Discovery Speeches

Our classroom discovery speeches are oral activities that familiarize the students with public speaking and independent research skills. We have had 11 kids present already, and I have been THRILLED with what they have done! Keep up the great work, Room 20 Students!

Science is Fun! Studying the Properties of Matter: Our Creation of GAK!

On Monday afternoon, we created Gak! This easy experiment, which examines solids, liquids, and chemical reactions, was a great way to conclude our initial introduction to matter and its properties!

We started with white school glue! Glue contains millions of long strands of molecules that are linked together like a chain. We began by mixing some water to make the glue "thinner".

Measuring out the right amount of borax solution to add to our glue, food coloring, and water mixture.

Getting ready to see the chemical reaction!

Vigorously mixing...

When you add borax to the glue, things begin to happen! The borax links the long strands of glue together! This process creates a net-like structure, making Gak behave like a solid! The "net-like" structure traps the water inbetween the strands. With this, Gak behaves like a liquid!

Gak acts like both a solid and a liquid!!! Gak is called a "Non-Newtonian fluid". It is Non-Newtonian because it does not behave the way Newton said fluids should. Who knew science could be so fun! I loved seeing the kids making observations and really getting into this activity!

It's rubbery!

It's melting!

It acts as both the solid and liquid!

Each child took home some of their creation!

Science is FUN!

Examining Celsius and Fahrenheit!

As we become familiar with the scientific method and experimenting, we have been practicing working with reading thermometers. Here are the kids investigating Celsius and Fahrenheit and properly reading each. They went crazy measuring the temperature of our classroom, body temperature, water under a light, water that had been sitting outside all afternoon, soil, metal, etc. etc. etc.!

Gathering data...

Scientists at work...

Wow!

Hot soil!!!

Buddies!

We have Kindergarten Buddies this year! We have teamed up with Mrs. Loop's class this year! We have done many fun things, and it has been a great opportunity to bond with some younger BBS students! Here are a few of the buddy pairs in action!

Keep checking back to see all the cool activities we have planned with our new friends during the school year!