Chemistry - Mysterious Powders

Dear Families,

The focus of our second trimester science unit is chemistry. Today we defined chemistry as  “the study of matter and the changes that take place with that matter”. We discussed the question, “What is matter?”. We looked at the website, CHEM4KIDS. We then explored the physical properties of five household substances.

In this unit, we will study chemistry through the lense of a unit titled Mysterious Powders. During the next 5-6 weeks, our class will be experiencing how scientist investigate and learn about various substances. A simulated environmental problem is the focus for exploring the properties of certain substances and for practicing the steps of the scientific process. The problem is the mysterious appearance of a white substance in a neighboring playground...what is it?...where did it come from?...is it safe for students to go out on the playground???

Students will begin by defining the problem and speculating on possible causes. They then initiate an exploration of six household white powders. They will be using everyday products such as vinegar and rubbing alcohol, and other substances such as iodine, phenol red solution, citric acid, and phenolphthalein solution.Throughout this investigation, the data are collected, compared, organized on a class chart, and analyzed. Using their knowledge of the properties of the powders they have been studying along with their analytical skills, the class will solve the mystery of the substance in the playground.

This unit emphasizes problem solving and the use of the scientific process. Students collect data using their senses, conduct simple tests, and make comparisons.  They will use systematic data-gathering skills, organizing skills, and analyzing skills, and then apply what they learned to form a working explanation or hypothesis of the event.

We are very careful about teaching safe working habits.  Children should never investigate an unknown substance. This will be addressed and continually reinforced in school. Today we went over the list of basic safety rules that we will emphasize in class during the unit. The students each have a copy.

If you have any question or concerns, please feel free to contact me.

Reminders

Conferences
Parent Teacher Conferences are Monday and Tuesday (Nov. 21 & 22) of next week. There are still plenty of slots available. Just go to the MBS home page and click on the 'PickAtime' link.

Book Fair
The book fair will be running through next Tuesday. Don't forget to check it out this week, or next week at conferences. There are many great books, and other items too!

Thanksgiving Break
No school for students Monday - Friday (Nov. 21 - 25).  Happy Thanksgiving!

Spider Bots

Here are some pictures of the students creating Spider Bots last week on Halloween. We worked on this project with our other 5th grade Lighthouse teammates. It was great to see everyone fully engaged in engineering practices such as asking questions, designing, identifying problems, coming up with solutions, constructing explanations, and redesigning.  I was very impressed with all the creativity, problem solving and cooperating going on during this fun hour!  

Unit 2 Math Test

Wow! We  finished Unit 2 in math last week. We spent Friday reflecting on our mastery (or not) of the unit 2 skills, reviewing, and playing some EDM math games. On Monday we will take a break from math to do a fun 'Maker' activity with our 5th grade team.  Then, on Tuesday we will do some more whole class, and small group review. Our assessment will be on Wednesday, November 2.  The following skills will be assessed.

• Identify values of digits in a multi digit number. 

• Write numbers in expanded form. MJ

• Represent powers of 10 in exponential notation. MJ1

• Explain patterns when multiplying by a power of 10.

• Multiply with U.S. traditional multiplication. MJ1

• Divide multi digit numbers. MJ1

• Interpret a remainder in a division problem.

Mount Philo!

What a great day we had at Mount Philo!  The weather couldn't have been more perfect, and the students (and teachers) had a blast!

All About Osmosis!

Last week in our science unit on cells we learned about osmosis. We did this using eggs. We soaked our eggs in vinegar overnight in order to dissolve the shells. The  eggs then had only a thin membrane holding them together. They were rubbery and translucent and lots of fun to hold!  In order to see osmosis in action, we observed what happened to the shell-free eggs when they were placed in substances like molasses, light corn syrup, and dark corn syrup.  We discovered that the eggs lost water and shriveled up.  We learned that this is because water passes through the membrane from an area of higher water concentration (egg) to an area of lower water concentration (molasses and corn syrup)  in a process called osmosis.  We then placed the shriveled eggs in water with food coloring. Ask your child what happened. Check out the pictures below.

Cells!

We began our science unit on cells a few weeks ago. In one activity, students carefully removed thin sheets from an onion, created their own slides, and viewed them under microscopes. The cells of the onion were visible; students recorded their observations in their science notebooks. 

We have also been reading about cells, using a website called Cells Alive! to do lots of fun activities, and looking at some great cell pictures and videos online. 

We did a school and cell analogy activity where we compared the school to a cell. For example, the nucleus could be compared to the main office, and the cell wall to the outer brick wall. Ask your child what the endoplasmic reticulum or the vacuole would be analogous to! Next week we will began a very cool hands on activity with eggs to learn about osmosis. Stay tuned, and enjoy the pictures below!