JGA LEGO Robotics Club

For the past two weeks, we have been learning Newton's Laws of Motion.
 
Click here to see a kids's site about Newton's Laws of Motion  

 

Long time no post!

We concluded our chemistry labs this week with Ph-testing and with creating models of molecules with Zometools!  See photos below!

From Earth Science to Chemistry

After the science fair, STEM class focused on earth science. We talked about the layers of the earth and created a volcano in a beaker modeling how magma breaks through the earth's crust.  We also had a great time identifying the three major types of rocks - igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic while observing the rock collection. 

We also discussed the names of various landforms and bodies of water.

We transitioned from earth science to chemistry by creating our own crystals.  We made some supersaturated solutions and cooled them so they would crystalize much like crystals are formed in the earth's crust.  This week, we are observing our crystals under the microscope and learning how to use the microscope as well as we discuss the chemical process that formed our crystals. 

Julia Greeley's First Annual Science Fair was a blast.  I was so proud to see the hard work that so many students put into their projects and how well many followed the scientific method.  I was also pleased to see/hear what the kids learned.  Lastly, I was very pleased with the number of parents/grandparents who attended the fair and supported our students.  It was a great experience for all.  Afterwards, we enjoyed a great Pi Day Celebration with pi-shaped cookies as well as pies donated by the Brooks family.   Thank you to the parents who helped out that morning.  

The Science Fair projects, worth 40 points, were awarded point based on the following criteria:
10 points for at least partially completing a project (I know, very lenient for our very first fair!)
10 points for science fair presentation
10 points for background research
10 points for following the scientific method (purpose/question, hypothesis, procedure, control variable, materials, data/results, conclusion, reflection, report/journal, and independence-clearly student work).

Note a few students were awarded one bonus point for exceptional background research and/or for exceptional reports.  Also, note, due to their age, kindergarten and first grade students were automatically given five points for following the scientific method.  I did not award a full ten points since I wanted to encourage the primary grades to follow the scientific method as well despite being young.  Because so many students in all grades did well, we had many ties.

Science Fair Results:

Kindergarten Class

First Place:  (41 points)

Second Place: (35.5 points)

First Grade Class

First Place: (41 points)

Second Place: (36 points)

Second/Third Grades Class

First Place:  (41 points)

Second Place: (39 points)

Fourth/Fifth Grade Class

First Place:  (40.5 points)

Second Place:  (39 points)

Pi Day Celebration!