Friday, May 1st: Changes Nature Journal

Optional task: 

Sometime this weekend, listen to this really cool RadioLab podcast on color.  It talks about Isaac Newton and shares really fascinating facts and insights into how and why we see color.  If you don't listen to the whole thing, consider listening to just the first part- until you learn about the mantis shrimp.  If you do listen to it, send me a message with your reaction.  I'd love to know what stood out to you!  

https://www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/radiolab-kids/articles/rl-kids-colors

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Yay!  It's May!

Celebrate the new month by getting outside for a nature journal.  

(The nature journal is NOT optional. 😀)

For the past several weeks I’ve asked you to go outside and notice different things- senses, shapes, colors, what’s up and what’s down. 

Today I want you to think back on some of the things you’ve noticed on your earlier nature journals and look for how nature has CHANGED over the last few weeks.  

Set a timer for at least 15 minutes and then look around- What’s the same?  What’s different?  You may use words and/or pictures.

 If you don’t notice changes or don’t remember, you can just draw and/or describe anything in nature that stands out to you.

You can print this note-catcher or make your own.

Please send a picture of yourself outside and a picture of your nature journal to Ms. Dolan; adolan@hccs481.org     ms.dolans_science

Wednesday, April 29th: What Causes Color?

First: Check your work from yesterday!
Watch this video to check your answers on the 12 EM spectrum questions.  Be sure to email Ms. Dolan if you have questions or bring your questions to today's Zoom meeting.

Is color a real thing?

Today and tomorrow, you will be working to figure out how and why we see color.  You will also learn about why some people don't see color in the same way and how other animals perceive color differently from us. 

Task 1:

Create a note-catcher for yourself on any sheet of paper.  Be ready to write down any new facts you learn about how and why we see colors.

Task 2: 

Watch this video.  Write down any new information you learn.

Task 3: 
Choose at least TWO other resources from the list below.  Watch the videos and/or read the articles.  (You can read/watch more than two!)  Write down any new information you learn.

Live Science: How do we see in color? (reading and video)            

            https://www.livescience.com/32559-why-do-we-see-in-color.html

Frontiers for Young Minds: How do we see color? (reading)

            https://kids.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/frym.2013.00010

8^th Grade Science: How we see in color (pictures, videos, and text)

            https://clarkscience8.weebly.com/how-we-see-in-color.html

Ted-Ed: How we see color- Colm Kelleher (video)

            https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8_fZPHasdo

SciToons: How Do We See Color? (video)

            https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvC9MQvqHMQ

Task 4: 
Answer the following questions.  Write your answers, in complete sentences, below your notes.

1. How much of the electromagnetic spectrum contains waves that are visible to humans?

2. Explain what “colors” are on the electromagnetic spectrum.

3.  Explain how the way light interacts with an object determines the colors we see.

4.  Explain how our eyes and brains determine the colors we see. 

5.  Describe at least two examples of how humans or other animals might see color differently than you do.  

6.  What is something new you learned?

Task 5: 
Send a picture of your notes and your answers to #1-6 to Ms. Dolan.  You have Wednesday and Thursday to complete this task. 

adolan@hccs481.org    ms.dolans_science

Tuesday, April 28th: The Electromagnetic Spectrum

Today your goal is to learn about electromagnetic waves!

First, watch Ms. Dolan's introduction video.  Then read the one-page article and answer the 12 fill-in-the-blank questions.  The color-by-number page is optional!  

When you finish, send your answers to the 12 questions to Ms. Dolan.

Click here for the article, questions, and coloring page.

Monday, April 27th: Waves Word Sort

Let's take a day to practice and review what we have learned about waves.

Start by watching these two videos:
     Video 1: Wave Motion | Waves | Physics | FuseSchool:

     Video 2: Transverse & Longitudinal Waves | Waves | Physics | FuseSchool:

Word Sort: 

There is a lot of vocabulary that goes along with understanding waves and their properties.  Let’s practice that vocabulary with a word sort.  Use the article and questions from last week to help you.

Click here for the word sort words and categories.

Cut out the words and sort them into the five categories at the top of the next page.  Once you have the words sorted, glue/tape them down.  Then take a picture and send it to Ms. Dolan: adolan@hccs481.org     ms.dolans_science

If you can’t print and cut/glue/tape the words, you can just write the words under the appropriate headings.

Check your answers: 

After trying the word sort on your own,  watch this video to check your work and hear explanations.

Send Ms. Dolan a picture of your word sort and let me know how many you got correct before watching the video.  :-)  adolan@hccs481.org   ms.dolans_science

Friday, April 24th: Nature Journal Day!

It's Nature Journal Day!

Today let's do an Up & Down nature journal.

Part 1:  Look UP! 

• Find a safe and comfortable place to lie on the ground or sit in a chair. 
• Set a timer for 7 minutes.
• Look up and study the sky or the trees or whatever you can see.  What do you see?  What colors, shapes, objects, or animals do you see?  Record your observations.  You may use words and/or pictures.

Part 2:  Look DOWN!

• Find a safe and comfortable place to lie on the ground or sit in a chair. It's also ok to walk or crawl around.
• Set a timer for 7 minutes.
• Look down and study the soil, plants, insects or whatever you can see.  What do you see?  What colors, shapes, objects, or animals do you see?  Record your observations.  You may use words and/or pictures.

There is a note-catcher here that you may use.  But you can also create your own. 

Have Fun!

