What we've learned so far about liquids.

We've been working on Exploring Liquids for the past couple of weeks and I wanted to see what they knew. I love Padlet for several different reasons but one of them is to quickly get a snapshot of what they know and don't know about a topic. Yesterday I had them tell me at least 3 things they knew about liquids. Please comment below if you wish. 

Created with Padlet

Covering a 3D Object

There is always someone who wants to use a ruler. I think he's doing more tracing of the side of the shape than he is with the ruler. Interesting enough, he did end up creating a net,  it was about 1 cm larger than it needed to be. 

He knows he needs to wrap the shape and not overlap the paper but he cut it too short. 

Getting close.

She's trying to hand draw the shape. Tracing isn't something that comes naturally to them. It's about measuring at least the basics of it (area & permimeter) and using what you have to help with creating that amount of space. 

This student used the other students' strategies and figured it out. She's the one in the far back corner just working her little heart out. 

She is also really close to getting it. She decided to trace the larger rectangle but then didn't trace the others. She tried to cut the shapes which is quite common with students doing this task. 

This student is so close. They've thought about each of the sides but what they don't realize is the shape only has two large rectangles, 2 skinny rectangles and 2 smaller rectangles.  

Today's task was to work on covering a 3D object but there was certain criteria they needed to follow.

1. They couldn't have any overlapping paper. 

2. They couldn't use tape or glue. 

3. The paper needed to cover all of the shape. 

From the pictures above some of them had some really good strategies. It is amazing is watch and see how they process the information and eventually come up with an answer. My goal in doing this task is tenfold. It's about so many things that I hope to reflect below. 

As I looked back on the images today and reflected again on this task (I've done this several times over the years) it is about space, and of course shape, but it's more than that. It's also about measuring, area and perimeter and knowing the shapes on the object, how large or small they are, knowing you've got enough paper to cover the whole side/object. Being flexible in your thinking, trying something new, being creative about how something worked or didn't work. It's definitely about problem solving and perseverance. It's about being entrepreneurial and engaged. I could go ove but I'm not going to. It's like a puzzle and the more I'm learning, our brain likes puzzles and problems to solve. It is such a rich task. I guess that's why I come back to it each year. 

This will lead into our investigation into building a paper box/net to hold a penguin. It also lends itself into learning there is not one way to build a net for a 3D object. Does the cube always need to make the traditional 't' shape? Or is there more than one way to build a net for any 3D object? We'll explore these questions in the going days. 

All Aboard Inquiry Project

Starting next week, we'll start to get serious about our All Aboard/Canoe project. I've had to make several adjustments to the investigation but I'm happy I did because it's going to be a new experience for the students. 

Inquiry means - a close examination of a matter in a search for information or truth, basically it means coming to conclusions yourself by examining several factors, images, ideas, and resources. The students will be inquiring about; how waterways in Canada shaped various communities? This project will look at the various communities in Canada and how boat transportation in early settlements shaped each community.  

Our investigation will be an inquiry into the availability and accessibility of Canadian waterways, and how individuals, along with good and services, would have been able to move about different communities in Canada by way of boat. As well we will look at how the waterways and transportation of goods and people shaped the communities the students will look at. As we investigate, the students will uncover why the canoe have become a wonder of Canada? 

This graphic shows all of the sites which are safe for students to search. They will be using these images and information to help them answer important questions. 
They will use their blogs to write journal entries as to what they've learned and discovered. Please check them regularly to give them feedback and quality comments on what they've written.

Breaking Rocks 2013

I promised I would share photos but time just slips away. We're into week 6 of grade 2 and it's just flying by. 

Our Investigation on Breaking Rocks/Persevering was a huge success. I know the kids had fun and they learned what it means to persevere. We'll continue to work on this during math, Reading, Writing and of course our new unit Boats/Canoes.

Here are some photos to keep you updated as to what we've been doing in class. 

We sorted rocks by 2 attributes.

They checked to see which rocks weighed more and then ordered them by their weight.

Planned what they would bring to break rocks. 

And smashing they did. 

He brought the big guns.

Will this work???

I've got to think about safety.

Hmmm... How am I going to do this?

I wouldn't want to be the rock right about now. 

Lookin' Good while breaking rocks.

Some of the rock holders we made. 

I hope you enjoyed the images. More will come. Up next Boats/Canoes.

Here's our driving question for our Boat/Canoe Project:

Why would a canoe be named as one of Canada's 7 Wonders of Canada?

