Science Experiments Part 1: Candy Experiements

With the lovely PARCC test among us at Odin, I am taking this time to conduct some science experiments that I have wanted to try all year. Finding time is my crazy schedule for science and experiments has been hard, but I figured now was the perfect time with testing going on. As I sat on Thursday night trying to think off what we could do on Friday morning before testing an idea popped in my head. Why not do all those activities your kids have been asking to do?

The experiment we did on Friday was will skittles melt in water? I had the students go and fill a bowl about half way up and I passed out 3 skittles for each group. I then asked them before they were put in the water to talk with their group about what color skittles would melt fastest/slowest and make predictions before we tested it out. After completing their group predictions they went and put their skittles in the water!

Next after they had placed their skittles in the water we talked about their predictions they made and each group explained to me why they made the prediction they did. After about 3 minutes we went up a group at a time and observed what was going on with the skittles. The students were amazed at how quickly the skittles were melting in the bowl.

We went back and discussed why are they melting so quickly in the water. While I got some great answers as to why, only one little girl in the class provided me with the correct answer. She said it melts because the entire candy is sugar and when you out sugar in water it melts. I was so proud of how hard they worked in their groups and the discussions they brought to the table.

Finally it was time to leave to go test, but before we left we checked our bowls one more time. The students were in awe of the fact that the skittle was completely gone. The only thing left was the color dye off the skittles.

What might have made this teacher the happiest was the ideas that were brought to the table later after our testing. One little boy asked if the skittles were melt quicker in Sprite as opposed to water? Another students asked if M&M's would melt the same way skittles did? While another wanted to test out Star burst. Hearing the students talking, laughing and getting along working together is what I loved most about the day. Hearing them say this is fun, or can we do more experiments like this is what teaching is all about. Hopefully next week as our testing continues I will bring you another experiment that we have tried out.


Until next time!!
Miss. B

Are You ready For A Little.........Seuss Madness??

This month is one of my favorite months for sports as March gives us March Madness. For those of you who don't follow basketball, March Madness is a bracket where teams play each other. Teams that win advance through the bracket, teams that lose go home. So I decided to put a little education spin on March Madness.

I call it Seuss Madness and it is a bracket made up of Dr.Seuss books. I was unsure how this was going to work being that I have 4th graders. I was afraid that it was going to be seen as babyish to read Dr. Seuss books in class, but I gave it a try anyways, My students loved it!!! When I first made the bracket I wrote the names of the book on paper and posted it to the wall. However, one of my loving teaching friends thought it would look even better if we added the titles to the wall. So she went and surprised me and my class by printing off colored book covers for us to place on our bracket.

In our first round match ups the votes were not very close. How The Grinch Stole Christmas defeated Hop on Pop 19-2, The Cat in the Hat defeated The Foot Book 17-4, Green Eggs and Ham defeated I am Not Going To Get Up Today 18-3 and finally in what I thought was an upset One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish defeated Oh The Places You'll Go 15-6.

We moved to the second round with The Cat in the Hat facing off against How The Grinch Stole Christmas and Green Eggs and Ham facing off against One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish. When the votes were tallied The Cat in Hat was victorious 13-8 and Green Eggs and Ham also came out on top 19-2.

Finally we moved to the Championship round! The kids were literally bursting with excitement to get to the final vote. The match up was The Cat in the Hat against Green Eggs and Ham. After hearing both stories again, we voted!!! It was the closest match up we have had all week, the students couldn't wait for me to reveal the winner! The winner was.........................The Cat in the Hat 11-10!

I couldn't believe how much they loved this idea, as it was one that I just threw together at the last moment. It was also a nice relaxing break from all the PARCC testing we have been doing the past few months.

Hope you enjoyed reading about our Seuss Madness! Enjoy your week and good luck to everyone who will be or has already taken the PARCC test!

Miss. B

Currently in March

It has been almost a month since I have posted on here. It has been an extremely difficult month for my family, as a week ago I lost my 18 year old cousin. I am glad to flip the calender and head to the next month. It is so crazy to believe it is already March, I only have 2 months left in my first year as a teacher. This month however is going to be a good one, once we get past that pesky PARCC test. For this currently I am one again linking up with Farely!

Miss. B

Five For Friday

Linking up once again with the wonderful Doodle Bugs Teaching for this weeks five for Friday! What a week it has been, ups and downs everywhere you turn. However, I survived till Friday and am ready for the weekend.

My students participated in TeamQuest at the local college on Tuesday against 18 other teams from our area! We didn't qualify for regional, but the teams sure did work hard and put so much effort into the projects they were doing. 

We have really been working on writing this week as the PARCC test is approaching fast. It has blown me away just how hard some of my students are working in writing. They are pulling evidence from the story, adding their own opinion and putting so much hard work into what they are doing. This is just one example of the the effort that has me so excited!

Potluck day at school today!! Nothing makes teachers happier than getting free food and desserts on a Friday. The theme was soup and sandwiches and it was much appreciated with the cold weather we are having.

After a busy week my 4th graders got a nice little break Friday afternoon. They went and had an extra recess with the Pre-K students. They were exhausted when we got back to the room.

Was hired recently to be an Assistant softball coach at the local high school. Going to be nice to get back on the softball field even if I won't be playing.

Miss. B