Informal Science

Constant Properties of Matter

In class, we are discussing some of the properties of matter that stay constant. The things we are discussing are how to find temperature, density, how density and buoyancy are related, and
how are constant properties useful to figure out certain substances.

Density simply means how compact particles are in a substance (mass per unit of volume). The higher the density, the more chance it has to sink. For example, water will float on oil. It does this because there is more mass in oil, so the water floats on top of the oil.

Buoyancy means an objects ability to float. This relates with density because the smaller the density number, the more buoyant an object will be.

If you know these properties of certain substances or objects, you can identify them due to their constant properties (density, boiling point, buoyancy, etc.)

Included in the post are some online activities that will increase your child's understanding of these key topics we are addressing in class.

1. Sink or Float: Discover why some things float and others sink.
2. Melting Point and Boiling Point: Test different materials and find their melting point and boiling points.
3. What's the Substance?: The student is given two different substances with information about their substances (ex. density, boiling point, freezing point, etc.). They must figure out what is in the mystery beaker by testing the boiling point, density, etc.

Mixtures and Solutions

A mixture is any two or more things put together that can be seperated using physical properties (evaporation, magnetism, condensation, filtering, etc.).

A solution is materials put together, and they cannot be seperated back out into their original material.

These links will help your child better understand the meaning of a mixture versus a solution:

1. Junkyard Analysis: This game allows the children to pick up things from a junkyard and dunk the object into water. You will have to tell whether or not it has become a mixture or solution.
2. The Mixture Lab: This activity requires the children to figure out what tool would be appropriate to seperate a mixture and physical properties that allows seperation.
3. Compounds and Mixtures: This website is a great interactive tutorial that discusses the difference between and solutions and mixtures.

I hope you all enjoy the activites provided. Remember- This is a great learning opportunity for your child!

Classifying Matter Using Magnetism, Conductivity, and Electricity

We are currently beginning on our unit on the Physical Properties of Matter. All objects have matter. In 5th grade, the matter that we study most are solids, liquids, and gas.

We will be studying about how matter can change its form (through melting, freezing, evaporation, and condensation). We will be classifying our properties based on different physical properties. The three properties we will focus on are magnetism, conductivity (conductivity is the ability of an object to transfer heat), and electricity (the controlled movement of electrical energy). Metals are generally classified as substances that allow energy to flow easily and nonmetals are classified as not allowing energy transfer as easily.

Below are some activities that will help your child group solids, liquids and gases, determine what changes the state of matter, and classify objects using magnetism, conductivity and electricity.

• The first link, Properties of Matter, will help your student understand the difference between solids, liquids, and gases, as well as well as discovering what changes matter. They can discover these ideas through flashcards, matching games, word searches, and concentration.
• This link, Catie, is a great link that has the students sort objects based on solids, liquids, and gases. It also shows changes in matter and why it occurs.
• BBC's Science Website has a great activity where the children must use force and test to see if certain objects are magnetic. Go through the activity, and at the end your child can take a quiz on the Magnetic property.
• This website, Conductors of Electricity, tests different objects to see if it is a conductor of electricity.
  
  

Lab Safety

This year we will be conducting many labs in order to learn our science concepts. The most important thing when doing a lab is LAB SAFETY!! We want to make sure your children are safe while learning.

Although each experiment we will doing will not be dangerous, it is important to ALWAYS practice laboratory procedures.

Some of these procedures are:

• Always wear safety goggles
• Be alert during lab in order to prevent injuries
• Always follow instructions.
• Ask your teacher to begin before touching materials
• Never directly smell chemicals, instead waft (using your hand, fan the scent towards your nose)

According to our TEKS, students must show safe practices and understand the use of safety materials. In this activity, students will receive a clue and they must figure out what safety word is being used. This game, Science Vocabulary Hangman, gives the students a safety clue and they must figure out the word. This will be good practice in learning the rules and safety procedures of our lab.

Another useful game for your child is the Lab Safety Symbols Activities. This link includes a matching game, where you match the Lab Safety Symbol Description to what the symbol means; Flash cards to learn the symbols; Concentration: where the students are flipping over two cards and trying to find which two go together. They must remember where the card is located. The last game in this link is a word search. They give you the clue, and you need to find the lab safety symbol in the word search.

The last activity you can work on with your child, which is such a blast, is Battleship. Once you locate a ship, a question will pop up about lab safety. In order to hit the ship, you must answer the question correctly.

I hope you all enjoy these websites. They are all valuable tools for learning about lab safety in the classroom!

Welcome to Ms. Carley's Science Class

Dear Parents,

My name is Ms. Carley, and I just moved here from Oklahoma City. I have previously taught 1st grade and 3rd grade in Oklahoma City, and I am so excited to be teaching Science at Kirksey Elementary! I have always had a love for science, and I hope to instill that love for science to all of these future scientists this year!

This year we will be using a variety of learning tools and methods in order to provide a positive and effective learning experience for your children. It is important to check the edublog frequently. For each unit, I will provide a number of science learning games on our edublog for you to use with your child. These games will go along with what we are learning in class and will help with learning the science concepts for 5th grade.

I look forward to working with all of you this year! Please feel free to call, e-mail, or comment on any post!

Megan Carley
643-0098
meganec0722@hotmail.com