Soil

Today Dr. Dower is coming to show us some different kinds of SOIL!



First, we reviewed with the kiddos what we already learned.
We know about soil being the correct word for "dirt."
We know about four different kinds of soil:
Sand, Humus, Clay, and Loam.


We know a little bit about weathering, which is how things get broken or worn down.


Today we'll be talking about separating the mixtures and dissolving materials in water.

 

After Dr. Dower left to go see another class, we wrote about what happened!

I give them the words I expect them to use, as well as some sentence stems for them to follow.



 

Dr. Dower visits to tell us about the solar system

https://phet.colorado.edu/sims/my-solar-system/my-solar-system_en.html
This is the link Dr. Dower showed us where we can play around with the solar system!




http://kids.nineplanets.org/intro.htm


http://www.planetsforkids.org/


https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/kids/index.cfm


https://www.pebblego.com/


http://www.kidsastronomy.com/solar_system.htm

Dr. Dower and Force

Dr. Dower came today to start off our new unit!
Our claim was..... we can use tools like levers and pulleys to change the location of heavy objects.











We started with two very strong friends holding onto poles. Then one littler student tried to pull those together. She couldn't do it! Even when she had help she couldn't do it! But, when she used the tool of a PULLEY, she was able to do it!!

Pentapus and Dr. Dower

Dr. Dower came today to talk to us about HEAT and how heat can change matter.

 

This goes with our TEKS:

• 5(A) I classify matter by physical properties, including shape, relative mass, relative temperature, texture, flexibility, and whether material is a solid or liquid;
• 5(B) I will compare changes in materials caused by heating and cooling.
• 5(C) I will demonstrate that things can be done to materials to change
• 6(A) I will investigate the effects on an object by increasing or decreasing amounts of light, heat, and sound energy.
• 2(D) I record and organize data using pictures, numbers, and words.
• 2(E) I will communicate observations and justify explanations using my own data.
• 1(A) I will identify and demonstrate safe practices like wearing safety goggles, washing hands, and using materials appropriately.
• 1(B) I will  describe the importance of safe practices.

 First, we introduced the Pentapus and where he lives. He lives on a planet that ONLY has water. He doesn't know about different states of matter because he only has liquid. He breathes liquid, he drinks liquid, he lives in liquid.

 

 

  

Dr Dower

Doctor Dower (aka Ms. Dower's father) is a retired PhD scientist. He worked at 3M my whole life but now he spends his time traveling in his RV with my mom, singing in different bands and choirs, cooking delicious meals, and volunteering at my school.

My students and I are so lucky to have him around!

Today Dr. Dower came to teach us about matter.
There are three states of matter that we learn about in third grade: solids, liquids, and gasses.
We also talk about the physical properties and observable characteristics of matter.


Putting on his safety googles!!

Oooooohhh. 

Pouring liquid nitrogen. 

Demonstrating liquid molecules.

Liquid nitrogen!

Here's a video of Dr. Dower's balloon getting SO COLD that the air inside is turning from a gas to a liquid and even a solid.
Then when it warms up, it turns back into a gas!

Our Solar System!

Dr. Dower came today to talk about our amazing solar system and the planets we love.


This is the link he wanted to show us... http://www.exploratorium.edu/ronh/solar_system/

The way that we remember the planets is by saying:

My

Very
Excellent
Mother
Just
Served
Us
Nachos


This helps us remember that in order (from the sun out) it goes... Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune


Shout out to my brother for giving me this awesome Solar System necklace.

Doctor Dower SHOCKED my students by telling them that we are actually made from star dust.

Blew their minds!

The sun is the size of Ms. Dower and in the center of the school.

Mercury is at the end of the school.

Venus is on the other side of the playground.

Earth is on the grassy field.

Mars is halfway to the park.

Jupiter is half a mile from the school.

Saturn is a mile away.

Uranus is two miles away.

Neptune is just over three miles away.

Dr Dower and soil

Dr. Dower brought soil for us to inspect!