In 5th Grade, students walk down to the Brandywine River to monitor the health of the Stream to collect data for the Delaware Nature Society. We divide the students into four groups that complete four different "stations," and we go down to the river four times throughout the year (Fall, Winter, Early Spring, Late Spring). So, each student gets to experience each "station." The four "stations" are:
Visual Survey -- This group completes a pre-made survey sheet that asks students to make observations about the stream appearance, odor, and pollution. They also go on a walk to pick up any trash.
Water Chemistry -- This group collects a sample of water and tests it for pH, dissolved oxygen, nitrates, and temperature.
Plant and Animal -- This group documents all of the plants and animals that they can find along a 50 ft line, making sketches and trying to identify the species.
Macroinvertebrates -- This group picks up small rocks and leaves in the river and brushes off macroinvertebrates into their dish. They then use a key to try to identify what they find. Finding "pollution sensitive" macroinvertebrates can be a good indicator that the stream is healthy!
The 6th Grade Electricity Unit is filled with Hands-On Activities to enhance understanding. On Day 1, we give students a battery, a wire, and a lightbulb as ask them to light the bulb. (See this video of some college graduates attempting the same feat!) We then explore static electricity through various stations around the room, including the "flying ring." Batteries and voltage are explored with the "classic" Lemon Battery experiment. The relationship between resistance and current is then determined with our "Squishy Resistor" lab. We make simple motors using batteries, wire, and a magnet, and we use hand generators to show how electricity can be made. The students love the Van de Graaf generator and the pop-up light up cards to wrap-up the unit! We also enjoy using SnapCircuits and Phet computer simulations along the way. Click on the pictures to see links to the activities.
Students light a bulb with a battery and a wire -- often this task is difficult for students because even when they know that a complete circuit is needed, they must figure out how to connect the bulb, and these students figured it out quite quickly.
Squishy Resistors
Van de Graaf Generator
Lemon Battery
Simple Motor - this student created their motor in a heart shape. The difficult part is getting the wire to balance on the battery while spinning and this student successfully did so!
Ohm's Law Foldable
Static Electricity "Flying Ring"
Snap Circuit
Light Up Cards - these students' examples highlight the artistry and circuitry needed to make a creative and functioning card!
In 5th Grade, all students are introduced to programming with the LEGO MINDSTORMS EV3 software. Students complete various challenges to learn how to make the robot move, use sensors, make sounds, and use loops and switches. For example, in the vacuum challenge, the robot must touch all four walls of a "room," kind of like a "Roomba." The unit culminates with a final project, which is presented in a showcase to their families at a local museum. Below are some examples from our "Robotic Zoo," where groups of students chose to make different animals perform various behaviors. In grades 6-8, students are able to choose to be on our FIRST LEGO League team.
Vacuum Challenge
Scorpion Final Project -- by using the medium motor to control the tail, this group used only Legos to create their masterpiece.
FIRST LEGO League
Robot Showcase for Families
Robot "Dance"
Elephant Final Project -- this group wanted to incorporate water into their trunk, so they used a film canister to contain the water, and when the trunk moved down, the water spilled out. Very creative!
While we do have to go through how to use formulas to find the volume of different objects, measure mass, and calculate density, we spice up our 6th Grade Density is spiced up with a mysterious bottle, floating cans, and homemade hot air balloons! We also use beads in CD cases to help students visualize the differences between solids, liquids, and gases. These activities and projects provide ways for the students to put meaning to the formulas that they are using. Click on the pictures to see links to the activities.
The mysterious bottle gives students an opportunity to try to explain what is happening in terms of density.
Homemade Hot Air Balloon - though sometimes difficult to get the straws to hold shape, this group created a structurally sound balloon!
Floating Cans
Solid, Liquid, Gas...do you know which is which?
We launch them in the gym with a fire extinguisher nearby!
For our 6th grade "waves" unit, we start by using large springs to help students discover the relationship between frequency and wavelength. Students count the number of times they wave their arm in 10 seconds while another student places their feet at the peaks to help measure the wavelength. These springs can also be used to show the differences between transverse and standing waves. We then relate our discoveries of waves to sound. We complete various sound stations around the room, including the homemade gramophone, matchbox microphone, and cup amplifiers, to explain how sound is created, and how frequency and amplitude affect the sound heard. Click on the pictures to see links to the activities.
Students count the number of waves in 10 seconds and then measure the distance between the peaks.
In 6th Grade, we do a "mini-unit" on Newton's Laws of Motion. We start by making a foldable to introduce students to the laws, and then the students use their foldable to go around to various stations demonstrating the laws. Click on the pictures to see links to the activities.
Action Reaction
Every Action has an Equal and Opposite Reaction
Newton's Laws Foldable -- while the "definitions" were given to the students, they were free to create their own pictures to go with the laws
Law of Inertia
Object will continue as it was unless outside force
Below are some of my other favorite projects and experiments that we do throughout the year. Click on the pictures to see links to the activities.
First Day of School Teamwork Activity
Walkalong Gliders
Energy Marble Roller Coaster -- this group went above and beyond by creating a pulley system "elevator" to help the ball gain more potential energy so that it could complete the course.
Motion Detector Matching Activity
Learning how to Calculate Slope
Measuring height using similar triangles
Cabbage pH Chemistry
Pendulum Art -- this group used the turntable to create this masterpiece. They also chose the black paint, which contrasted nicely with the red paper.