then start learning about vertebrates and will do a frog dissection. Content comes from the textbook and lecture. Last Friday I took 9 kids to see the Hall of Human Origins at the Nat. Hist. Museum. The trip was voluntary. We studied evolution earlier this year before the new hall was open. I will take kids on Friday afternoons until every student that wants to go gets a chance to (Most likely no more than two more weeks).
Hi, All. Continuing our interdisciplinary unit on “Performing Arts”, we are moving on to the science of costumes…..more specifically, the properties of fabrics. Next week, the boys will try to identify four unknown fabrics based on their texture, luster, absorbency, and weave as viewed under the microscope. It should be fun.
After that, the science of juggling!!
Sami
This week we are dissecting a clam and reviewing for the test next week. The test is over invetebrates. It will cover the readings and dissections that we have done for the past few weeks. Students also have one day of Sex Ed.