Send a picture of your journal (and a picture of you outside if possible) to Ms. Dolan: adolan@hccs481.org          ms.dolans_science

Thursday, April 23rd: Waves Review

Let's Review Vocabulary Related to Waves!

Task 1:

Click through the slides to review key vocabulary.

Task 2:

Watch the two short videos to see the difference between compression and transverse waves. 

(I definitely mixed up the labels in this second video!  I'm sorry!! Transverse are back and forth.  Longitudinal and compression waves are the same)

Task 3:

Watch the video to check your answers to the 7 questions from yesterday.

Task 4:  Email Ms. Dolan.  Tell her:

     1.  How well you think you understand waves (scale of 0 to 5).
     2.  What you don't quite understand yet.
     3.  What you need to help you understand.
     4.  What was most helpful for you learning about waves. 

Wednesday, April 22nd: Practice with Waves

Yesterday you were introduced to waves with a video and reading.  

Let's practice these concepts today.

Use the reading to answer these questions.

Come to today's Zoom meeting ready to ask about anything you don't understand.  

Send your answers to Ms. Dolan: adolan@hccs481.org   ms.dolans_science

An answer key will be posted tomorrow for you to check your work.

Tuesday, April 21st: Introduction to Waves

When you hear the word wave, what do you think of?

Surfers or the beach?

The queen of England waving?

Spectators at a sporting events "doing the wave"?

Did you know that a wave is not matter?  It's not really a "thing".  It's not energy either.  It's the result of energy- it's a disturbance caused by energy.  

Let's learn more about waves! 

Start by watching this brief video:

Imagine if you saw all the waves around you all the time!  It would be overwhelming!

Now,  take some time to read the following text: 

An Introduction to Waves and Their Properties

When you finish reading, go back to the text and number the paragraphs 1-14.

For each paragraph, write one key fact OR one important vocabulary word with its definition.  You may use this note-catcher or create your own.  

Send a picture of your summary to Ms. Dolan.  adolan@hccs481.org or ms.dolans_science

Monday, April 20th: Catch-Up Day!

Today is a Catch-Up Day!

Take today to catch up on any science work.  

If you are not sure what you have to do, send Ms. Dolan an email saying "What am I missing?" (adolan@hccs481.org)

If you are all caught up, please do one (or all) of the following:

1.  Enjoy some sunshine and nature.  Try to notice something in nature you never noticed before.

or

2.  Help a family member with something that could make their day easier.

or

3.  Send a message to a friend or family member you haven't spoken to in a while.  Say hello and let them know that you miss them and appreciate them.

Friday, April 17th: Nature Journal

If you need more time to complete your Moon Lander Challenge, that is your first priority! 
______________

If you've finished your moon lander and have sent Ms. Dolan your work,  It's Nature Journal Day!

You can walk through your neighborhood, yard, park, or apartment complex or just find a natural area and sit.  Remember to look for natural (not man-made) objects.

  

Look for as many DIFFERENT COLORS as you can find.

Draw or trace the objects you find. Include a label to identify what each object is, what color it is, and to describe any details you notice.  

You can use this note-catcher or create your own.

Send me your journal entries and, if possible, a picture of you in nature!

adolan@hccs481.org or ms.dolans_science

Wednesday, April 15th: Collision Challenge (2-days)

Collision Challenge

A real-world effect of Newton’s 3^rd Law of Motion is collisions.  A collision is a crash.  Sometimes, when two objects hit each other, damage occurs because of the force that both objects give.  Below are examples of different types of collisions:

Car vs. Car	Athlete vs. Athlete

Skateboarder vs. Ground	Human vs. Water

What are some other kinds of collisions that you can think of?

__________________________________________________________

Moon Landing 

Landing a vehicle on a moon or planet is another type of collision.  This is a type of collision that NASA engineers spend LOTS of time and millions of dollars trying to manage.  When a ship lands on a moon or planet (or back on Earth), the “crash” needs to be gentle.  If not, expensive equipment could get damaged and  crew members could get hurt or even die. 

Today you are going to take on the role of a NASA engineer.  The “crew members” and “equipment” will be modeled by a water balloon.

You must design and build a landing vehicle that can survive a crash without breaking the balloon. 

_____________________________________________________

Moon Lander Design Challenge Rules:
**You should have gotten water balloons attached to your paper packet at school or in the mail.  If you didn't get them, send me a message ASAP: adolan@hccs481.org. **

The water balloon must be filled with water as full as you can get it without breaking.

You may use any materials that you have at your house.  (Make sure you get parents’ permission first!)

Your “lander” must be dropped from as high as you can safely get it.  At the very least, stand on a chair and lift your arm as high as possible. 

Example:

Thanks to Josh for pioneering this challenge for us as an example!  It look him several attempts. That's ok!  Engineering is all about trial and error, success and failure. 

Trial #1

Trial #2

Trial #3

Trial #4

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What you need to send to Ms. Dolan:

1.  Draw your design.  Label all the materials that you used.

2.  Describe your thinking process.  Be REALLY detailed.  Explain why you chose the materials you did.  Explain why you placed materials where you did.

3. Take a picture or video as you test your design, if possible.

4. Describe what happened when you tested your lander.  Be REALLY descriptive. 

5. Reflect:  Describe what went well.  Describe what didn't go well.  Describe what you would do differently if you were to try a new design. 

Click here for a PDF version of challenge, rules, and recording pages.

YOU HAVE UNTIL FRIDAY TO COMPLETE THIS TASK.

I'll will be sharing photos and videos with the class.  Please let me know if you don't want me to share your photo or video.