Imagine my shock when my boys told me I was a tomboy! I protested. Then they reminded me, "Mom, you were in the Army." Oh, yeah, I see your point. This conversation began because I was telling them how excited I am that our pigs will be arriving soon. I love dissection!
I have such fond memories of dissecting things in high school. I was fortunate to have biology I and Biology II (Medical Life Science). Through these courses, we dissected a worm, a fetal pig, a cat, a dog (it had been put to sleep and donated to the class) and a fetal horse. In college, we also dissected things and one of the experiments I remember most was done on a live turtle-- we poured digitalis and caffeine on his heart and recorded the effects. What's not exciting about these things? Matthew thinks he can use the "It will take me from my REAL school work" line to get out of participating in dissection. It won't work!
The boys think only tomboys like to dissect things. I disagree. I'm only PART tomboy. I balance it with all my cooking, baking and gardening, right? I wear skirts to Mass. I don't wear make-up often at all and I think that goes with embracing my natural feminine side.
Showing posts with label Science. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Science. Show all posts
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Garden Science
I love to garden and I love science! This is one of my favorite projects to do with my boys. Joseph vaguely remembered watching a seed grow in a gel medium, but wanted to see it again. It is easy to make your own greenhouse! Purchase the crystals that absorb water (various brand names), place them in a freezer bag, add water and wait for the water to be absorbed. Once the medium is gelatinous, add your seeds and hang in a window.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
A Simple Yeast Experiment
Pour one packet of yeast in with a small amount of soda pop. Wait 24 hours to see what happens. When the time has elapsed, take a bit and look at it under a microscope. This is yeast in a 1/2 a can of soda after sitting for 45 minutes. We used this yucky leftover soda from Halloween.......it is a nice pink color, though!
Monday, April 28, 2008
Edible Atom
Just found this tonight at the following link-- this is in the plans for tomorrow.
Title - Edible Atom
By - Matthew Besman
Primary Subject - Science
Secondary Subjects - Science
Grade Level - 4-6
A great lesson to use while teaching atoms and the periodic table is the Edible Atom Lab.
Supplies:
Lots of candy...
Large sugar cookies, M&M's, skittles, marshmallows, peanut butter chips, chocolate chips, sprinkles, frosting, popcorn, raisins, jelly beans, plates, napkins, milk (optional)etc.
Set the candy in bowls at different stations in your room or on each lab table. The object of this lab is for students to choose an element from the periodic table and design the atom complete with protons, neutrons, electrons and if you get really crazy you can have them add mesons, quarks and gluons. I found that if you limit them to any element with an atomic number of 8 or less it makes the lab work much smoother.
Before the student atom creation can be eaten, the student must make a labeled drawing of their atom and give all information of the element on a 3x5 index card. (Atomic Number, Atomic Mass, Symbol, Element Name, 1 use for the element, metal, non-metal, or metalloid) After you check that all info is correct... then it's eat 'em up time.
My kids loved this lesson. They never had so much fun learning about atoms and elements. You could also do this type of lesson with molecules.
Title - Edible Atom
By - Matthew Besman
Primary Subject - Science
Secondary Subjects - Science
Grade Level - 4-6
A great lesson to use while teaching atoms and the periodic table is the Edible Atom Lab.
Supplies:
Lots of candy...
Large sugar cookies, M&M's, skittles, marshmallows, peanut butter chips, chocolate chips, sprinkles, frosting, popcorn, raisins, jelly beans, plates, napkins, milk (optional)etc.
Set the candy in bowls at different stations in your room or on each lab table. The object of this lab is for students to choose an element from the periodic table and design the atom complete with protons, neutrons, electrons and if you get really crazy you can have them add mesons, quarks and gluons. I found that if you limit them to any element with an atomic number of 8 or less it makes the lab work much smoother.
Before the student atom creation can be eaten, the student must make a labeled drawing of their atom and give all information of the element on a 3x5 index card. (Atomic Number, Atomic Mass, Symbol, Element Name, 1 use for the element, metal, non-metal, or metalloid) After you check that all info is correct... then it's eat 'em up time.
My kids loved this lesson. They never had so much fun learning about atoms and elements. You could also do this type of lesson with molecules.
Friday, March 14, 2008
Spring is coming.....and we're stuck inside.
All homeschoolers have off days. Like the article I wrote the other day basically says-- we don't live in Perfect. While we do have the added medical challenges that creep into our school days (today we are doing SCIG as I type), they are not always the most frustrating part of homeschooling.
Sometimes I wonder about the children! They know what is expected of them and they know what they have to do.....yet they still whine, complain and drag their feet. (Sounds a bit like many of us when following the Truths of the Catholic Church, huh?) We don't want to do what Jesus calls us to do and when we finally do what He asks, we sometimes whine and complain....and even drag our feet when following His commands.
We're still stuck inside today because we had a lot of whining and complaining this morning. Everyone seems to be working hard now, and hopefully we'll make it outside to enjoy the nice weather before the sun goes down.
I found some interesting books at a garage sale a few weeks ago. Last year, Joseph was really into seashells. Grandma and Grandpa gave us a neat book because we did not have any on seashells (imagine that!). Now we have two. This one I picked up at the garage sale is a Science Nature Guide titled Seashells. It includes more than 12 easy to do science projects and has a few crafts that can be made. It is fairly easy to use-- it is divided by the beaches around the US coast. I can't seem to find it on-line to give you a link. The ISBN number is 1-85028-264-1
We're also getting ready for Holy Week. My oldest has to present the live Stations of the Cross again tonight at church. He has also volunterred to be in the live Passion play at church next week, too. I hope to plan a few family activities for Holy Week to help prepare us for Good Friday and Easter Sunday. The boys are excited about coloring the eggs this year using color found in nature. We've done it before, but the two youngest don't really remember doing it. Of course, we have our Resurrection Eggs tradition that I have posted on before.
