Science

Next week in the Lower School, the Kindergarten will be learning about the heart as part of their study of the human body.  In addition to understanding the basic function and anatomy of the heart, the boys will use stethoscopes to determine their heart rates before and after exercise.  The importance of exercise as a heart-healthy activity will be discussed.

In first grade, the topic of weather will continue with activities on thunder and lightning.  The boys will simulate thunder by blowing up paper bags and popping them, and will create mini-lightning bolts using styrofoam plates and aluminum pans.  They will also learn how to read weather maps and use them for forecasting. 

The second grade is “sticking to” magnets, and are continuing their studies of holding power.  They are analyzing the results of their “fish and clips” activity and will test magnetic abilities through different materials.

Third grade is deep into fossil studies, creating their own mold fossils and examining both vertebrate and invertebrate specimens.  They are looking forward to their trip to the AMNH to learn about dinosaurs.

Fourth grade is finishing their unit on pH and chemistry by learning the basics of atomic structure and the Periodic Table of Elements.  Protons, neutrons, electrons, elements, matter, and atomic mass and weight are all part of the discussion. 

This week, Lower School Science was erupting with energy and enthusiasm.

In Third Grade, the boys eagerly studied volcanoes using CD-Roms and then created models of volcanoes that erupted.  They’ll be moving onto earthquakes and plate tectonics next week by making “Peanut Butter and Jelly Geology” models of faults.

In Second Grade, the study of water concluded with  Aquatic Animal Adaptations. The boys were challenged to create an animal using specific adaptations.  The boys designed their animals and made models to display.

Kindergarten continued building their houses to withstand the winds of the “Big Bad Fan!”  They will conclude the building unit next week.

First Grade explored invertebrates by comparing earthworms and millipedes. They made observations of live animals and created Venn Diagrams to show similarities and differences.  The boys also made insect guide books.

Fourth Grade finished their testing of paper towels by analyzing their wet strength, absorbency, and value data.  They will move onto shampoo testing next week in order to hone their experimental design skills.

The Science Challenge on how animals prepare for winter is due next week….we’ll keep you posted!

Deb and Sami

Lower Schoolers are into the science swing, studying everything from insects to paper towels!

In Kindergarten, the boys are learning about strong structures; triangles, arches, and reinforced materials.  They are currently building houses out of common materials that will be tested against the “Big Bad Fan” next week.

First Grade is learning about insects.  They’ve learned about insect anatomy (head, thorax, and abdomen), bee-havior (bee waggle dance), tested mealworm reactions to light/dark, gravity, and scent, and have observed metamorphosis.  They will be moving on to other invertebrates next week, comparing and contrasting millipedes and earthworms.

Second Grade is deep into their Hudson River Fish Books; the boys are completing their books and moving onto aquatic animal adaptations.  They are creating their own animals from a set of given adaptations.  Their creativity and understanding of adaptation are shining through.

Third Grade has been reviewing the three types of rocks.  They have created metamorphic waffles (observing that some ingredients melt while others stay intact) and conglomerate rocks from plaster of paris and stones.  They are excited to move onto their study of volcanoes and earthquakes!

Fourth Grade has moved onto their Consumer Product Testing laboratory unit.  They are determining the best paper towel by assessing absorbency, wet strength and price.  These activities hone their skills at experimental design as they create their own experiements considering controls and variables.

Family Science has been a great success; we have over 150 people expected at each of the remaining evenings.  The Science Challenge is also going well, with outstanding participation.

This week in Lower School Science, properties were being observed in almost every class.

 Kindergarten observed the physical properties of shells, using their senses to ascertain size, texture, and color.  They then sorted the shells by appearance and created pictograms and bar graphs to quantify their results.

First grade finished their study of nutrition by making their own butter in test tubes.  After observing the properties of cream, the boys “shaked, rattled, and rolled” the cream (which they learned was a colloid) became a solid.

 Second grade continued learning about the properties of water.  After finishing their experiments on surface tension, the boys observed cohesion of water droplets by moving the droplets with air.  The water droplet race was a big hit, and reinforced cohesion.

 Third grade observed the properties of rocks by weighing, measuring, and recording color and texture.  The boys will begin using field guides to identify rock specimens this week. 

Fourth grade used probability to analyze the amount of water coverage of the earth.  By tossing an inflatable globe back and fourth 100 times, and recording the number of times their pointer finger landed on land vs. water, they derived at estimates of the coverage.  They will finish this activity next week.

Next week:

K - Fish Observations/Dissection (discovering physical adaptations)

1 - Intro to Five Senses - Sense of Smell (”Mystery Smells” and “Peppermint Beetle” activities)

2 - Water Cohesion: Water Drop Experiments

3 - Begin Field Guide Rock Research

4 - Finish Globe Toss Activity (using probability to estimate the Earth’s water coverage), Water Facts Game, and Landforms Powerpoint and Bingo

Sami

This week, we delved into our first topics after a week of successful teambuilding activities.

 In First Grade, we explored the food pyramid and what constitutes a varied and well-balanced meal.  Next week, we will create healthy meals using the SmartBoard and will test various foods for fat content using paper bags (which absorb fat).

In Second Grade, we examined the properties of water, begining with a taste test of various bottled waters, as well as distilled and tap.  We also explored surface tension by trying to float paper clips on water.  Next week, we will examine the molecular structure of water.

In Third Grade, we began studying the earth’s layers and created models of the earth using styrofoam balls.  We’ll finish the models this week, and then move on to the properties of rocks.

 In Fourth Grade, we brainstormed the uses of earth’s natural resources.  Next week, we will perform a “Pasta Mining” activity which simulates the harvesting of non-renewable and renewable resources.

Kindergarten had a great first week, getting to know each other and the rules of science class.  We shared summer science activities and made science keychains.  Next week, we’ll begin our study of the seashore by using our senses to identify various mystery sea items.

 The first Science Challenge of the year has been posted.  It asks the boys to examine the properties of a leaf, including length, width, area, shape, color, texture, etc….It also asks them to write a story about the leaf’s travels down from the tree to the ground.

Happy Fall!

Sami, Deb, and Beth

Our year in science begins with teambuilding; we create teams, participate in teambuilding activities which emphasize cooperative skills (such as cooperation, communication, coming to consensus, etc…) and process the activity in order to reinforce positive social skills.  The activities consist of having the teams develop team names, logos, and cheers which are based on the science topics to be studied this term.  In each class, we brainstorm words which tie into each science topic in order to inspire the boys’ creativity. (and to assess prior knowledge).

Next week, we will have the teams present their work and process the activity.  In addition, we will begin our first science topics which are:

K - The Seashore - Seashell Sort

1 - Nutrition - Food Pyramid

2 - Water - Taste Testing and Surface Tension Activities

3 - Earth’s Layers - Making Models

4 - Natural Resources - Renewable vs. Non-renewable

 We’re looking forward to a great year!

 Sami, Debbie, and Beth 

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.

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 in science, we are developing performances about rain forest conservation based on the book, The Great Kapok Tree, by Lynn Cherry. This project ties in with the Lower School’s interdisciplinary unit on performing arts.

We will review many of the reasons for protecting rain forest, learn about some of the inhabitants, and then develop performances based on the grade level focus (i.e. 1st grade - dance, 2nd grade - puppets, 3rd grade - masks, etc…..).

I think we’ll be in for some interesting performances!