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

Solids, Liquids, and Gases: Learning about the Phases of Matter

Tue, 15 May 2018 15:23:00 +0000

Last class we got to learn about the 3 main Phases of Matter: SOLID, LIQUID, GAS. We discussed the properties of all 3 phases, and what makes something a solid, liquid or a gas. We also explored the world of atoms, and how all matter is made up of ATOMS, including us! This lead us to our discussion of what phase(s) we could use to describe humans, and realized we are made up of all three! How amazing!

Next, we are starting with Liquids and did a fun experiment to see how Viscous different liquids are. First, we learned what viscous meant after discussing what the properties of liquids are. Viscousity is how sticky a liquid is, and the slower it flows, the more viscous it is! The faster a liquid flows, the more fluid it is.

We tested: shampoo, water, glue, and oil! First we made our predictions, then we put the liquid on a plate, and turned the plate upright to see how many seconds it took for the liquid to reach the bottom of the plate! We predicted that the order of liquids from the most fluid to the most viscous would be the following: water, oil, shampoo, glue. Then, we tested the liquids:

We realized that the order of liquids from the most fluid to the most viscous is: water, oil, glue, shampoo. We couldn't believe the shampoo was more viscous than the glue! This helped us see just how important it is to test, and that there is always something more to learn! We then also discussed that if we had a different type of shampoo, the results could be different as well. We love experimenting in the S.T.R.E.A.M. Lab!

Keep Exploring,

Ms. Gillis

Check this blog out to learn about what is happening with 2nd Grade in the S.T.R.E.A.M. Lab throughout the year.

Can you create the STRONGEST bridge out of the materials?

Mon, 07 May 2018 21:45:00 +0000

Since we have been working so hard learning how to identify the many Properties that Materials have, Ms. Gillis wanted to put our new knowledge to the test by using the Maker's Space. Our challenge? To create the STRONGEST bridge we could using the material: Wood. First, we decided what the designs should be. For example, we can't just build a solid wall! Bridges have pillars and beams placed to help distribute the weight and support the bridge.

After figuring out the design of our bridge with our partners, we got to building and creating the strongest bridge possible! Take a look at some of our amazing creations below:

Keep Exploring,

Ms. Gillis

Check this blog out to learn about what is happening with 2nd Grade in the S.T.R.E.A.M. Lab throughout the year.

Create a New Invention Using "Bouncy Glass"!

Fri, 04 May 2018 02:59:00 +0000

Students became Inventors tasked with creating a new invention using the futuristic material: BOUNCY GLASS!

First, we discussed the properties Bouncy Glass might have. We decided the Bouncy Glass was probably somewhat flexible, had bouncy, is see through, and is strong so it will not break if tested. After discussing the properties we got to creating our Inventions! We came up with some very creative and inventive ideas. We are so imaginative! Take a look:

Keep Exploring,

Ms. Gillis

Check this blog out to learn about what is happening with 2nd Grade in the S.T.R.E.A.M. Lab throughout the year.

Next Up: Testing Flexibility!

Tue, 01 May 2018 15:19:00 +0000

Now that we are becoming experts when it comes to experimenting, we are going to move in to testing a new property: Flexibility!

We decided to test the following items: licorice, pencils, pipe cleaners, yarn, crayons, and paper clips. But how would we all measure the flexibility of the objects as we tested with our table? Ms. Gillis told us we are going to find out how flexible each material is by trying to tie them in a knot! Based on how well we were able to tie a knot, if we were at all, we rated the material on the following scale: very flexible, flexible, somewhat flexible, not flexible. Then, when we were all done testing, we rated the materials in order of Flexibility, with number 1 being the most flexible material! We had a lot of fun! Take a look:

We decided in the end that BLANK was the most flexible and would be used when it comes to tying a knot or securing things together, like our shoes to our feet! Now that we have all this information about the properties of materials, we are going to put our Engineering caps and design an invention for a made up material: Bouncy Glass!

We can't wait to see what we come up with!

Keep Exploring,

Ms. Gillis

Check this blog out to learn about what is happening with 2nd Grade in the S.T.R.E.A.M. Lab throughout the year.

