Vivid Verbs, Take 2

We are still studying vivid verbs.
To help visualize what verbs are, each child took turns acting out "tricks", while their partner recorded all of the action words they could observe.
The lists they made turned out great!
Next step: Use those great action words in sentences!

Kaeli D. & Cole:

Ben & Kaylee S.

Edward & Siena:

Ethan K & Madison:

Professional Balancers!

Last week in science, the kids balanced a paper crayfish on a popsicle stick, after clipping some clothespins onto its pinchers/claws. We talked about how we had to add some extra weight to that cray fish to make it balance on its nose, because it was too tall and floppy without it.

Today, the class used their prior knowledge to balance 3 new paper shapes. This time, instead of just calling the extra weight "clothespins" (which they are), we learned a new science word:

counterweight

Just as the crayfish needed weight added to its pinchers, the new shapes today all needed more weight added. A counterweight is extra weight that is added to an object to help it balance.

I gave these next shapes to the kids as a practice run for my hardest 2nd grade experiment I know:
the PENCIL BALANCING TRICK.

:)

I told the class that if they could get these paper pencil shapes to balance on the popsicle stick, they just might be able to balance a REAL pencil on a popsicle stick!
Impossible, you say?
Just you wait and see!

First, the kids tried balancing a sharpened pencil all on its own (on the popsicle stick).
They soon discovered that it was too wobbly.

Then, some children added counterweights to help the pencil balance.

Finally, I gave them some flexible wire pieces to see if that would help distribute the weight.

Some even tried to tie the pencil to the stick!
Nice try, Edward!

Matthew noticed that the paper crayfish last week needed clothespins on its pinchers, and maybe this pencil would need some clothespins on the wire.

Dylan found a way to balance that pencil on his finger!

So proud!

After today's science lessons, the kids should have a decent understanding of what a counterweight is, and how they are used in different situations. For example, a gymnast sticks out her arms as she walks across a balance beam. A teeter-totter isn't much fun unless the sides are weighted similarly...if a pre-schooler wants to teeter-totter with his dad, another kid might want to sit with the pre-schooler to act as a counterweight.

Picture Day

Today, our class got individual pictures taken, as well as that classic "Room 14" shot. If you did not order any pictures but wanted to, just click on this link.

http://www.hjconsumerdirect.com/PHOTO_ONLINE_ORDERING/index.cfm?contractID=1336

You should be able to take care of everything on this website.

We also had vision screenings today, and you will be notified if anything out-of-the-ordinary came up in that department, too.
Thanks!

Balancing Act

Today, we began our first science unit, called Balance And Motion. The unit lasts for a few months, and is a great hands-on kit. To introduce the concept of balance, the kids were given a cardboard crayfish (crawdad?), a popsicle stick, and some tape. They taped the stick down to their desks & tried to make that crayfish balance all by itself.

Malia gets all set up:

After a few unsuccessful attempts at getting that crayfish to balance on its nose, all by itself, I passed out 2 clothespins to help with the balancing trick. (These will soon be referred to as counterweights, but that's later in the unit.)

After realizing that the clothespins had to hang down below the weight of the crayfish's nose (which will be referred to as the balance point later on), just about everyone got the hang of it!

We talked about how when something is balanced, it is STABLE. It may be a little bit wobbly, but it doesn't fall down. We could blow lightly on the crayfish, and it would wobble, but it did stay on the stick. Same idea with tight-rope walkers & gymnasts!

Next week, we will try to balance different shapes on a stick, using our new-found knowledge of counterweights & balance points...so stay tuned!

**Shameless plug** : If you have any toys or activities at home that involve balance, (think: Jenga, tops, etc.) and if you're willing to loan them to our class for a few days, we'd love to see what's out there!