Stations

The last day before spring break the students rotated through different stations that each involved a type of energy we discussed during 3rd quarter. One station had water glasses with water. The students could change the level of water and observe the pitches created due to vibration of the glass. In the video below you can hear the pitch, listen carefully.

In another station, students used lemons as batteries to light a bulb. The lemons each had a cathode and anode, a copper penny and galvanized metal. The students connected the wires to light the bulb. Unfortunately, we couldn't get the light bulb to turn on. We didn't have enough voltage.

Static Electricity & Van de Graiff Generator

Students observed static electricity and positive and negative charges by rubbing balloons against wool and against their clothes.

The students loved getting shocked by the Van de Graiff generator. Student would line up in contact with each other and see how many people the electric charge could pass through. We successfully passed a charge through 5 students. :)

Electricity!!

The following pictures were taken over a couple weeks on an electricity unit.

The students made simple circuits and experimented with different materials to see which are conductors of electricity. Aluminum conducts!!

In the picture above, students are constructing a simple circuit with a switch to turn on and off the light bulb.

This group of students found that the light bulb gets brighter with a higher voltage. The more batteries, the higher the voltage.

Sound Lab

The students were investigating the relationship between water level (air column) and the pitch of sound.They blew into the test tubes with a straw. The students found that the shorter the air column, the higher the pitch. 

Reflection Challenge!

In this activity we had reflection challenges. There was a different goal for each station. In this station the students had to use at least 3 mirrors to reflect a laser beam up and then down to a target on the table. Other stations consisted of reflecting the laser beam around an obsticle, in a zig-zag formation, in a circular formation, and under a table.

Energy and Mass Lab

Sent from my LG phone

Surface Tension Lab

These pictures were taken on December 8, 2011. The students were exploring the surface tension of different liquids. They counted how many drops of each liquid would fit on the surface of a coin. The students conducted 3 trials of each liquid of their choice.

Mystery-Mixture Lab

These pictures were taken on November 22, 2011 - our first day in the new labs. The students were mixing different compounds together and observing their reactions with water, in order to find the "Mystery-Mixture."

Open-Notebook Quiz

Today the students took an open-notebook quiz which demonstrated their ability to use the Periodic Table of Elements.

Homework: create Crossword Puzzle on Atoms and/or Periodic Table

Zoo Field Trip!

The Zoo Field Trip on Friday was a success! The sun was shining and the students enjoyed their time scavenger hunting for different animals around the park.