Energy
Investigation 1 Part 1 - Energy Sources
We got to work in rotations to learn about the different sources of energy. The point of each station was to understand the source of energy, where the energy is stored, and what that stored energy is converted into.
Solar Panels and motors - the solar panels didn't work, but we were still able to understand where the energy came from, where it was stored, and how that energy was converted into motion.
Tone Generators - these are always fun - they make noise and you can change the pitch!
Motors and batteries - we got to complete an electrical circuit to make our motor move - we even learned that the energy from the battery can be converted into heat as well as motion.
Hand rubbing - okay, this one wasn't as exciting as the others because it was just rubbing our hands together. The other option was lighting a candle and well, we aren't allowed to have an open flame in the building....SOOOOO we went with hand rubbing. It was interesting though, to figure out the energy was stored in our muscles (not our hands).
What we've learned:
1. Energy makes things happen. Energy causes all actions. Energy has the ability to do work.
2. Energy can be stored in many forms, including batteries, food, and fuels, such as wax.
3. Energy can be changed or converted into other forms of energy.
4. Most of the energy used by organisms, including humans, comes from the sun in the form of light.
Vocabulary:
Energy - makes things happen and does work.
Energy source - where the energy comes from.
Stored energy - used to do work as needed (energy can be stored in batteries, food, and fuel)
Converted - changed (energy can be changed/converted from one form to another)
Electricity - a form of energy
Heat - a form of energy
Motion - a form of energy
Investigation 1 Part 2 - Converting Energy
We were able to determine the various ways that energy is converted to make different things happen. We used sets of energy cards and arrows to show the conversion of energy. Some examples include: battery (stored energy source) converted to light (action); apple (stored energy source) converted to muscle contraction (action).
What we've learned:
1. Stored energy can be converted to other forms of energy.
2. Machines and living things can convert energy into motion and heat.
Vocabulary: Chemical energy - energy is stored in food in the form of chemical energy, which organisms convert to heat, motion, and responses.
Investigation 1 Part 3 - Energy on the Move
We got to work in rotations again, but this time we were investigating different ways that energy can be carried from one place to another.
Motor and battery - energy is carried in wires by electric current
Tone Generator - energy is carried in the air by sound waves
Bowling - energy is carried by rolling objects
Slinky - energy is carried by a spring toy
We watched a video called All About the Transfer of Energy. From this, we learned that people get energy from food. Cars need gasoline because that is the fuel that burns to make the power to move the car. A skateboard moving downhill, a falling ball, and a person running all have moving energy. Food, a batter, gasoline, and wood are examples of stored energy.
What we've learned:
Energy can be carried from one place to another by waves, electric current, and moving objects.
Vocabulary:
Energy transfer - energy movement from one place to another.
wave - a repeating movement, like up and down or back and forth. Waves carry energy from one place to another.
We got to work in rotations to learn about the different sources of energy. The point of each station was to understand the source of energy, where the energy is stored, and what that stored energy is converted into.
Solar Panels and motors - the solar panels didn't work, but we were still able to understand where the energy came from, where it was stored, and how that energy was converted into motion.
Tone Generators - these are always fun - they make noise and you can change the pitch!
Motors and batteries - we got to complete an electrical circuit to make our motor move - we even learned that the energy from the battery can be converted into heat as well as motion.
Hand rubbing - okay, this one wasn't as exciting as the others because it was just rubbing our hands together. The other option was lighting a candle and well, we aren't allowed to have an open flame in the building....SOOOOO we went with hand rubbing. It was interesting though, to figure out the energy was stored in our muscles (not our hands).
What we've learned:
1. Energy makes things happen. Energy causes all actions. Energy has the ability to do work.
2. Energy can be stored in many forms, including batteries, food, and fuels, such as wax.
3. Energy can be changed or converted into other forms of energy.
4. Most of the energy used by organisms, including humans, comes from the sun in the form of light.
Vocabulary:
Energy - makes things happen and does work.
Energy source - where the energy comes from.
