September 30, 2013
Last week we talked a lot about the "Human Footprint" we are leaving on the earth. It is amazing all the things we dump in our regular trash that could be RECYCLED instead. I hope your families are actively RECYCLING, REDUCING, and REUSING. Here are some interesting statistics:
Items in our trash Time it takes to decompose
bananas 3-4 weeks
paper bags 1 month
cotton cloths 5 months
wool socks 1 year
cigarette butt 2-5 years
leather boot 40-50 years
rubber sole of boot 50-80 years
tin can 80-100 years
aluminum cans 200-500 years
plastic soda rings 450 years
plastic bottles/jugs 1 million
styrofoam cups unknown/forever
glass bottles unknown/forever
Please take a moment and RECYCLE items before you put them in the regular trash.
yours in science,
Mrs. Biggs
Monday, September 30, 2013
Sunday, September 22, 2013
Does the color affect the heat?
September 22, 2013
Does the color you wear affect how hot you feel? After our experiment we determined that yes, lighter colors are cooler than darker colors. The darker cars in the parking lot also measure warmer than the lighter colored cars. The kids were excited to see the change in temperature. We used an infrared thermometer that I bought from Harbor Freight.
We also watched an interesting MythBusters about Diet Coke and Mentos. Jaime and Adam did an excellent job exploring/investigating this experiment.
Do you know which direction of the sky to find the sunset or does it matter where you are located? Do you know how long it takes for sunlight to reach the earth? Do you know which planet has a year equal to 88 days? Waxing or waning - which makes the moon appear bigger as the nights go by?
If you work in the field of science and would like to come in to speak to one/all of our classes about what you do please contact me!
ruth.biggs@asu.edu
yours in science,
Mrs. Biggs
Does the color you wear affect how hot you feel? After our experiment we determined that yes, lighter colors are cooler than darker colors. The darker cars in the parking lot also measure warmer than the lighter colored cars. The kids were excited to see the change in temperature. We used an infrared thermometer that I bought from Harbor Freight.
We also watched an interesting MythBusters about Diet Coke and Mentos. Jaime and Adam did an excellent job exploring/investigating this experiment.
Do you know which direction of the sky to find the sunset or does it matter where you are located? Do you know how long it takes for sunlight to reach the earth? Do you know which planet has a year equal to 88 days? Waxing or waning - which makes the moon appear bigger as the nights go by?
If you work in the field of science and would like to come in to speak to one/all of our classes about what you do please contact me!
ruth.biggs@asu.edu
yours in science,
Mrs. Biggs
Tuesday, September 17, 2013
September 17, 2013
Have you had a chance to speak to your children about science and technology and how things have changed since you were "younger"?
Be sure to buy your trifold poster board. This final science project is DUE Monday, September 30, 2013. You will be glad you have it. Also, make sure you have all of those supplies you may need to make your board an awesome representation of your experiment. Ink for the printer, markers, pencils, colored paper, photos, glue, white-out, tape, paint, scissors, and all of your data/notes. Good Luck! I can't wait to see the finished projects!
Have you had a chance to speak to your children about science and technology and how things have changed since you were "younger"?
Be sure to buy your trifold poster board. This final science project is DUE Monday, September 30, 2013. You will be glad you have it. Also, make sure you have all of those supplies you may need to make your board an awesome representation of your experiment. Ink for the printer, markers, pencils, colored paper, photos, glue, white-out, tape, paint, scissors, and all of your data/notes. Good Luck! I can't wait to see the finished projects!
Sunday, September 15, 2013
S'More Science
September 15, 2013
Hello Families!
Get ready for a busy week! We will be reviewing and learning a little more about colors and temperatures. We will be planning on how to build our solar ovens. And, the best part of all, we will be cooking in our solar ovens by Thursday. I need supplies for each class! I need 2 volunteers to each bring 4 regular size Hershey Chocolate Bars, 2 volunteers to each bring 2 boxes of Honey Graham Crackers, 1 volunteer to bring 2 bags of mini marshmallows
I will be checking off and signing My Science Experiment on Wednesday. Please check the "Due Dates May Appear Closer Than They Really Are" page.
We will be updating our science journals this week, working outside in the grassy area during science, and we will be on computers on Friday.
If you come across interesting science information please share it with your child. Have a discussion with your child about science and science technology and how things have changed since you were "younger".
Thank you for supporting your child and encouraging them to learn more about the world we live in!
Yours in science,
Mrs. Biggs
Hello Families!
Get ready for a busy week! We will be reviewing and learning a little more about colors and temperatures. We will be planning on how to build our solar ovens. And, the best part of all, we will be cooking in our solar ovens by Thursday. I need supplies for each class! I need 2 volunteers to each bring 4 regular size Hershey Chocolate Bars, 2 volunteers to each bring 2 boxes of Honey Graham Crackers, 1 volunteer to bring 2 bags of mini marshmallows
I will be checking off and signing My Science Experiment on Wednesday. Please check the "Due Dates May Appear Closer Than They Really Are" page.
We will be updating our science journals this week, working outside in the grassy area during science, and we will be on computers on Friday.
