Week 3: Helicopter Drop

This week my science classes completed a helicopter drop to test a hypothesis.



We cut our paper helicopters out and started testing.



Students had to figure out how to make the helicopter spin in the opposite direction, spin faster, and what a paper clip would do to the helicopter.



This was a fun way to use the scientific method. Students wrote a short response about what they thought, what they did, and the results.



STUDENTS: Tell me about one hypothesis you tested. What happened? Did you like this experiment? Why? Don't just say it was fun,, what was it about the experiment that was fun?

Week 3- Reverse Wild War

Week 3 is complete!

We did a new brain break dance this week- Ice Cream & Cake.



We are learning about kinetic and potential energy in science. Check out this Study Jam for an explanation of each.



This week I learned another math game at a math workshop so I taught the kids how to play today. This one is called Reverse Wild War. All you need to play is a deck of cards. The students each take 3 cards. With those cards he/she tries to get as close to zero as possible.



You use addition, subtraction, multiplication, & division. Face cards are worth 10 and A can be used as 1 or 11. Once you have a total use the absolute value to see which player is closest to zero. The winner takes all the cards from that round. Keep playing until you are out of cards. The kids decided if there is a tie the players play a tie breaker round.

Ex: 10, 7, 4  10-7 = 3/4 = .75

This week we also started our Daily Data notebooks. I posted the daily data sheet back before school started. This week the students voted for their favorite shaved ice flavor: grape or cherry. Then they created a graph with the data.

STUDENTS: This week we started a lot of new things in math. I want to know how you and your family use math. List a few ways you and your family have used math at home (and don't list math homework).

Week 3

This week we had a lot of fun in science! First, we did a helicopter experiment using the scientific method. The kids cut out their helicopters and tried to figure out a way to make it spin faster. Of course they had to stand in the chair to make sure it had plenty of room to drop to the floor. It was so funny to see their faces when I told them to stand in the chair! Guess that has never happened before.

Next week we will be having helicopter races so we will see who came up with the best plan of action for speeding up the paper helicopter.

We also started our energy unit. We learned about potential and kinetic energy. Make sure to ask your child the difference between the two. Friday we had another experiment to complete.

The kids used bouncy balls and measured the bounce height of the ball dropped from different heights.

Students, here is your question to answer this week: Did the height of the drop effect the bounce? And how did this relate to energy?

Megan M. snapped a few pictures today and I've added a few of them on the blog. Looks like I'm not the only one always taking pictures.

Finally, I had to share this silly story. Someone was super excited Tuesday when Emma had her lunch brought down in a giant paper sack. He obviously talked her into giving it to him. At recess I see this child walking around with a paper bag on his head. Of course, I had to take a picture when we returned to the room. Do you know who this is? He has a big smile on his face!

We are having a great time in class!. Students have been doing a lot of writing and I have seen some great things. Some students are even working together to create their own comic books. The students have earned 4 brownie points for their good behavior. Keep up the good work guys!