First graders conducted experiments with light and shadow to prove the earth rotates. The students duplicated their outdoor phenomena with indoor experiments. Science can be so much fun.
Proving the Earth Rotates
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Monthly Archives: October 2017
WOW! He Moved!
The three visits to the shadow people showed the 1st grader’s person moving on the paper and getting shorter at recess time. We will be helping the 1st graders understand that the turning of the earth makes the sun’s position in the sky change which causes shadows to change. This is a hard concept to grasp when we observe the sun moving across the sky and don’t feel the earth rotating.
Shadow People Join Discovery Academy
Over 70 shadow people had their shadows traced today by 1st graders. We are studying Light & Shadow in out STEM Special. Students saw how the Earth’s rotation caused their shadow to move from the morning to the afternoon. We also told the time on our playground sunclock. By standing on the month your shadow will fall on the correct time. Guess what time we were outside?
Wooden You Know
We started our STEM specials this week with Kindergarten, 1st and 2nd grade. In kindergarten, the students explored the properties of wood and examined different varieties of wood.
We identified three species out on the playground and used the leaf shape, bark, needles or cones to determine the kind of tree. Who knew wood could be so exciting!
I Learned a New Word Today – Photovoltaics
Photovoltaics is a method for generating electric power by using solar cells to convert energy from the sun into a flow of electrons by the photovoltaic effect. Solar cells produce direct current electricity from sunlight which can be used to power equipment or to recharge a battery. You may have wondered about the fence in the parking lot and the construction going on. The school is having solar panels installed that will supply 30% of the school’s electricity. How cool (or hot) is that?
Wooden You Know
We started our STEM specials this week with Kindergarten, 1st and 2nd grade. In kindergarten, the students explored the properties of wood and examined different varieties of wood.
We identified three species out on the playground and used the leaf shape, bark, needles or cones to determine the kind of tree. Who knew wood could be so exciting!
Beware of the Math Stairs
Students are having fun on the stairs practicing their math facts. They can chose to skip count by color or practice partners of five, doubles partners of ten, or multiplication.
We are an Official Weather Station!
Today, Discovery Academy joined Weather Underground as an official weather station. Our weather data from the rooftop garden can now be viewed and tracked online. When the school’s solar panel install is completed students can also track the energy output and the correlation between the weather and electricity generated. A big thanks to the PTO for funding the hardware and to Jon Hand and the Garden Committee for making this available to Discovery Academy. Follow Discovery Academy Rooftop Garden or join through Weather Underground station KCTWETH19
Scientists in the Bioswale
PreK students in Mrs. Steven’s and Mrs. Granahan’s class selected specimens from the bioswale (rain garden) and used their observation skills to draw representations.
