6th Grade Instant Replay 2017-2018
("Did I miss anything good when I was absent?")
Rock Scavenger Hunt Activity
Liquid Nitrogen Ice Cream
Swimming Pool Science
How can a kiddie pool help us learn about the Earth? Scientists can't "see" the inside of our planet, so they use seismic waves (earthquake vibrations) to map a picture of the layers deep in the Earth. To model this, students rolled a marble under a kiddie pool, to try making observations about the hidden object beneath the pool. This kind of observation is called "indirect evidence", and is an important method for making discoveries when we are unable to directly use our five senses.
Exploring Liquid Nitrogen
To complete our study of Energy and heat transfer, we did some explorations with liquid nitrogen, which is simply air that has had most of its heat removed (-320°F). Students were able to observe the effect of removing heat from matter: they found that molecular movement slows down, molecules get closer together, and if the matter is a gas (like the air in a balloon), we can see the balloon collapse as the air inside condenses to make a liquid.
"Comeback Cans": Potential Energy and Kinetic Energy
Matter Demos- part 2
Shown below:
• Chemical reaction to create hydrogen gas (aluminum + hydrochloric acid)
• Combustion of hydrogen (hydrogen + oxygen = water + screams!)
• Brass ball and Ring demonstration (showing how added heat affects atoms in matter)
• Chemical reaction to create hydrogen gas (aluminum + hydrochloric acid)
• Combustion of hydrogen (hydrogen + oxygen = water + screams!)
• Brass ball and Ring demonstration (showing how added heat affects atoms in matter)
Matter Demos- part 1
Shown below:
• Combustion of Methane gas (methane + oxygen ---> carbon dioxide + water)
• Melting a penny to get the zinc out (pennies are 98% zinc, with a copper coating)
• The heaviest gas known: sulfur hexafluoride (6 times denser than air)
• Combustion of Methane gas (methane + oxygen ---> carbon dioxide + water)
• Melting a penny to get the zinc out (pennies are 98% zinc, with a copper coating)
• The heaviest gas known: sulfur hexafluoride (6 times denser than air)
Group Experiment Projects
Soda and Mentos Experiment
Fireballs Experiment
Some powders are flammable (able to burn) because they are made of organic material (substances that were produced by living things). These powders can be fuel for a fire, as long as they receive enough oxygen and heat. Blowing the powder through a flame allows the particles of powder to receive enough oxygen as they are heated to combustion.
Using a Graduated Cylinder to Measure Volume (Water Displacement Method)
Measuring Mass with a triple-beam balance
Mr. B's demonstration of the "Pouring Air" experiment
This is the demonstration from class on Friday. For a more complete demo, including an explanation for how this works, check my Youtube channel.
Observation Stations
Students visited 5 different stations where they tested their ability to make scientific observations and inferences, using each of the five human senses.
Usually, we use a combination of senses to make observations; for example, we can see and smell the food we are tasting. The trick in this activity is to isolate each of the senses as much as possible, as you will see in the video below.
Usually, we use a combination of senses to make observations; for example, we can see and smell the food we are tasting. The trick in this activity is to isolate each of the senses as much as possible, as you will see in the video below.
Is it magic? Or is it Science?
What is the difference between magic and science? Every "magic" trick is really just a science demonstration. The great science fiction author, Arthur C. Clarke, said it like this: "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic." That means it only looks like magic if you don't understand science.
In the demonstration below, if you DON'T understand science, it appears that water can magically change to different colors, and then can vanish when poured into a styrofoam cup.
But those who understand science will recognize this as a chemical reaction between an acid (vinegar), a base (ammonia) and color-changing "indicator" solutions (phenolphthalein and thymolphthalein). So what happened to the water in the styrofoam cup? It's still in there, of course! A small amount of super-absorbent polymer (sodium polyacrylate) absorbed the water to create a solid jell-like material. This is the same powder that makes a baby diaper so absorbent!
In the demonstration below, if you DON'T understand science, it appears that water can magically change to different colors, and then can vanish when poured into a styrofoam cup.
But those who understand science will recognize this as a chemical reaction between an acid (vinegar), a base (ammonia) and color-changing "indicator" solutions (phenolphthalein and thymolphthalein). So what happened to the water in the styrofoam cup? It's still in there, of course! A small amount of super-absorbent polymer (sodium polyacrylate) absorbed the water to create a solid jell-like material. This is the same powder that makes a baby diaper so absorbent!