Buyer Beware!

In February, students in this class became consumer scientists as they tested to learn if certain product claims actually held up. Students worked in teams to set up tests that followed an experimental design. They experienced different forms of scientific experimentation first hand and from beginning to end with each different product test.

Bubbles! Yes, we decided to test two different bubble solutions to see which one made the biggest bubble! SuperMiracle brand seemed a good choice given its name. It was pitted against our own homemade bubble solution. Actually measuring the bubble size was almost as fun as blowing them. Students blew a bubble on a solution-wet table top until it popped and measured the remaining soap ring. All other variables were held as constant as possible. After 100 bubbles were measured, and all data analyzed our results showed that -- Wow! Our homemade solution made consistently bigger bubbles, and it cost way less than SuperMiracle solution!

The next consumer test was was even more exciting -- to compare bubble gum. From soap bubbles to bubble gum! The question was, "What happens to the mass of gum after chewing it for 10 minutes?" Do you know? You could ask the class because after devising a fun experiment of weighing, chewing and weighing again, they determined that it decreases dramatically. So did the sweet taste and the pleasure of chewing! After inspecting the package labels of the different brands and flavors, they learned that the #1 ingredient in bubble gum is sugar. So guess where all of that mass went. In all cases, the mass decreased over 60%. Some lost a whopping 75%!

Paper towel testing was the last experiment. Do you know which brand of towel is the strongest and most absorbent? This class now has a good idea. Again working in groups, each chose a quality of towel to test and devised their own experiment to do so. Absorbency or strength were chosen. They tested 4 brands of towel. Bounty was a winner in both categories, but our school brand towel was the strongest!

Lots of learning, lots of fun, and some many more experiments the class wants to do!

Crystals, Rocks and Minerals Unit

No outdoor rock hounding during this snowy January 2011! We did, however, spend cozy afternoons inside having fun learning about what this planet Earth is all about. The class started deep within looking at the amazing things going on, and the changes that produce big events on the surface, such as volcanoes, mountains, and earthquakes.

Using the school's beautiful crystal and rock collection, students learned about the difference between minerals and rocks and about different kinds of each. Some of the most fun came with using the mineral and rock test kits.

The rock cycle was explored and added to their list of abiotic cycles that occur on earth.

Everyone also learned how to "grow" their own crystals!