Some Interesting Video of Our Chrysalis

Last night when I was adding the last of the chrysalis to the aquarium I noticed this particular chrysalis's back end was extremely wiggly. It was intersting for me to watch this. I've never seen any of them do this in all the years I've working on this project.

 



Then these two were the last to go into the aquarium and this is what I recorded. I'm wondering why these two are as active as they are and why just this end of the chrysalis? Any thoughts?

Movement, Magents and Imagination

The class is learning about Movement, Magnets and Imagination. This past week Science In Motion came to our school to teach them about Magnets. You'll see several pictures from the activities we did. 

This is so cool!!!

Magnets can be very strong.

Testing out what attracts and doesn't attract to a magnet.

Can you see the invisible magnet field?

This was really neat but I can't remember the name.

You can pass materials through our structure to test if the magnetic field passes through.

Look what I did!!!

Throughout the week in science they have been trying different science experiments about moving. Friday was a fun day because they got to see how Dominoes move. There are also some pictures and video of the Dominoes falling down. 

Take some time to talk about what they are learning at home and showing them different ways things can be moved. 

Day 5 Observations

Predictions

Kasha - Half of them will be in their cocoons.

Hannah L. - They will have more silk in the vials and some might be starting chrysalises.

Katie - There's will be a lot of regurgitated food.

Katleyn - They'll be really really fat.

Christian - All the food might be gone.

Camron - Number 26 might be starting to make a cocoon.

Tuff - Most of them are grown up and the others might still be larva.

Observations

Tuff - Lots are in chrysalises.

Katleyn - Number 28 has silk all over it.

Katie - Two of the caterpillars in the vials are dead.

Kasha - Number 26 is in it's cocoon.

Sophia - There's three in each vial and only one or two of them are in it's cocoon.

Katelyn - There is a lot of regurgitated food.

Maverick - Number 19 has died.

They are just starting to form their J-shape.

 It's been 7 days and this one has turned into a chrysalis. I wonder if it will be the first to turn into a Painted Lady Butterfly?

Thank you Akryn for being such a fantastic photographer.

Day 4 Observations

Predictions

Camron - They might be in their chrysalises.

Maverick - Their food will be a lot lower.

Katie - The ones that have regurgitated will have double the amount.

Tuff - They will be triple the size since Friday.

Hannah L. - Their food might be chunky.

Katelyn - They are probably very very fat.

Brooke - Some of them might be at the top.

Observations

Hannah M. - Some of the little ones have died.

Katie - They have gotten really big and I think in a couple of days they will be in their chrysalis.

Camron - They are very very fat.

Maverick - One of them looks like they are hanging from the lid of the vial.

Brooke - Number 16 is starting it's chrysalis, we see some white stuff.

Hannah L. - They have regurgitated a lot.

Hannah M - They've eaten lots of food because they are getting bigger.

Katie - They have changed colors (yellow and black)

Brooke - Number 4 has circle regurgitated food.

Camron - Is seeing little claws on the bottom of their feet.

Ms. Brown - Noticed that Number 26 was hanging upside down in the shape of a J.

Questions

Katie - What's the whitish yellowish stuff inside the vials?

Hannah L. - Is the whitish yellowish stuff silk and is it going to be what they hang on the lid with?

Maverick - What is the red stuff in the vials?

Camron - Why is their orange stuff with the food?
Sorry there are no pictures today. Ms. Brown forgot her camera and then forgot to take pictures with her phone. 

Day 3 Observations

Predictions

Camron - Start to make the chrysalis.

Hannah L. - thinks they will be fatter and longer.

Sophia - thinks they grew

Katie - Lots of them would have regurgitated lots

Maverick - A bunch of them are on the top of the vial.

Brooke - The food will be in clumps.

Observations

Rand - Lots of regurgitated food

Camron - They are getting bigger in a short amount of time.

Carter - They are eating more and they are molting more.

Maverick - There is one hanging by a web

Kasha - they are getting longer

Katie - Some of them have died and they are still really small.

Questions

Brooke - Why don't the caterpillars turn into a chrysalis on the bottom of the vial because nothing will harm them?

Tuff - Why are they regurgitating all of their food?

Christian - Why is little black dots all over the place?
Here are some pictures Katie took. Thank you for being a good photographer.

I am noticing the silk is starting to form along the vial. It must mean the chrysalis will be forming.

I wonder what will happen over the weekend?