S.T.R.E.A.M.withMs.Gillis - Kindergarten

Prediction Experiment with Forces!

Tue, 15 May 2018 15:16:00 +0000

As we dive deeper in to all the amazing things we have learned this year, we are also learning how to perform experiments like real Scientists in the S.T.R.E.A.M. Lab. This time, we got to use forces to conduct our experiment, but what we were really practicing is making Predictions!

Ms. Gillis explained that Predictions are when you take all the wonderful information you already know, and make an educated guess about what will happen! Since we just revisited Forces and Motion, we got to predict how far Ms. Gillis's toy bus would travel along the floor of our classroom. Ms. Gillis showed us how far she would PULL the bus back. If she only pulled it back a little, we knew it wouldn't go too far because there wasn't a lot of energy, and we always knew it would stop at some point because the force from the carpet, (FRICTION) would bring the Bus to a stop every time!

We gathered around the room and saw the smily faces on the ground. We predicted what color smily face the Bus would get to, and then we got to conduct our experiment and see if we were right! We learned that it was okay if we didn't Predict correctly, that is part of being a Scientist!

Keep Exploring,

Ms. Gillis

Check this blog out to learn about what is happening with Kindergarten in the S.T.R.E.A.M. Lab throughout the year.

How Does Rain Form?

Mon, 07 May 2018 21:42:00 +0000

In the S.T.R.E.A.M. Lab we got to conduct a fun experiment to really explore how Rain forms! It was also a great introduction to the Water Cycle as well. We learned how water changes from a liquid to a gas, and then when it goes up high in the clouds, it cools back down in to a liquid, and becomes water droplets! Then, when the clouds get too heavy (because liquid is heavier than a gas) it rains! We loved getting to watch it happen in our experiment!

Since we are also getting so great at writing, Ms. Gillis wanted to have us work on taking notes about an experiment, like a real Scientist! We wrote about what we saw happening in the experiment, and then we discussed how we can use this information to let us know it is going to rain when we look up at the clouds!

Keep Exploring,

Ms. Gillis

Check this blog out to learn about what is happening with Kindergarten in the S.T.R.E.A.M. Lab throughout the year.

Cottonball Clouds!

Fri, 04 May 2018 02:55:00 +0000

As we dive back in to the world of Weather we are exploring the clouds in the sky. Did you know there are 4 different kinds of clouds? We do now! We got to create a fun art project using cotton balls to recreate the different types of clouds. We worked on saying the name of each type of cloud, but more importantly, being able to describe the different types of clouds!

Take a look at our amazing Art Projects! Ms Gillis was very impressed:

Then, after finishing our art project, we discussed how we can observe the different kinds of clouds in order to find out more about the weather! Next class, we will get to conduct an experiment to see how rain forms from clouds!

Keep Exploring,

Ms. Gillis

Check this blog out to learn about what is happening with Kindergarten in the S.T.R.E.A.M. Lab throughout the year.

Revisiting the World of Weather!

Mon, 30 Apr 2018 16:58:00 +0000

Since we already have learned about Weather this year, we are going to dive deeper in to the learning about all the different parts, and practice conducting experiments using the Scientific Method! First, we talked about how we measure weather by using a thermometer. Since we are still learning our numbers, we first learned how to decide if it is very hot, hot, warm, cold, very cold by checking where the red line is on the thermometer. This is a great way for us to start learning how to read a thermometer while we learn our numbers.

Next, we got to discover that there are 4 main types of clouds we are focusing on. We didn't realize there was any difference and loved making an art project with our table! We had to collaborate and cooperate as will to be successful with this art project! Take a look:

Keep Exploring,

Ms. Gillis

Check this blog out to learn about what is happening with Kindergarten in the S.T.R.E.A.M. Lab throughout the year.

Finding Forces all around Us!

Mon, 23 Apr 2018 18:18:00 +0000

This week, Kindergarten got to put all their knowledge to the test by doing a Playground Scavenger Hunt to look for the Forces all Around them!! What did we do?

We all got clipboard and a piece of paper with 3 categories: Push, Pull, or Both!. Then, we got to explore our playground to see how many forces we use to play on our favorite things! We wrote down our findings, and then came back to the classroom to share. We really put our critical thinking caps on for this one and showed Ms. Gillis just how much force we use every day! Take a look:

and

We are learning so much!

Keep Exploring,

Ms. Gillis

Check this blog out to learn about what is happening with Kindergarten in the S.T.R.E.A.M. Lab throughout the year.

Jump back in to the S.T.R.E.A.M.!

