The kindergarten students were exploring gravity, as well as forces that fight gravity. They were exploring how air resistance works to slow the force of gravity. Our wonderful intern, Kartia Handler, brought in a parachute for the students to use to experiment. What an exciting afternoon!
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To further investigate force, Mrs. Kochis' class was challenged to design and build a balloon rocket. We discussed what would happen to the blown up balloon if I let go of it without tying it off. The students had many hypothesis'. My favorite was that it would explode. After I demonstrated, and the balloon flew across the classroom before it fell to the ground, I gave the students some materials to design a rocket. They were given a straw, masking tape, string, and a balloon. Next, they were asked to use the materials to control the direction of the balloon so that it hits one of the three targets located around the classroom. The students began drawing their ideas. The first idea was to put the straw into the balloon. We tested the idea, and found it did not control the direction of the balloon. Next, I ask how we could use the string and the straw together. One student suggested we put the string through the straw. We did, and noticed that the straw moves along the string using force! Finally, the students wondered how we could attach the balloon to move the straw! I was quite a process. They were so excited, and so successful! This week we discussed wind as a force. The students learned that wind is moving air that has speed and direction that can move things. The students then created their pinwheels and experimented with wind. The students tried to make the pinwheel move fast, slow, and in an opposite direction. This was a challenge for some. Just getting the pinwheel to spin was difficult. We discussed where the wind needs to "push" the pinwheel to get it to move. Finally, we discussed that engineers design and build windmills to capture wind to make electricity. What an hour!!
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AuthorMrs. Houseman-STEM Specialist Archives
May 2017
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