Get Your Hands Dirty

Our students learn by doing! Fourth graders were not afraid to get their hands dirty in a study of soils. We used the Fairfield Audubon as an extension of our classroom to investigate different forms and types of soils.  Students discovered the benefits and importance of soil to all life on earth. Students measured and sifted, tested water retention, took temperature readings and searched for the tiniest of life forms. Upon completion of our numerous investigations, student scientist teams were overheard making conclusions including: “Soils are a filtration system,” “Soils provide nutrients for plants and a home for insects,” “Soils hold heat,” “It’s important to not pollute our soil.”

Using Science to Select the Best Products

Eighth graders put the scientific method to the test by comparing three different brands of products in a chosen consumer product category. The students devised two tests relevant to the products they chose to determine whether paying full price or choosing the discounted item is the best choice. Products ranged from batteries, lint removers, thermoses, shoe cleaners, and paper towels among the many categories chosen this year. The project followed up several labs on dish soap and laundry soap to see if the top brands were “worth” their top price. Mr Knebel

Think Like a Scientist

Science education requires students to develop their ability to engage in scientific thinking. Fourth graders are discovering what it means to be a scientist. How does a scientist ask questions? What tools do scientists use? What is an observation? What is the scientific method? In our first science unit this year, students are learning the answers to these questions and many more! Our fourth graders are asking scientific questions, researching and constructing hypotheses and then testing their hypotheses through experiment and investigation. Students are carefully recording and charting data in order to form valid conclusions. Finally, students are composing their findings clearly and effectively to share with fellow scientists.

Discovering Density

Fourth graders have learned that density is a property of matter that compares an object’s mass to its volume. Different objects may have different mass but the same volume, as we saw in class when we compared a baseball and a Wiffle ball. Students were asked if liquids could also have different mass and the same volume. To find the answer, students poured various liquids (maple syrup, corn syrup, oil, colored water) into a container and were amazed to see layers form. Students quickly concluded that these liquids must have different densities in order to form layers. The most dense liquids sank to the bottom and the least dense remained at the top.

Science Fair 2019

Did you attend the 2019 Unquowa School Science Fair? If you did, you were certainly awed by listening to our scientists discuss their findings on such topics as the effects of caffeine on the brain, how cola will clean a penny, distracted driving, screen time, how rivers form and flow and much, much more. Our student scientists have questioned, researched, planned and experimented for weeks on a topic of choice leading to a supported conclusion. On the day of the annual science fair, fourth, fifth and sixth grade scientists enthusiastically shared their findings through models, demonstrations and carefully crafted poster boards. The entire Unquowa community was delighted and educated by our wonderful student scientists – congratulations to all on a job very well done!

‘Tis the Season

For germs that is! Kindergarteners finished their unit on living and nonliving things by studying the smallest forms of life, microorganisms. This group includes bacteria, germs and viruses. We learned more than we ever wanted to know about healthy bacteria that live all around and on us! Next, we explored how to keep ourselves healthy and germ free. We conducted an experiment to see the most effective way to remove germs from our hands, In this scenario, purple glitter played the part of germs, much less gross and much easier to see. Students predicted what method would work best, some answers were very creative! Then we put each method to the test, seeing if it really did remove germs and prevent germ transfer. We proved once and for all that warm water and soap is the best way to keep your hands clean!