Crayfish!

 So, one of our students lives near a creek with a healthy population of crayfish. This week she is bringing in some crayfish for the rest of the class to examine! This video  - Getting Curious about Crayfish - helps us gain a little more understanding about this freshwater crustacean.  

Grade 4 Science: Weathering, Erosion, and Deposition

 

Grade 4 Science: Types of Rocks and the Rock Cycle

Proving Air Has Volume

Air and the atmosphere are invisible.  That makes it a little tricky to think of it as having properties like mass, volume, and pressure.  Below are two activities from ThoughtCo. that should help you prove that air, indeed, has properties.  (Click the picture below to visit the website.)

Activity 1 Underwater Air Bubbles: As you allow an air bubble to escape, what happens? Why does this happen?

Activity  Air Balloons: As you progress through this activity, ask yourself the following question: What would happen if you try to inflate the balloon inside of the bottle?

Make a Homemade Compass

Here's a science experiment for you ~ try making your own compass.  All you need is a sewing needle, a magnet, a bowl of water,  and a plastic cap or sturdy piece of cardboard.  Watch the video to learn how to make one. 

 Why don't you record yourself making the compass, then send the video along to me and I'll put it on our class blog.  

Virtual Field Trip #1: Deserts and Grasslands of Africa

In this first virtual field trip, you will explore the deserts and grasslands of Africa.  With field scientist Charles Oluchina as your guide, you will discover how people and nature work together in the deserts and grasslands of Africa.


Virtual Field Trip to the Deserts and Grasslands of Africa from Nature Lab on Vimeo.

Virtual Field Trip #2: The Coral Reefs

Our second virtual field trip is to the Coral Reefs of Palau. In this virtual field trip, you'll explore amazing underwater cities found near a remote network of islands in the Pacific Ocean.  No scuba diving experience necessary. 



The Coral Reefs of Palau: Nature's Amazing Underwater Cities from Nature Lab on Vimeo.

The Kingdoms of Life

The student will investigate and understand how organisms can be classified. Key concepts include. the distinguishing characteristics of kingdoms of organisms.  Students are responsible for recording their answers on the handout. 

Click the phrase below:

Afterwards, the students can use the link below, watch the video on the Kingdoms of Life.

Finally, students can review the Kingdoms of Life from Study Jam.

Periodic Table

Periodic Table shows all the elements that scientists have discovered.  Watch the Study Jam to find out more.

Measurement Work

Reading a Graduated Cylinder

Be sure to bring your science notebook into the tech lab!  We will find out how to read a graduated cylinder and you should take notes.

Accuracy vs. Precision

Watch a video on accuracy vs. precision.  Write answers to the following questions in your science notebook: 

1. Describe the difference between accuracy and precision. (1:32)

2. How do factories and labs increase precision? (2:30) 

3.Why do doctors and engineers take great effort in being both accurate and precise?

4. What 3 things have allowed NASA to be more accurate and precise with their Martian landings? 

     (4:00)

Great Lakes Education Program

The Great Lakes Education Program provides students with a full day of experiential education – a cruise aboard one of the schoolships, and landside education provided by Metropark interpretive educators. We are looking forward to our field trip in May!

Ecosystems and Food Webs

Students in fourth grade will use the study jams to review ecosystems and food webs.  After watching the videos, please take the time to put notes in your science notebook.

Types of Mountains

This week in science, students are learning how mountains are formed.  This video, from BrainPop, will identify the types of mountains and how they are formed.