Sometimes I wonder about the children! They know what is expected of them and they know what they have to do.....yet they still whine, complain and drag their feet. (Sounds a bit like many of us when following the Truths of the Catholic Church, huh?) We don't want to do what Jesus calls us to do and when we finally do what He asks, we sometimes whine and complain....and even drag our feet when following His commands.
We're still stuck inside today because we had a lot of whining and complaining this morning. Everyone seems to be working hard now, and hopefully we'll make it outside to enjoy the nice weather before the sun goes down.
I found some interesting books at a garage sale a few weeks ago. Last year, Joseph was really into seashells. Grandma and Grandpa gave us a neat book because we did not have any on seashells (imagine that!). Now we have two. This one I picked up at the garage sale is a Science Nature Guide titled Seashells. It includes more than 12 easy to do science projects and has a few crafts that can be made. It is fairly easy to use-- it is divided by the beaches around the US coast. I can't seem to find it on-line to give you a link. The ISBN number is 1-85028-264-1
We're also getting ready for Holy Week. My oldest has to present the live Stations of the Cross again tonight at church. He has also volunterred to be in the live Passion play at church next week, too. I hope to plan a few family activities for Holy Week to help prepare us for Good Friday and Easter Sunday. The boys are excited about coloring the eggs this year using color found in nature. We've done it before, but the two youngest don't really remember doing it. Of course, we have our Resurrection Eggs tradition that I have posted on before.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Berry Smudges and Leaf Prints
I love making paints from nature. I've even colored Easter Eggs using crushed blueberries. Several years ago, I came across this wonderful book titled: Berry Smudges and Leaf Prints Finding and Making Colors from Nature. It was an answer to a prayer-- it was my dream book!
This book has craft projects and recipes for making colors from nature. Lots of fun! One year, we had an Indian birthday party for Joseph-- we had a Teepee and everything (grandma and grandpa gave hte bosy a 7ft teepee one Christmas!). We painted our own headbands and also did buffalo skin paintings. I used paper bags for the buffalo skins. We torn big shapes from teh bags and wadded htem up to make them look like worn buffalo skins. Thekids then helped to make paints from plantsin the yard. It was a lot of fun!
This book has craft projects and recipes for making colors from nature. Lots of fun! One year, we had an Indian birthday party for Joseph-- we had a Teepee and everything (grandma and grandpa gave hte bosy a 7ft teepee one Christmas!). We painted our own headbands and also did buffalo skin paintings. I used paper bags for the buffalo skins. We torn big shapes from teh bags and wadded htem up to make them look like worn buffalo skins. Thekids then helped to make paints from plantsin the yard. It was a lot of fun!
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Free Aviation Curriculum
The NBAA (National Business Aviation Association) has a free program—NBAA’s Aviation for Kids Program. They publish an Activity Guide and Teacher’s Resource www.avkids.com
They also have activities on their website. Check it out! Here's what their website says:
AvKids Activity Guide Meets Nat'l SOLsThe AvKids Aviation Activities Guide & Teachers Resource now can help teachers meet their Standards of Learning (SOL) requirements. Download a list of how the Teachers Guide meets the National Standards of Learning: PDF, 12 KB. The Teachers Guide incorporates science, math, geography and language arts skills to help students in grades 2 through 5 understand aviation. Also now available in French, German, Portuguese and Spanish versions. Click on the link below to order.
Order free
They also have activities on their website. Check it out! Here's what their website says:
AvKids Activity Guide Meets Nat'l SOLsThe AvKids Aviation Activities Guide & Teachers Resource now can help teachers meet their Standards of Learning (SOL) requirements. Download a list of how the Teachers Guide meets the National Standards of Learning: PDF, 12 KB. The Teachers Guide incorporates science, math, geography and language arts skills to help students in grades 2 through 5 understand aviation. Also now available in French, German, Portuguese and Spanish versions. Click on the link below to order.
Order free
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Anatomic Models
We have had a model of the body for a while. The boys love putting the parts together! We finally got 3-D models of the Human Eyeball, The Ear, The Brain, and The Heart. One is made by Kikkerland and the other three are Bitz models.
Anatomy & Pathology Charts
We were recently in a museum in Cincinnati & found this AWESOME books for kids. I have always wanted to get copies of the charts that you find in doctor's offices. This book is it! It has 58 charts.
Anatomy & Pathology : The World's Best Anatomical Charts Available at Target for $19.77
Note: younger children may need supervision when looking at the charts to keep them from seeing the reporductive system pages, etc....
Anatomy & Pathology : The World's Best Anatomical Charts Available at Target for $19.77
Note: younger children may need supervision when looking at the charts to keep them from seeing the reporductive system pages, etc....
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Arty Facts--a Neat Way to Learn Science
We're still working on a few chemistry experiments today. Lots of fun.
I have a wonderful set of books titled Arty Facts. Linking art to the world around us. There are about 12 books in the series and we have 4 of them: Oceans & Art Activities, Insects, Bugs & Art Activities, Space & Art Activities and Our Bodies & Art Activities.
These books have great science information along with art projects to teach the kids about the subject. We've used these books for many years and still enjoy them. Click on the Arty Facts link above to see the books for yourself.
Enjoy!
I have a wonderful set of books titled Arty Facts. Linking art to the world around us. There are about 12 books in the series and we have 4 of them: Oceans & Art Activities, Insects, Bugs & Art Activities, Space & Art Activities and Our Bodies & Art Activities.
These books have great science information along with art projects to teach the kids about the subject. We've used these books for many years and still enjoy them. Click on the Arty Facts link above to see the books for yourself.
Enjoy!