SAVY Saturday, Week 1, Matter Mysteries, Hayes (1st-2nd)
What an exciting first day we’ve had! Our students embarked on a fascinating journey into the world of matter, exploring its omnipresence and learning to think like scientists. We delved into the concept of change, experimented with the three states of matter, and even indulged in some delicious hands-on learning by making ice cream. Here’s a recap of our day and some engaging activities for you to continue learning at home.
Thinking Like a Scientist
As budding scientists, the students discovered the steps of the scientific method. These steps include:
- Asking a Question: Identifying what we want to learn more about.
- Making a Hypothesis: Formulating an educated guess or prediction.
- Experimenting: Conducting tests to gather data.
- Observing: Carefully watching and noting what happens.
- Analyzing Data: Interpreting the data collected to draw conclusions.
- Sharing Results: Communicating findings with others.
To put these steps into practice, the students used their five senses to unveil the contents of mystery eggs. This hands-on activity sharpened their observational skills and reinforced the scientific process.
Exploring Change
We also explored the concept of change, asking ourselves what constitutes change and what doesn’t. From these discussions, the students developed four generalizations about change:
- Change is Everywhere: It’s a constant in our world.
- Change is Related to Time: It can occur over varying durations.
- Change Can Be Natural or Manmade: It can originate from nature or human intervention.
- Change Can Be Random or Predictable: It is sometimes unexpected and other times anticipated.
- Change Can Happen in Different Ways: It can manifest in diverse forms and circumstances.
Understanding the Properties of Matter
Our exploration of matter focused on its properties and how it can change states by adding or subtracting energy. The highlight of the day was turning a milk mixture into ice cream by removing heat, illustrating a change from liquid to solid. This engaging activity vividly demonstrated how matter can transform.
Continuing the Learning at Home
To keep your students engaged and deepen their understanding of matter, consider these activities:
- Family Discussion: Talk with a family member about a time when change had a positive effect on the family. This can help students relate the concept of change to personal experiences.
- “I Spy” Game: Play “I Spy” with an adult or sibling by finding examples of solids, liquids, and gases around the house or neighborhood. For a bonus challenge, identify items in different states of matter. For example, “I spy a solid that is red and rough.”
- Review a Story: Watch and discuss “Mad Margaret Experiments with the Scientific Method” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9uDKplo4Um4. This story reinforces the scientific method through engaging storytelling.
We look forward to seeing everyone next week as we continue to unravel more mysteries in the world of science!