Stored energy - used to do work as needed (energy can be stored in batteries, food, and fuel)
Converted - changed (energy can be changed/converted from one form to another)
Electricity - a form of energy
Heat - a form of energy
Motion - a form of energy
Investigation 1 Part 2 - Converting Energy
We were able to determine the various ways that energy is converted to make different things happen. We used sets of energy cards and arrows to show the conversion of energy. Some examples include: battery (stored energy source) converted to light (action); apple (stored energy source) converted to muscle contraction (action).
What we've learned:
1. Stored energy can be converted to other forms of energy.
2. Machines and living things can convert energy into motion and heat.
Vocabulary: Chemical energy - energy is stored in food in the form of chemical energy, which organisms convert to heat, motion, and responses.
Investigation 1 Part 3 - Energy on the Move
We got to work in rotations again, but this time we were investigating different ways that energy can be carried from one place to another.
Motor and battery - energy is carried in wires by electric current
Tone Generator - energy is carried in the air by sound waves
Bowling - energy is carried by rolling objects
Slinky - energy is carried by a spring toy
We watched a video called All About the Transfer of Energy. From this, we learned that people get energy from food. Cars need gasoline because that is the fuel that burns to make the power to move the car. A skateboard moving downhill, a falling ball, and a person running all have moving energy. Food, a batter, gasoline, and wood are examples of stored energy.
What we've learned:
Energy can be carried from one place to another by waves, electric current, and moving objects.
Vocabulary:
Energy transfer - energy movement from one place to another.
wave - a repeating movement, like up and down or back and forth. Waves carry energy from one place to another.
Light
Investigation 2 Part 1
Oh boy! We got to use mirrors and light together! We were discovering how light travels and how mirrors work. We even got to do a few challenges with our group to discover how we can change the direction of light. We had to make light from a flashlight reflect back and shine on the side of the flashlight; we had to make light travel in 2 directions at once; we had to make it look like the light went straight through a book; we had to reflect light to shine on the back of the first mirror; and we even got to create our own challenge for our classmates! This was a fun experimentation day!
What we've learned:
1. Light is a form of energy that travels in straight lines from a light source.
2. Light can reflect (bounce off) surfaces that it strikes.
3. A mirror is a smooth, reflective surface.
4. An object is seen only when light from that object enters an eye.
Vocabulary:
Light source - where light comes from
Rays - light travels through space in rays - straight lines from a light source
Reflect - to bounce off
Investigation 2 Part 2
Students were introduced to the idea of light absorption and the definition of white light as a mixture of all the colors of light. They used gels and tubes to create colored-light environments into which they placed small colored plastic cubes. Students observed that the apparent color of the cubes is affected by the color of the light striking them inside the tubes.
What we've learned:
1. White light is a mixture of all colors of light.
2. Light can be absorbed by matter.
3. The apparent color of an object is the result of the light it reflects.
4. The apparent color of an object is affected by the color of light striking it.
5. A shadow is created when an opaque object blocks light.
Vocabulary:
White light - mixture of all colors of light
Shadows - created when objects block light
Absorb - to soak up/take in
Quiz on Friday, February 21, 2014
- know what a shadow is and how they are made
- understand how objects look when reflected in a mirror
- know sources of light
- a room is lit with a red light - what color will objects be if they look black in the room?
- know how to arrange mirrors to reflect light around objects
- know why objects appear black in certain colors of light
- be able to tell the types of surfaces that reflect light best
- be able to explain how mirrors work to let us see behind us
Oh boy! We got to use mirrors and light together! We were discovering how light travels and how mirrors work. We even got to do a few challenges with our group to discover how we can change the direction of light. We had to make light from a flashlight reflect back and shine on the side of the flashlight; we had to make light travel in 2 directions at once; we had to make it look like the light went straight through a book; we had to reflect light to shine on the back of the first mirror; and we even got to create our own challenge for our classmates! This was a fun experimentation day!