Fri, 13 Apr 2018 04:45:00 +0000

We are revisiting the world of Forces and Motions by exploring other forces besides us! For instance, did you know Wind can be a source of force and can cause motion in objects? We got to explore this by experimenting with Balloon Rockets!

First, we discussed our problem: How can we get the straw on out string from one side of the string to the other, WITHOUT touching it? We tried blowing on the straw, we tried raising one side of the string so gravity would be the force pulling the straw down, and more! We were very inventive. Then, Ms. Gillis introduced a Balloon, and asked us how we can use a Balloon to help get the straw across!

Our ideas were:

1. Use the balloon to help one side float up high so the straw slides down to the other side of the string using gravity!

2. Have the balloon tied or taped to the straw to help the straw float to the other side.

3. Tape the balloon to the string and let the air escape to help it move from one side to the other.

4. Tape the balloon to the STRAW and let the air escape to help it move from one side to the other.

After exploring all these ideas, we saw how effective (and quick) our Idea #4 worked at getting the straw from one side of the string to the other!

Keep Exploring,

Ms. Gillis

Check this blog out to learn about what is happening with Kindergarten in the S.T.R.E.A.M. Lab throughout the year.

Have A Great Spring Break!

Fri, 23 Mar 2018 16:28:00 +0000

Since our Parent/Teacher Conference Week is next week, we will not have any more Enrichment Wheels until we return from Spring Break!

When we do, we will dive back in to the world of Weather, Pushes and Pulls, and the Effects of the Sun!

Stay Safe and Keep Exploring!

Ms. Gillis

Did our Flowers Change Color?

Wed, 14 Mar 2018 16:38:00 +0000

After letting our flowers drink the colored water for a week, we went back to check on our experiment. Look at our results:

We saw that part of the flower was changing color! This really helped us see that the flower drinks the water and then the water travels up the stem to reach every part of the flower, even the tips of the petals! We loved this experiment!

We also got to take a look at our Plant Need Experiment one last time, because we could finally see the roots growing in the soil! We saw how the roots helped the grass grow tall and it looks so healthy. See for yourself!

Next, we will wrap up our Living Things unit and when we come back from Spring Break, we dive back in to the world of Pushes and Pulls and Weather to learn even more about different forces! How how the world "force" can mean so many different things in nature!

Keep Exploring,

Ms. Gillis

Check this blog out to learn about what is happening with Kindergarten in the S.T.R.E.A.M. Lab throughout the year.

How Do Plants Drink Water?

Fri, 09 Mar 2018 18:34:00 +0000

Since we have been learning about the needs of a plant, and experimenting with those needs, it is time to dive even deeper and learn the "how" behind what plants do! We are going to start with water, and focus on how a plant drinks water!

First, we all had a discussion of how we think plants drink water with our tables, then as a class! We have learned about the roots of a plant, and how they live in the soil. We decided that when we pour the water in our pots, the water is soaked up by the soil, then sucked up by the roots to every part of the plant!

Now time to test our theory! First, we got White Carnations (flowers) to use in our experiment. We also got food dye that changed the color of the water to blue, green, red, purple, orange, and yellow! Then, we gave our flowers a fresh cut and put them in water. We can't wait to see if they suck up the color in the water, and where it ends up! We will know where the water travels in the plant by where the color goes!

Some friends think the plants will stay white, some think they will change colors! Some think they will have spots or stripes. We can't wait to see what happens!

Keep Exploring,

Ms. Gillis

Check this blog out to learn about what is happening with Kindergarten in the S.T.R.E.A.M. Lab throughout the year.

My Living Thing and Plant Explorations!

Fri, 23 Feb 2018 20:01:00 +0000

Kindergartners have been working hard in the S.T.R.E.A.M. Lab! Not only did they all get to choose a Living Thing to focus on as we demonstrate our learning (by drawing all the needs and characteristics that make it a Living Thing!), we also got to start a fun experiment with PLANTS!

Each class discussed what the NEEDS of a plant are. We all decided that in order for a plant to survive it needs: Air, Water, Sunlight (which is its food!), and soil). Then each class decided to take away just one need from their plant to experiment if it can still survive without that need! What did each class decide?

Ms. Whitehead's class decided to take away water!

Ms. Overlock's class took away sunshine!

Ms. Underwood's class took away water!

Each class has two plants - one that is getting all the needs, and one that is getting all the needs minus the one they decided to take away. Now we learn patience as we wait to see what happens!

Keep Exploring,

Ms. Gillis

Check this blog out to learn about what is happening with Kindergarten in the S.T.R.E.A.M. Lab throughout the year.