3rd, 4th, and 5th Grade: Spooky Science

We had a special visitor this week for science who led us through some spooky science experiments.  We learned about static electricity by making a ghost dance.  Then we learned about chemical reactions by making lava lamps.  Our greatest achievement was creating slime (a polymer)-yuk!  Enjoy the pictures of our adventures and happy Halloween everyone!

Our special guest.

3rd Grade Slime

4th Grade Static Electricity

4th Grade Lava Lamps

4th Grade Slime

5th Grade Slime

3rd and 4th Grade Catapults

The 3rd and 4th graders built the "Teeny Tiny Catapult" in small groups.  It was a great lesson in following written directions.  Then they launched pumpkin marshmallows using the catapults.  They tried to hit a target and made adjustments to their catapults as needed.  They will use this experience to design their own catapults later this year.

3rd Grade

4th Grade

3rd grade launching marshmallows.

4th grade launching marshmallows.

2nd Grade Trip to Remington Nature Center

We traveled to St. Joseph's Remington Nature Center.  We went on a scavenger hunt through all of the exhibits.  Then we learned about animals in Missouri by touching their pelts and a presentation.  Our final activities were decorating a bird house and making animal footprints in clay.

Touching animal pelts.

Making animal tracks.

Decorating birdhouses.

5th Grade Symphony Trip

We traveled to the immense Kauffman Center for Uncle Sam’s Symphony.  We learned about the branches of government as they relate to the organization of the symphony.  It was an amazing experience!

4th Grade Symphony Trip

We traveled to the immense Kauffman Center for Uncle Sam’s Symphony.  We learned about the branches of government as they relate to the organization of the symphony.  It was an amazing experience!

3rd Grade Trip to Union Hill Cemetery and Kaleidoscope

We went to Union Hill Cemetery to find the graves of many prominent figures in Kansas City's and Kearney's history.  We found the graves of Charles E. Kearney, Hattie (the 11 year old slave girl he purchased and freed), William Rockhill Nelson (co-founder of the Nelson-Atkins Museum), and George Caleb Bingham (famous painter).  We also found the grave of a young man who died at the age of 18 while fighting in the Civil War.

Next we went to Kaleidoscope and heard from a writer for Hallmark.  Then we spent some time being creative.

2nd Grade Planting a White Oak Sapling

The Discovery Center gave us a white oak sapling to plant at Hawthorne.  We used all that we had learned about trees to choose the best spot to plant our tree.  We plan on checking our tree frequently to see its progress.

2nd Grade Field Trip to the Discovery Center

We had lots of adventures at the Discovery Center!  First, we learned about what trees need and what trees give us.   Then we made posters about all the items trees give us. We smelled mint leaves and sassafras tree leaves (smells like Fruit Loops).  We also looked under logs for bugs.   The Discovery Center presented us with a white oak sapling for us to plant.  

We went on a hike to explore various acorns and see the stages of a tree’s life.

Each student created a tree from pieces of trees.

Next, we learned about how animals use their senses to survive. 

Then we made seed balls.

A Day in the Life of 4th Grade

Here are some of the activities 4th grade did today.

The students worked in small groups to solve algebraic equations using Hands-On Equation manipulatives.

The students conducted two experiments to explore magnetism.

The students used their creative thinking skills to create a pulgar.