Spring SAVY 2020: Day 3 – Environmental Explorations: Dig It! (K)

Posted by hallep on Tuesday, February 25, 2020 in Grade K, SAVY.

As our day began, we thought a lot about the needs of Queen Anne’s Island to help us generate more effective ideas for them. We reviewed the problems such as air and water pollution, soil erosion, and lack of community awareness regarding the need to conserve and preserve our natural resources. Our understanding of natural resources (renewable and nonrenewable), was strong; however, we needed to learn more about soil.

We donned our lab coats and science journals to begin an observation to compare and contrast three substances individually. We evaluated each substance with our senses. We noticed color, texture, smell, smoothness or roughness, size, including variations in size and weight. We then identified the substances as sand, rocks and mixed small gravel and soil. We made a determination as to which substances were soil or not soil. Upon discussion, we decided that all three substances were typed of soil.

Then we conducted an experiment to determine which of the three substances would show the least amount of erosion when small amounts of water were trickled into the top of the mounds of the substances. We used our three tubs that held sand, rocks or gravel/soil, individually. We made a hypothesis and then we found that the gravel/soil mix would allow the least amount of erosion.

The time to brainstorm ideas to help solve the environmental problems Queen Anne’s Island was having, had come. After brainstorming in small groups, we were ready to create our individual plans for Queen Anne’s Island! We all worked hard to cover all of the problems.

The Open House was a great time for our young scientists to showcase what we all learned in our course. It was a pleasure meeting you all! I look forward to seeing your students again in future SAVY courses.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Tyson