Student-Driven Projects
Force & Motion
In the beginning of the year students showed a great interest in construction and engineering. Using diagrams, students found their own materials to create pendulums, boats that moved or held weight, parachutes, a tube that spit candy, and other contraptions.
This project culminated in an egg drop and egg float. The students constructed their own design, put their skills to the test, and analyzed the results to improve their design.
Chemistry
It all began with questions about how to make a volcano. During the cold winter months, we kept ourselves busy creating our own hands-on chemistry lab. Students learned about the Scientific Method with an exciting array of chemical reactions and mixtures. We made bouncy balls, rock candy, tie-dye paper, and explored sustainable ingredients.
Chemistry experiments culminated in answering our own question about which type of vinegar has the largest foaming reaction.
Cycles in Nature
Throughout the year, we explored ways that the world around us cycles. Beginning with telling time and the hours of the day, we expanded our understanding of cycles out to the movement of our planet around the sun. As the seasons changed, we continued to apply our understanding of cycles to the world around us.
Constructing Miniatures
Students became very passionate about making miniatures. We used multimedia to mimic each part of the object we wanted to build, as well as fine motor development and physics to construct tiny worlds.
Miniature creations culminated in the creation of Cherries University, and a wedding officiated by Rabbi Catnip.
