Design and Build January 2 - February 7, 2013

Design and Build  January 2 - February 7, 2013


Back by popular demand, students once again participated in this challenging and fun engineering science unit.  By drawing blueprints with different views and using metric scale and measurement, students designed and built several structures. 

They used hand tools and basswood to first learn how to make strong, square corners and angled joints to build a model catapult.

With their models, they then chose a variable to test to see how far the catapult would fling an object.  Using the engineering and technology aspect of the STEM model of science learning, students observed in their models the effect of differing weights being flung with no change in force.  Much discussion about mass, force, momentum, gravity and acceleration ensued around the use of the catapults. 

 



After this, students used all that they learned to design and construct their own moving vehicle, which also was tested and refined. 

 Each group of two students designed and built a unique vehicle that moved without human power.  
Some cars used wind power, some used motors, some used rubber band/propeller power, others used gravity down a ramp.  Everyone's vehicle passed the challenge -- to travel a distance of three meters.

 

 

 

Celebrating Science Afternoon was an exhibit in the Soule Program that concluded this month of work in this class and in all of the other Soule Program classes, even the art class!  


 










Students shared what was learned in each class during the past month and prepared activities to highlight their learning and to allow parents and students to participate.  Besides the Design and Build class, other science displayed at the fair included a class about Sound, a class about Sink and Float, and a class about the physical and chemical properties of clay and glazes.

 

Optics: The Study of Light  December 4 - 20, 2012

Have you ever been in a completely dark room?  Students attempted to block out all light from their classroom. 

Refraction!

During this short unit, students learned about the beauty and fascinating behavior of light.
To begin, students learned about what light is, how it travels, and how we see.  Then the class set up several light boxes to explore and experiment with using white light and colored light.

    Groups around light boxes were challenged to use their mirrors, protractors, rulers, etc. to send one light beam completely around the four sides of the light box.

Prisms, mirrors, shadow probe sticks, protractors, and rulers were more tools that they used to help students understand how light beams bend, spread out and blend together.

Another challenge:  making white light from colored light!

Have you ever created a multicolored shadow? We did!

Magnetism and Electricity  October 29 - November 30, 2012

Using magnets, wires, bulbs and batteries, and the science process, students investigated the basic principles of magnetism and electricity.

Everyone participated in an experiment to determine the strength of magnetic force when additional magnets were added onto a stack of magnets.

Students also learned about electromagnetism, and experimented with the effect that the number of wire coils around a nail would have on its magnetic strength.








They then learned about circuits and  how a battery and bulb work.









Finally, they were challenged to create their own working flashlight using their knowledge of electrical energy and circuitry.

After much discussion, planning, designing, trouble shooting, and redesigning, students were able to create their own circuitry, including on/off switches and build unique working flashlights.

Central Maine Power's Mr. Brad Kaherl also joined us for a presentation to the entire Soule Program on electrical safety.

Secret Formulas  October 1 - 25, 2012
Mixing, measuring, comparing, and understanding physical and chemical changes were the main activities in this unit.  Students  learned to use the tools and process of science as they figured out possible proportions of ingredients for making substances such as paste and a cola-type drink.  They learned to write simple formulas and made their own secret formula for each substance.

First, the children learned to use many measuring tools of science.  They used triple beam balances to weigh things, graduated cylinders to find liquid volume, metric rulers for length, and thermometers for temperatures.

Working in groups, students then explored the properties of some ingredients that paste and cola drinks are made of.  From there, groups were able to determine which ingredients worked best to make a great all-purpose paste and a tasty cola drink.  Everything required careful measuring and observing, as well as good recording of results.  Getting the proportions just right required fine tuning.

Everyone then shared their secret formulas with the class and explained why they chose their specific formulas. They even created fun advertisements for their cola drinks.