What we've learned:
1. Light is a form of energy that travels in straight lines from a light source.
2. Light can reflect (bounce off) surfaces that it strikes.
3. A mirror is a smooth, reflective surface.
4. An object is seen only when light from that object enters an eye.
Vocabulary:
Light source - where light comes from
Rays - light travels through space in rays - straight lines from a light source
Reflect - to bounce off
Investigation 2 Part 2
Students were introduced to the idea of light absorption and the definition of white light as a mixture of all the colors of light. They used gels and tubes to create colored-light environments into which they placed small colored plastic cubes. Students observed that the apparent color of the cubes is affected by the color of the light striking them inside the tubes.
What we've learned:
1. White light is a mixture of all colors of light.
2. Light can be absorbed by matter.
3. The apparent color of an object is the result of the light it reflects.
4. The apparent color of an object is affected by the color of light striking it.
5. A shadow is created when an opaque object blocks light.
Vocabulary:
White light - mixture of all colors of light
Shadows - created when objects block light
Absorb - to soak up/take in
Quiz on Friday, February 21, 2014
- know what a shadow is and how they are made
- understand how objects look when reflected in a mirror
- know sources of light
- a room is lit with a red light - what color will objects be if they look black in the room?
- know how to arrange mirrors to reflect light around objects
- know why objects appear black in certain colors of light
- be able to tell the types of surfaces that reflect light best
- be able to explain how mirrors work to let us see behind us
Matter
Investigation 3, Part 1
Focus Question: What are the properties of solids, liquids, and gases?
Vocabulary:
properties - characteristics
matter - the stuff everything is made of
state - form of matter (solid, liquid, and gas)
solid - state of matter that keeps a definite shape
liquid - state of matter that flows and fills its container to a level
gas - state of matter that fills all parts of a container
What we've learned:
1. matter is the stuff from which everything is made
2. the three states of matter are solids, liquids, and gases
3. solid materials have definite shape and do not flow; solids make piles
4. liquid materials flow, can be kept in open containers, and take the shape of their container; liquids do not make piles
5. gas fills all parts of a container and will escape from an open container
Investigation 3, Part 2
Focus Question: What is mass? How can you measure the mass of an object?
Vocabulary:
mass - a property of matter; the amount of stuff in an object
metric system - the measurement system used in science around the world
gram - the standard unit of measure for measuring mass; very small unit
kilogram - 1000 grams
balance - a toll used for weighing objects; when the balance beam is level, the objects on either side are equal in mass
What we've learned:
1. When scientists do experiments involving mass, they weigh the mass several times. Repeating measurement increases the accuracy.
2. There can be discrepancies in data for several reasons (different scales, different item, different ways of measuring, etc)
3. We measured mass by using a balance scale and gram pieces ranging from 1 gram to 20 grams.
Focus Question: What are the properties of solids, liquids, and gases?
Vocabulary:
properties - characteristics
matter - the stuff everything is made of
state - form of matter (solid, liquid, and gas)
solid - state of matter that keeps a definite shape
liquid - state of matter that flows and fills its container to a level
gas - state of matter that fills all parts of a container
What we've learned:
1. matter is the stuff from which everything is made
2. the three states of matter are solids, liquids, and gases
3. solid materials have definite shape and do not flow; solids make piles
4. liquid materials flow, can be kept in open containers, and take the shape of their container; liquids do not make piles
5. gas fills all parts of a container and will escape from an open container
Investigation 3, Part 2
Focus Question: What is mass? How can you measure the mass of an object?
Vocabulary:
mass - a property of matter; the amount of stuff in an object
metric system - the measurement system used in science around the world
gram - the standard unit of measure for measuring mass; very small unit
kilogram - 1000 grams
balance - a toll used for weighing objects; when the balance beam is level, the objects on either side are equal in mass
What we've learned:
1. When scientists do experiments involving mass, they weigh the mass several times. Repeating measurement increases the accuracy.
2. There can be discrepancies in data for several reasons (different scales, different item, different ways of measuring, etc)
3. We measured mass by using a balance scale and gram pieces ranging from 1 gram to 20 grams.