Materials and their Properties

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

In our 2nd Grade class we got to conduct a fun experiment testing two different properties of materials. The first, how ABSORBENT materials are. We tested this by using the four materials: paper towel, wax paper, tin foil, and a sponge. We submerged the material in a bowl of water, then quickly squeezed out all the water the material absorbed in to a homemade Graduated Cylinder for us to measure our results. This was also a great practice in working on our predictions based on what we already know about our materials! Take a look at our work:

The second, was how STRONG materials are. In this experiment, we tested the strength of the materials by placed counting cubes on the material while it was suspended between 2 cups as a bridge. We placed as many cubes as we could before the material broke or fell between the cups.

At the end of both experiments we got to discuss the properties of a materials that are Absorbent and of materials that are Strong. We used this knowledge to determine which material is best suited for an intended purpose. For instance, a paper towel may not be a strong material, but it is an absorbent one, so we would use that to clean up a spill over a piece of wood (which is a strong material). We had a lot of fun!

Keep Exploring,

Ms. Gillis

Check this blog out to learn about what is happening with 2nd Grade 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 04:46:00 +0000

After a restful Spring Break we were ready to jump back in to S.T.R.E.A.M. and learn all about Materials and their Properties. We started our exploration but finding a random item that we learned how to describe. We discussed and found that we can describe and classify materials in multiple ways! Such as:

Color

Texture

Size

Shape

Mass

and more!

We each got a random material and took our time to describe the object, included what material it is made of! Then, Ms. Gillis gave each table a bag with a material inside. Without looking, we used our sense of touch to feel the material and guess what it was using it's properties! Some were little statues from Ms. Gillis's desk, or a role of tape without the dispenser to be tricky.

Take a look:

and

Keep Exploring,

Ms. Gillis

Check this blog out to learn about what is happening with 2nd Grade in the S.T.R.E.A.M. Lab throughout the year.

Have A Great Spring Break!

Fri, 23 Mar 2018 16:44:00 +0000

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

Stay Safe and Keep Exploring!

Ms. Gillis

Preventing a Landslide

Wed, 14 Mar 2018 16:19:00 +0000

For our next experiment in 2nd Grade, we are using all that rich knowledge we have been learning about Erosion, Weathering, and Deposition to prevent a Landslide from happening to our mountains!

This time, we are going to use Corn Meal to create our mountains instead of Sand. Why? Because the consistency of corn meal will be a little trickier when it comes to preventing the erosion from occurring on our mountains. Take a look:

We got to choose from materials such as: tooth picks, cotton balls, paper towels, and pieces of aluminum foil to prevent our land slides from happening when we make it "rain"! Some students put the aluminum foil or cotton balls right on top and it worked well, or the cotton balls fell right off when it started to rain, so students realized they needed something to help hold the cotton balls in place, etc.

So much fun!

Keep Exploring,

Ms. Gillis

Check this blog out to learn about what is happening with 2nd Grade in the S.T.R.E.A.M. Lab throughout the year.

Let's Make a Canyon! - Experiment Results

Fri, 09 Mar 2018 20:05:00 +0000

We had so much fun making canyons with our teammate and our parents during the Walk Through the Wheel Week! Check out some of our results:

Next, we are going to learn more about how changes to the land can occur quickly or slowly, all thanks for erosion! How are we going to do that? By seeing the cause and effect of a quick change, land slides!

Keep Exploring,

Ms. Gillis

Check this blog out to learn about what is happening with 2nd Grade in the S.T.R.E.A.M. Lab throughout the year.

Let's Make a Canyon!

Wed, 07 Mar 2018 19:33:00 +0000

Since our 2nd Graders have been learning all about the world of water and the affect it has on the land around us, it is time to put all that knowledge in to an experiment!

First, to get ready for this experiment, we explored how a canyon is created by looking at the Grand Canyon. At first, we had all different thoughts about what could create a canyon such as: earthquakes, lightening, water, or animals! To see if we were right, we had to explore a little deeper. We started by looking at the path created at the bottom of a canyon, and the first thing we noticed is that it has twists and turn, just like rivers! We also saw how when it rains and water accumulates (gathers) at the bottom of the canyon, it is moving and flowing, changing the landscape around it!

To see how much water can change the landscape, we decided to make our own mountains out of sand, and will test to see if we can create rivers, and canyons, by making it "rain" at the top of the mountain! We can't wait to see what happens next!

Keep Exploring,

Ms. Gillis

Check this blog out to learn about what is happening with 2nd Grade in the S.T.R.E.A.M. Lab throughout the year.