5th grade scientists are coming to CLIC during the school day for the next two weeks to do mass, volume, and density labs.  Talking about density and how it relates to mass and volume is easier understood through hands-on labs. We will also being investigating the different states of matter. We will being doing labs on how temperature changes affects density.  5th grade will end the unit with taking all that we've learned to do a lab on how gas, solids, and liquids react.  These labs are interesting and exciting!

We are first talking about how increasing the mass of a fluid changes the density of the fluid.  Even though the sugar dissolves in the water, it is still and what has changed?  The density discussions have been awesome, and students were encouraged but not required to take notes.  They all took notes! I am impressed by the group's attention to detail and thoughts of how they could have done the lab better.  I also value the feedback they gave me.

We will be moving on to comparing three cups of mystery fluids to predict what they are and arrange in order of highest to lowest density.  We will then combine them from highest density on the bottom to lowest density on top.  We will also do a lab where we add in a lab on adding a gas to varying density of fluids. I will reveal our results next week after all students do the lab.  I don't want to give the answer away!

The thing that most impressed me is that students did not get upset that their experiment results were not perfect and some did not work out at all.  Groups were encouraged to start another vial and try it again and again until they had success.  They were also encouraged to then add more sugar or do what they thought would give the result they wanted.

My greatest goal is for students to work hard for their results.  Scientists, engineers, artists, chefs, and other creative people work months, years, and decades working and observing to find a result they are hoping to solve.  I like to give students opportunites to work in a collaborative work environment. I love seeing the kids work together, give suggestions, change direction, start over, and enjoy directing the labs.

STEAM Clubs

STEAM Clubs are starting a challenging unit on pneumatic and hydraulic powered contraptions.  This is a continued discussion on the power of water.  We are learning about how air and water are different in the way that air can be compressed and water can not be compressed.  By using syringes and plastic tubing we are utilizing this concept to create powerful machines. 

This week we are finishing our paper animal mouths that children had to figure out how to animate using pneumatic (air) power. Once that task is figured out, we will move on to learning how to build hinged machines out of wood that will be powered by hydraulics. (water)  Even filling the syringes and tubing with water is a challenge.  This project is going to be extremely challenging and frustrating, but the rewards will be great.

My goal for STEAM Club is teach children science concepts by doing.  I want them to learn how to build and use tools.  Most of all, this club is for children who want to work hard to make something work.  I leave projects open ended so that children can be creative with how to execute the project.  At the start of the year, many children are not used to not having things not work right away.  These projects are tough and I want the kids to understand that it may take 25 tries to get their project to work.  These are not failures but valuable lessons in how to go back and make things work.  This is hard for many kids since they expect perfection on the first try.  

ART CLUBS

Art Clubs are working on a unit on portraiture.  We have been creating frontal portraits using the mathematical proportioning method.  By approaching drawing a face into an approachable method that will work every time, students are given a life skill of breaking an overwhelming task into small pieces.  We do a step by step method of drawing the face in sections using guide lines and shapes and lines to make sure everything is in proportion.  Although all faces are different, share common symmetry in our proportions.  The first day, many children were anxious and  overwhelmed.  Once learning the method, they are masters of portraiture!  The work they are producing is stunning.

We will moving on to a unit on animal portraits in sculptural form.  We will be sketching animal portraits that will be transformed into paper pulp sculptures.  The goal is take the method of proportioning from the human portrait lesson and apply it to creating three dimensional shapes in a sculpture.

CLIC during the school day

This week, 5th grade classes will be coming to CLIC to do hands on science experiments that will be focusing on mass, volume, and density.  We will be learning about the importance of  these concepts in real life applications.  From designing submarines or loading freighter ships to understanding how the seasonal temperature changes support life in a pond, the properties of water are important in understand for everyone.  It's going to be a fun lab using common materials that hopefully, your children will come home and show you at home!