Periodic Table

     On each of my six lab tables, I have a periodic table (glued on the table color's construction paper and laminated) that the students may use for reference. I start with my kinders, so that at least it is familiar and continue to teach more about it every year, so that by the time they leave me, they have a good understanding of the periodic table. I print them from the site below. You can also order the pictorial periodic table in poster size. This would be a great addition to your science center!



http://elements.wlonk.com/



Lava in a cup...

     This is a great investigation or experiment for making predictions, states of matter, and so much more! For a investigation, follow the instructions below. For an experiment add a question: Does the type of food oil matter (try vegetable, olive, canola, etc.)? Would sugar or sand produce the same effect as salt? 

Procedure: Fill a clear plastic cup about 2/3 full of water, add 6-8 drops of red food coloring, slowly pour the oil into the cup (at this point, the oil will separate and float on top), sprinkle salt on top of the oil, and watch blobs of lava move up and down in your cup! Your own lava lamp! :)  

"My Science Tools"

     I start out with my kinders learning how to use "their science tools" (their senses) to make observations, predictions, inferences, conclusions, and more. We work on mastering these skills before I bring out our lab tools: eye loupes, microscopes, stereoscopes, etc. I just added a packet of some activities we do in my TPT store.  Check it out... :)

Physics Fun!

Have you ever used marble runs to teach physics?
If not, you definitely should. I don't know who has more fun, the teacher or the kids! You can apply concepts of measurement, gravity, estimation, motion, force, systems, and the list goes on. All students K-5 can benefit from investigating marble runs. I use a rubric for their finished product, and I place them into teams. If I were doing this with 4th or 5th, I would do partners or individual projects. They have to make it out of recycled materials. I have recycle bins in my room and I have both parents and staff dropping off random things (toilet paper rolls, 2 liter bottles, pvc pipe, foam, wrapping paper rolls, etc.) throughout the year. This year, I was fortunate enough to receive plastic marble runs for the younger ones to investigate force and gravity with, before they built their recycle project. When you are planning physics for your class, consider marble runs...hours of endless fun and learning! 

 

Another Award...Thank you!

Thank to you Michaele @  http://kidney-garden.blogspot.com/
                                           
who awarded me The Versatile Blogger Award! I am honored!




Rules of the award...

1. Thank the blogger who nominated you.
2. Include a link to his or her site.
3. Include the award image in your post and/or blog.
4. Share seven facts about yourself.
5. Nominate other bloggers for the award, linking
to their sites.
6. Let those bloggers know they have been nominated.



My seven facts:

1. My degree in is business...this is my second career. My first career was being a Publix Manager!

2. My husband is a Publix manager.

3. I stayed at home for five years in between Publix and teaching when we had our daughter,

Madison who is now eleven, in middle school, going into 7th grade. Wow, time flies!

4. I love most all critters, and in junior and high school, I was really into FFA and I raised pigs!

5. I have the most handsome pekingnese in the whole world... "Lilo."

6. I would still teach even if I won the lottery...it is my passion!

7. I am an only child and my daughter is an only child.

 Blogs I am nominating:

Carla @ http://theshiningstaar.blogspot.com/

Mika @ http://howdoesyourgartengrow.blogspot.com/

Michele @  http://krazyinkinder.blogspot.com/

NicoLanier @  http://lanierlions.blogspot.com/

Erin @ http://elementaryadventure.blogspot.com/

Check these blogs out, they are fabulous! :)

Fireflies: Where did they go?

    

     I grew up in central Florida and as a child, we had plenty of fireflies.  We would collect them in jars and make our own lanterns. My husband grew up in a suburb of Chicago, but spent a lot of summer with family in Michigan. They also had a lot of fireflies.  Homemade glow sticks were a summer tradition. Yes, they would mush and smear the tail of fireflies all over sticks. 

     We are on our annual family vacation to the mountains and there are fireflies everywhere. This is the only place my eleven year old has ever seen them. We do not have any in central Florida or anywhere we have traveled other than the Smoky Mountains. So, of course, my curious child said…”Mom, where did they all go?”

     This is what I found… development and light pollution (yes, we have too many lights!). Humans are believed to disrupt firefly habitat also.  The more our population grows in areas, the less fireflies are seen.  Our open fields and forests are being paved over, and our waterways are seeing more development. Logging, pollution and increased use of pesticides may also contribute to destroying firefly habitat and natural prey.

I am working an a firefly unit and will post it soon!

Smoky Mountains

     On vacation, and of course, I am buying stuff for my science lab! We were in Savannah for the weekend and went to the Savannah Bee Company...It is the neatest place! I got the neatest book on how honey bees make honey and other interesting bee facts, "The Life and Times of the Honeybee."

Now, on to the Smoky Mountains to enjoy the outdoors!





A much needed vacation to the mountains...