The scientific process is alive and well in Kingston 5th grade classes. We ended September learning how to turn everyday questions about the world around us into testable questions and students in Mrs. Raiford and Mrs. Dail's classrooms have been busy testing daily observations in the Matter unit. Focusing on ways matter changes, students tested many things, including why rain drops on windshields seem to clump together and then run or how water can be over the top of a glass and still not spill. Second graders in Mrs. Frisbee and Mrs. DiSilvestro's classes, also testing matter, counted how many drops of water a penny could hold before spilling over.
Preparing for a successful 5th grade year, as well as life, students engaged in meta-cognitive analysis as they reflected on their personal and academic strengths and weaknesses. Students noted 3 areas of strength, 2 areas of weakness, and created 1 realistic plan to overcome 1 of the 2 areas of weakness. Using a tree diagram, students created a very specific plan, with two or more strategies for overcoming an area of weakness. Some areas of weakness identified by students included soccer, music lessons, remembering homework, and coming to school prepared.
Below are photos of two different experiments. One involved testing ways to change the PH of water with different types of solutions and the other involved examining properties of matter (water) and why it is able to hold up water bugs, float leaves, and be higher than the edge of a coin or glass.
Below are photos of two different experiments. One involved testing ways to change the PH of water with different types of solutions and the other involved examining properties of matter (water) and why it is able to hold up water bugs, float leaves, and be higher than the edge of a coin or glass.