Chief Top Leaf visit

We were fortunate enough to visit the library today to participate in a presentation by Chief Top Leaf. He is a native Canadian chief who taught us a lot about what life was like for natives Algonquins 500 years ago. Boy, life sure was different! Chief Top Leaf taught us that his people learned a lot from animals since they did not go to school and they used natural materials to make all their items...from pails to canoes! He taught them about how his people needed to grow and save all their food. It was fascinating to learn about such a different lifestyle!

Showing us why he is named "Chief Top Leaf". 

A canoe made with no glue, no nails, and no wires.

We even drummed with the chief!

Since Chief Top Leaf was set up in the library for the last 3 days, we did not visit the library for a book exchange this week. Next week!!!

An inquiry on evaporation

The blue class noticed that the water in the fish tank was mysteriously disappearing! There were several theories as to why this was happening. Some students knew that all animals require water in order to live, therefore the fish must be drinking the water! Another theory was that plants need water in order to survive and grow, so the aquarium plants must be absorbing the water. One boy was sure that the water was leaking through a tiny tube, then through the floor and into the underground water source! Another student explained that it was disappearing into the air

In order to prove one of the theories ( and discuss evaporation), we set up 4 experiments and let them sit.

One was a glass of water left in the sunshine and heat, where we marked the water level.

4 days later, some of the water had gone.

There was a glass set up with a water mark, and Saran Wrap on top. Very little water had escaped, proving that the water had not leaked out.

We put one of our fish in a glass, marked the water level and covered it with plastic. Very little water was gone from this one, proving that the fish hadn't drank much!

The water level in the glass with the plant and plastic covering changed very little as well,dispelling the theory that the plants were absorbing it!

So, we finally came up with the idea of Evaporation!

We then put a drop of water on Daniel's shirt, and timed how long it would take to evaporate.

16 minutes later...

In the following weeks and days, we will continue to discuss this process and investigate some experiments depicting evaporation further.

Blast Off

Recently, our Green group has been very interested in launching a rocket.  Our attempt to launch a vinegar and baking soda rocket was not very successful. This week we tried a different rocket, using Alka Seltzer tablets and water put into a film canister.  First, the film canister was changed to be more aerodynamic.

Our rocket.

The look on their faces after a rocket has launched is priceless!

Revised book order date

The book order flyers were not available when I sent home the February calendar. I have sent home the flyers tonight, and if you wish to order a book, please return it by Friday, February 26. Please note that I have registered with scholastic, and you should now be able to complete online payment if that is of interest to you. 

Pizza anyone?

Our dramatic arts centre has changed yet again. We have put away our doctor's set and have introduced a pizzeria! Students can take and record orders and bake and serve a pretend pizza.

Aeronautical engineers in the making!

We continue to talk about space and planets. The students are completing a variety of activities using this theme. Recently, we have put out a variety of materials as well as books about rocket and shuttles for ideas and inspiration. As you have may have seen, there have been some pretty unique creations made. 

A Rolling Inquiry

Very "spur of the moment" this morning, several boys began rolling and forming plastercine balls and then rolled them on the floor. This led to an inquiry as to what kind of ball would roll the farthest.

We made big, small and medium sized balls. Some were soft, some were hard, some were bumpy and some were smooth. Tyler predicted that "the small ball will roll the fastest because it is the lightest and the big one, because it is big and fat, it won't move that fast".

We then very excitedly tested their predictions in the hall.

We discovered that the large, hard, bumpy  one did not roll very far.

However, the medium, smooth soft one went the farthest!