9. Materials found in home construction
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This week we looked at samples of actual building materials. Now that our scientists have developed models or strong and sable homes, we needed to learn more about the materials used to build them. The students had an opportunity to learn about several materials used in the construction of homes:
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8. Testing & Improving our Design
1/22/15
This week we determined whether or not our house met our initial criteria. The houses had to be strong, stable, and large enough to fit Mr. Bullwinkle. We used a fan and some very deep breaths to see if our houses met our needs. Sadly, we realized our houses needed some improvements. The houses blew away, broke and weren't large enough to fit Mr. Bullwinkle. Our kindergartners realized that they needed to build a better house but that would take different materials. They suggested using the following new materials:
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7. Designing a home
1/15/15
We developed a plan to create our first model home. We used marshmallows and toothpicks to create our initial structures. Our young scientists discovered that marshmallows and toothpicks have helpful and problematic qualities (benefits and constraints). Marshmallows are sticky, bendy, soft and can be used to put toothpicks together. Toothpicks are rigid, pokey and hard. Students started constructing various designs of houses that would fit Mr. & Mrs. Bullwinkle (stuffed animal moose). The pictures below demonstrate some of their creative ideas. This lesson also had students identify the difference between 2-d and 3-d structures.
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6. What is a house?
1/05/15
We've spent the past few months truly learning all that we can about texture. Now that we know everything we can, we will be applying this understanding to developing a model of a home. To begin our lesson we read the story "The Three Little Pigs." Then we discussed what a home really is. The students decided a home is a shelter, a place that keeps them warm and safe..
A house should be: 1) Strong 2) Safe 3) Stable- not fall down 4) Big enough for your family 5) Have doors and windows to let light and people in We also discussed that there are different types of homes. Some of the examples mentioned were apartments, condo's, homes, house boats, mobil homes, cabins, and mansions. We also took a closer look at the names of the different parts of a house including the walls, roof, chimneys, doors, and windows. This week the students will each get a bag filled with many different materials. They will design and build a home that can manage as much of the criteria as mentioned above. |
5. Materials Collage
12/12/14
This week we combined our love of art and understanding of science to produce our very own 'Materials Collage.' A collage is a piece of art that often includes many layers of paint, fabric, newspaper, photographs or string glued to a canvas or piece of paper. In our collage students were asked to make any picture they wanted using various materials that all had unique textures. Then in a key on their art, they identified a texture for each material they used. It was a great way to apply and review what we have learned about texture.
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4. What does this feel like?
11/12/14
The students have spent the past two weeks completing textures scavenger hunts, labeling what they feel and describing various materials based on their properties. During the first week we focused on smooth, rough, bendy, rigid, scratchy, and bumpy. This week we are focusing on furry, pokey, squishy, prickly and slippery. Students receive a basket of materials during class and need to record what each material feels like. They are encouraged to use as many words as they see appropriate. Students reported very quickly that an object can often times have more than one texture.
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3. Identifying and Understanding Texture
11/03/14- 11/29/14
One of the most important things needed to be an effective scientist and engineer is being able to understand the similarities and differences between various materials. Our young scientists will be spending the next month exploring the properties of fabrics, metals, wood and plastic. We will be identifying textures such as bumpy, smooth, rough, prickly, pokey, fluffy, squishy, bendy, rigid and slippery. As scientists, they will learn to communicate their findings through pictures or descriptions.
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2. Sorting by size, shape and color
10/03/14- 10/31/14
A very important step in classifying materials is being able to distinguish how materials are alike and how they are different. As young scientists they will first begin by sorting objects into groups based on their size, shape and color. The students quickly observed that many objects can be sorted into more than one group. For example a block may be large blue and a triangle. Students were give 30 objects in a bucket and asked to sort these objects into groups. The students came up with categories like see through, red, metal, round and long. The tried sorting the same object three times and found that they could create several different groupings.
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1. Using our senses!
09/15/14
To start of the year our you scientists learn all about their 5 sense and how their sense help them make observations. Students quickly learn that each one of their sense helps them characterize the object that they are looking at. It is important at this age that we help them understand that the more specific their observation is, the more data they are collecting. At this young age data collection is more about qualitative than quantitative. We want them to engage by using their sense of sight, touch, smell and hearing. We also encourage students to understand that in science we use our mouth to communicate instead of taste.
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Ms. Lohitsa
Lover of all things Science!
Effective teammates:
1) kind
2) responsible
3) share ideas
4) respect others
5) include everyone
Guided questions:
1) What sense do I use to help me understand the world around me?
2) How do I make and observation?
3) How can objects and materials be classified?
4) What is texture?
5) What is the difference between natural and man-made materials?
Links:
Video on texture
Sorting materials
Grouping and Changing materials
Building a Spaceship with different materials
Sorting by color, shape, size and physical characteristics
Sorting by Physical Attributes and most to fewest
Sorting Animals into groups
Suggested Books:
Lover of all things Science!
Effective teammates:
1) kind
2) responsible
3) share ideas
4) respect others
5) include everyone
Guided questions:
1) What sense do I use to help me understand the world around me?
2) How do I make and observation?
3) How can objects and materials be classified?
4) What is texture?
5) What is the difference between natural and man-made materials?
Links:
Video on texture
Sorting materials
Grouping and Changing materials
Building a Spaceship with different materials
Sorting by color, shape, size and physical characteristics
Sorting by Physical Attributes and most to fewest
Sorting Animals into groups
Suggested Books: