Another Science Experiment: Creating Apple Volcanoes

My class traveled back to the Wonder Room this week to conduct another scientific experiment. We mied together cinnamon (for smell) and baking soda, then scooped some into a cored apple. Next we combined vinegar with food coloring ( just for asthetic purposes). Finally, we slowly poured the colored vinegar into the well of the apple. As the vinegar hit the baking soda, a chemical reaction occurred, and our apples began bubbling over, like volcanoes!

The students were amazed that combining two simple things could create such fun! Such an easy project that you could do together at home. You could even use a pumpkin if you wanted a bigger volcano!

Here are some pictures:

ARRRGGGGHHHHHHHHH! Today was "Dress Like A Pirate" day!

Ahoy thar landlubbers! It was a scurvy day at OES with a bunch of swashbucklers and buccaneers roaming the hallways! We read pirate books, attended a pirate-themed assembly about natural resources, and, of course, talked like a pirate all day. Look at these Captain Hook look-a-likes!

Inquiry in the Wonder Room

So exciting! Today, my young scientists ventured to the Wonder Room to explore the scientific process. Short synopsis of the experiment: Which solution will make an egg float? 

water and salt

water and cornstarch

water and vinegar

water and food coloring

The students each came up with a hypothesis, which they recorded in their science journals. Then we followed the procedures, mixing solutions and placing the eggs, VERY CAREFULLY!

Next, my students observed the results. Amazing! Which solution do you think will make an egg float?

In the Wonder Room

Materials ready!

Ask your child to find out what worked! 

Young Authors and Illustrators

My students have been creating their own books this week. We've studied several authors, including Eric Carle and Kevin Henkes. The students have created Noticings Charts to list craft techniques used by these authors, and now they are trying to incorporate some techniques into their own writing. Wow!

Check out some of their books!

Repetition: "Yes yes yes hey let's go play play play"

   

Thought Bubbles: "This is awesome"

    

 

Conversation: Mom-"Come to school now"

                       Boy-"But Mom"

                       Mom-"Come to school"

What awesome writers!

Goodies With Grands!

This week at OES we are celebrating our wonderful grandparents by sharing breakfast with them in our cafe. I enjoyed meeting my students' grandmothers and grandfathers and have a lot of pictures to share. 

                                                   

Insect Inquiry

Bugs, bugs, and more bugs! My students have gone crazy about bugs! It started on the first day of school - I brought in a luna moth caterpillar chrysalis and asked my students to predict what might come out. Now, they search relentlessly for other insects during recess. I have a basket full of books about bugs, and they love looking at them!

We created a "wonder wall" about insects where students can post questions. The Wonder Wall is located in our "Lightbulb Lab," a place where students can use books and iPads to research.

So far we've found a lot of beetles and ants, a Giant Leopard Moth caterpillar, and a Goliath beetle. There were lots of questions about the Giant Leopard Moth caterpillar because it is black and bristly. The students wondered if it was poisonous because "it looked scary." When we searched for answers we discovered that it is a harmless insect. Then we created a habitat for it with dandelion leaves to eat. We hope it will turn into a chrysalis and then emerge as a moth!