Scientist of the Week

Friday

Friday afternoon was a little bit crazy. The kids were wired and ready for the weekend and we had a lot planned for them. For writing workshop we let them have their choice of what to write about as long as they added some words. For some reason they are really into making laptops with folded paper. I find that it is working out okay because they make a key board with all the letters of the alphabet and they are interested in secret codes. Alexis and I worked with the Kinders during math on writing numbers 1-10 on chalkboards. Mike took the first graders out in the hall and worked on fast tens. We all came together and tossed an inflatable globe around. When one person caught the globe they were to tell the class if their thumbs landed on land or water. We kept a tally to see is land or water occurred more. We found that we landed on water way more often than on land. We then learned that 75% or ¾ of the earth is covered in water. The kids took a circle, folded it into four equal parts, colored three parts blue, and the fourth part the color of land (green, brown, or whatever they thought represented land best). We brought the kids out for a quick recess and came back in the classroom for scientist of the week. This was a really neat experience where Judy’s 2/3 classroom came to our room and one of her students did a science experiment for all the kids. He made so much carbon dioxide using vinegar and baking soda, that it filled a balloon. After his experiment, one of our first graders showed the students that 15% of all minerals contain phosphorescence and you can see them when you shine a black light on them. This activity of scientist of the week was really fun because the students were totally engaged in their classmate’s demonstrations and the children and teachers learned a lot. This activity helps children’s social skills along with their math and science knowledge.