monday, september 14, 2015

Welcome back!  This is going to be an action-packed week with at least one hands-on activity each day though tomorrow is going to be LOADED with it.  I will have to explain to the students that I can't always have hands-on activities each and every time we do science since materials aren't always available and not every unit lends itself to it.  Yet, I will certainly do my best.  I did find a way to make studying the rock cycle more interesting (and more delicious)....more on that in October.

We began science with the warm-up review and as usual, the students did a splendid job on it.  

Then we did a brief review question together.

Then, we got to the heart of the lesson:  proving that the poles of a magnet have the strongest magnetic force.  How we proved it was by using three materials:

1. One of the lids of a petri dish. 
2. Bar magnet
3. Iron filings

The steps are very simple:

1. Place the bar magnet flat on a surface
2. Cover the magnet with the petri dish lid
3. Slowly pour the iron filings around the lid where the magnet is showing

You should see that the iron filings attract more around the poles.
Here are a few snapshots of the classes in action:

Ms. Wilbanks is looking for media center assistants.  Here is the text of her email to teachers:

Good Afternoon.

If you have any students who SERIOUSLY want to be library assistants in the mornings, I have the applications ready for them to pick up.
 ** application must be filled out by the student, signed by you, the teacher, and by their parents
** they have to be able to be in the library 8:30 am

 I have added some things to it this year:

 ** they have to maintain a C average or better

 ** they must have good behavior in the library and at school

Students who wish to apply may pick up an application in the library.

Thanks!

The color run is on Wednesday at 1:00 for 4th graders.  Please be sure that your child wears a white shirt and shorts that you don't care too much about.  This promises to be a lot of fun.  Thanks also to the students who brought in their pledges!