Saturday SAVY, Day 2 – “Science of the Senses” (3rd/4th)
We had another great Saturday at SAVY! This week, students continued their journey into exploring the world using their five senses. Students worked as scientists and engineers as they discovered new content.
First, we reviewed our understanding of the atom and basic chemistry. Students worked as scientists to make and test hypotheses about acids and bases. Students also created a chemical reaction using baking soda and vinegar. They observed the reaction using their senses.
Next, our scholars explored the concept of sound, learning the difference between pitch and volume. Students identified the different parts of the ear and discovered how they worked together to interpret vibrations. Students used their knowledge to create instruments, finding the engineering process as they worked. The scholars were tasked with building an instrument that could play both loud and soft sounds, as well as high and low pitches. I was amazed at their creativity as they tested and improved until they had a working design.
After exploring sound, students delved into the sense of sight. Students discovered the electromagnetic spectrum and discussed visible light. Students learned how the different parts of the eye work together to send signals to our brains about what we see. Students discovered the three types of optical illusions-literal, physiological, and cognitive. In addition, students drew an optical illusion!
To wrap up our time together, students continued working to design their review games. They developed rules for their games and continued to improve the aesthetics of their gameboards. Our scholars added more review questions to ensure their games covered the many concepts discussed in our sessions. I can’t wait to play their finished games next week!
To further enrich your child’s understanding of these concepts, consider the following activities:
- Have more fun with chemical reactions. Hypothesize what would happen if you put other acids and bases together. Check out this site.
- Review the Engineering Design Process with this video.
- Discover! Try these sight and sound explorations.
- Research the following optical illusion artists: Victor Vasarely, Marina Apollonio, Peter Sedgley, M.C. Escher, and Octavio Ocampo.
- Draw your own illusion using this link!
- Research types of instruments here.
- Can you make another instrument following the Engineering Design Process? What type of instrument is it?
Thank you for your continued support and encouragement. I look forward to our final Saturday of discovery, learning, and more sensory science!
