Cars!

PreK through 3rd grade were busy this spring making and racing cars. Students built their own vehicles out of cardboard, straws, metal axles and tires with a cup on top. Some of the classes even made 3D printed cups! In rainbow colors, no less. After construction of the cars were complete, the experiments began. Classes raced their cars and we talked about gravity, force, and friction. To take our experiments to the next level, we added some weight to the cars to see if it changed the speed. Students could pick from marbles or cotton balls to add weight. We discussed which was heavier, and why…hint: it may have something to do with gravity! While the student-called results were a mix, the experiment was a fun success.

Special Effects Makeup!

Special effects makeup has been used by the entertainment industry to bring superheroes and monsters alive. The Unquowa School Fifth Grade explored this art by learning to create special effects, or SFX, wounds. We learned how to use modeling wax, special effects sponges, makeup, and fake blood to create wounds with bruises. The students used their sculpting and shading skills to mold clay, blend, and contour to create their special effects. They were frighteningly realistic!

Engineering Electromagnets!

The 8th grade was able to build their own electromagnets in the science lab! The students have been learning so much about electricity, magnetism and electromagnets (the movement of charged particles in a coil can create a magnetic field). For this lab, the scholars were given batteries, copper coils, iron nails and paperclips and were asked to build an electromagnet. They had a general understanding of the material but after completing this lab, there was no question on how electromagnets function. Students were able to play around with their designs by using different types of wire, changing the number of loops around the iron nail (more loops would make a stronger magnet due to the overlapping magnetic fields created from the charged particles flowing through the wire which is from the battery), and using different types of batteries. In the end, the 8th graders thoroughly enjoyed creating their own magnets and comparing the strengths of their magnets to each others.

A Shocking Experience!

In this lab students were exploring the properties of static electricity! Static electricity are electric charges that are stationary. For students to gain a better visual, this lab incorporated balloons!

Students were given 2 balloons and a piece of a wool sock. Just like the principles of magnetism, opposite charges attract and like charges repel. When students rubbed a balloon with the piece of wool (or their hair!) the particles rearranged making the balloon mostly negatively charged and the piece of wool (or hair) more positively charged. Students then tested the strength of the charged balloon by moving it either near their hair or near another balloon which was hanging by a piece of string. The balloon was either attracted to the other balloon (or hair) or repelled. By the end of the lab students had a better understanding of what static electricity is and its properties.

Habitat Fragmentation!

Students in the 7th grade have been learning about environmental processes, Earth processes, ecology and human influences on the planets systems. In this lab, students were examining the effects of habitat fragmentation. Habitat fragmentation is the process by which an environment that provides homes to organisms are divided and broken up into smaller areas, usually a result of human influence (construction, colonization, agriculture, etc.). This fragmentation will usually have negative impacts on the organisms in the area, although it is possible for a certain organism to benefit from this (usually a predator such as a hawk). The reason it can benefit certain predators is because the prey have less places to hide, therefore throwing off the balance of the ecosystem. In general, students enjoyed this activity and were able to have a visual of what habitat fragmentation really means. 

STEM Fair begins….

Grades 4, 5, and 6 have begun working on their STEM Fair projects. Over the next 3 weeks, each grade has been tasked with creating a structure that utilizes renewable energy. Grade 4 has been charged with building a model highlighting how passive solar energy can power a structure. After learning about the nature of passive solar energy, they were put in teams, and together, with the aid of Mr. Casey, they are currently building their models. When their work is complete, they will present their ideas to the rest of the class. We can’t wait to see what these future engineers have in store for us!