Changes, Forces, and Food Webs

We have had a spectacular and very busy week! 


Third Grade:

We completed our study of simple machines, played review games and took the end-of-unit test.   Our review lesson is on blendspace, an interactive teaching website.  You can access the lesson by going to the Third Grade Google Chrome page and clicking on the link.  The last frame of the lesson is the Bill Nye the Science Guy "Simple Machines" episode.  We highly recommend this action-packed and entertaining show.  

The third graders have started a new unit: Changes to the Earth's Surface.  This unit focuses on the following "Big Idea" and "Essential Questions":

Big Idea: Processes on Earth can change Earth's landforms.  Some of these changes happen slowly, while others happen quickly.

Essential Questions:
1. What are some landforms?
2. How does Earth's surface change slowly?
3. How can we model erosion?
4. How does Earth's surface change quickly?

This week we defined and identified the term "landform", identified and described the layers of the Earth: "crust", "mantle", "outer core", and "inner core", and discussed  bit about plate tectonics. 


Fourth Grade:

We completed our 3-D food web projects.  The students chose different ecosystems: desert, rain forest, arctic/polar, savannah, or ocean, and created 3-D representations of the producers, consumers, and decomposers in their respective food webs.   These are no ordinary 3-D food webs.  We have herbivores devouring producers, predators attacking prey, decomposers decomposing organic matter, colorful creatures, and clever connections!  We are eager to display our work.

Next week we will begin an new unit: Properties of Matter


Fifth Grade:

We completed our study of ecosystems, played a review game, and took the end-of-unit test.  Our review lesson is on blendspace, an interactive teaching website.  You can access the lesson by going to the 5th grade Google Chrome page and clicking on the link. 

The fifth graders have started a new unit: Forces and Motion.  This unit focuses on the following "Big Idea" and "Essential Questions":

Big Idea: Forces interact with objects to produce motion.  Motion can be observed, measured, and described.

Essential Questions:
1. What are forces?
2. How do forces affect motion?
3. What are balanced and unbalanced forces?
4. What are Newton's Laws?

This week we defined and identified "force", "gravity" and "friction". We conducted some simple investigations of gravity and friction, and identified objects designed to increase or decrease friction.  We explained why it is easier to walk on a smooth flat surface, like a side walk, than it is to walk on an uneven, flexible surface, like sand.  The student have asked wonderful questions about gravity, friction, and force.  We will research and seek the answers to these questions.