If you come across interesting science information please share it with your child. Have a discussion with your child about science and science technology and how things have changed since you were "younger".
Thank you for supporting your child and encouraging them to learn more about the world we live in!
Yours in science,
Mrs. Biggs
Tuesday, September 10, 2013
Free Arizona Science Center
September 10, 2013
Hello Families!
A couple of reminders . . .
Please send in BOX TOPS by Friday September 13, 2013.
Also, The Arizona Science Center is FREE Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 14 and 15, during the Never Stop Wondering Weekend event. See the 300 exhibits, watch demonstrations and get discounts on IMAX films and planetarium presentations.
600 E. Washington St. Phoenix
602-716-2000
http://www.azscience.org/who_are_you/this_month_at_the_center
Hello Families!
A couple of reminders . . .
Please send in BOX TOPS by Friday September 13, 2013.
Also, The Arizona Science Center is FREE Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 14 and 15, during the Never Stop Wondering Weekend event. See the 300 exhibits, watch demonstrations and get discounts on IMAX films and planetarium presentations.
600 E. Washington St. Phoenix
602-716-2000
http://www.azscience.org/who_are_you/this_month_at_the_center
Sunday, September 8, 2013
Science Journals and Scientific Inquiry
Hello Science Families,
We have been working on scientific inquiry. We have been talking about and practicing making observations and gaining evidence. We discuss thinking creatively, new ideas, and we review these agains the evidence. We have also been working on inquiry questions. We are thinking about how to test ideas and identifying factors that are relevant to our questions.
We have been working in our science journals. We are completing all of our science work in class. This past week we have been investigating gum. We made observations, we recorded data, we talked about our constants, variables, and we asked what new questions do we have?
This next week of September 9 - September 13 we will be designing our own experiments using the shoe boxes. We will be using thermometers to help us make predictions. We will be researching some ideas to help guide us as we write a hypothesis. Then, we will be building with our shoe boxes and running the experiment. I know I am being vague, because I want to tell the students on Monday what we will be doing!
I hope you had a great weekend. Please be watching for The Scientific Method Experiment timeline and directions to be coming home!
yours in science,
Mrs. Biggs
We have been working on scientific inquiry. We have been talking about and practicing making observations and gaining evidence. We discuss thinking creatively, new ideas, and we review these agains the evidence. We have also been working on inquiry questions. We are thinking about how to test ideas and identifying factors that are relevant to our questions.
We have been working in our science journals. We are completing all of our science work in class. This past week we have been investigating gum. We made observations, we recorded data, we talked about our constants, variables, and we asked what new questions do we have?
This next week of September 9 - September 13 we will be designing our own experiments using the shoe boxes. We will be using thermometers to help us make predictions. We will be researching some ideas to help guide us as we write a hypothesis. Then, we will be building with our shoe boxes and running the experiment. I know I am being vague, because I want to tell the students on Monday what we will be doing!
I hope you had a great weekend. Please be watching for The Scientific Method Experiment timeline and directions to be coming home!
yours in science,
Mrs. Biggs
Monday, September 2, 2013
Science is AWESOME...
September 3, 2013
One of the greatest things about science is that it is all around us. It makes our life easier and more enjoyable. It can save our life. Sometime science will bring a smile to our face or a question to our mind. Science makes us think about the world around us. We are naturally curious and ask the question "why" and then we look for the answer. 5th and 6th graders are great at asking the "why" questions. We will be working on solving the "why" and be proactive in the classroom answering those "why" questions. I try very hard not to tell students the answers, because they are already so smart and either have the answers or know how to find them. It is great for them to search for the answers and talk to each other to find an answer or solution. I want them to think outside of the box when their solutions don't solve the puzzle. I want them asking "what can I do differently?" "what am I not seeing?" "what does my neighbor know about the problem?"
It is a small and amazing planet that we live on! I'm looking forward to a great year of exploring the science that is all around us!
If you or someone you know works in a science field and would be willing to come in, help out ,or share with our class your science job ... we would love to have you! Please contact me so we can talk about it.
yours in science,
Mrs. Biggs
One of the greatest things about science is that it is all around us. It makes our life easier and more enjoyable. It can save our life. Sometime science will bring a smile to our face or a question to our mind. Science makes us think about the world around us. We are naturally curious and ask the question "why" and then we look for the answer. 5th and 6th graders are great at asking the "why" questions. We will be working on solving the "why" and be proactive in the classroom answering those "why" questions. I try very hard not to tell students the answers, because they are already so smart and either have the answers or know how to find them. It is great for them to search for the answers and talk to each other to find an answer or solution. I want them to think outside of the box when their solutions don't solve the puzzle. I want them asking "what can I do differently?" "what am I not seeing?" "what does my neighbor know about the problem?"
It is a small and amazing planet that we live on! I'm looking forward to a great year of exploring the science that is all around us!
If you or someone you know works in a science field and would be willing to come in, help out ,or share with our class your science job ... we would love to have you! Please contact me so we can talk about it.
yours in science,
Mrs. Biggs
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