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2016/2017 Science Year in Review
2016/2017 Science Year Review
Another
great year is completed. This year I saw
lots of growth in the students. This is
my 3rd year offering science classes in my community. Students come to my home for classes. It is amazing to see the growth in their
scientific thinking.
Our main
class is the Creating and Conducting Investigation class. This was the first year I offered it up to 7th
grade. Our theme for the year was Forces and Motion. Students investigated gravitational potential
energy, balanced and unbalanced forces, The Laws of Energy, Conservation of
Energy, simple machines, and much more.
They wrote their own investigations on incline planes and helped create
investigations as a class. The final
project was to create an original science fair project. Projects are then displayed at the Science
Fair Poster Celebration.
I also
offered STEM Classes and monthly explorations.
Exploring Dry Ice is always a blast.
Students had a great time learning about Cartesian Divers and creating
their own. Students were also challenged
to create a bridge that could hold 100 pennies.
These classes focus on the engineering design process. We emphasize using failures as learning
experiences to guide us to solutions.
I chaired
the Siebert Elementary School Science Fair again this year. I am starting to lose count as to how many
years I have done this. I think 5. I love it.
We had over 70 projects. The
students always impress. We have
fabulous judges. The support from the
school and families is wonderful. We
really focus on students not only performing a science fair project, but designing
the project as well. This creates more
unique projects and helps students design projects that fit their
interests. This year’s science fair
workshop was all about bottle flipping.
Bottle flipping is banned at the school, but for this night the
principal allowed it. Investigating
bottle flipping was inexpensive and exciting for the students. The night of the fair didn’t disappoint.
My year
ended with The Science Fair Poster Celebration.
This is put on through Kimberly Scott Science. All students in my Creating and Conducting
Investigation class participate as well as others from the community. I also offered a family science fair workshop
about bottle flipping to help students prepare for creating their
projects. This is a celebration of all
things science. We don’t give out
places, but all the students want me to score their projects. We had a 6 foot high trebuchet. It couldn’t get it into the classroom, but we
left it in the entry way for students to see.
We also had a tornado, earth quake investigation, plants, water wheel,
and more. Projects were well thought out
and age appropriate. It was a great end
to the school year.
Now it is
time to plan for next year. I always
start with an open house. This year I
will be teaching a “You Be the Chemist Challenge Class.” Students will be learning all things
chemistry and preparing for the “You Be the Chemist Challenge.” Students can also enroll in Kitchen Chemistry
and monthly STEM Explorations. I am
excited that I am offering programs outside of my home. Over the summer I will be provided programs
for a local day camp. Bring on inertia
challenges, bubble fun, and Mentos/Diet Coke Geysers.
