Second Grade Videos
2018-2019
I hope you enjoy these videos from our school year.
2018 - 2019
*FYI - THIS WEB PAGE IS BEST VIEWED FROM A LAPTOP OR DESKTOP - WHEN VIEWING FROM A MOBILE DEVICE SOME IMAGES MAY APPEAR TO BE CUT OFF.
Some formats that I use to create these videos give me control over the music volume when students are talking and some do not. I apologize if some students are harder to hear.
End of Year Science Video
Although I am very sad to see the year come to a close, we had an amazing year of science filled with investigation and exploration. Thanks for a great year in science together! XOXO -Ms. Haines
*If you click this video and it doesn't work, try clicking the YouTube button on the bottom right of the video.
Our Very Special Tomato Plants
THESE TOMATO PLANTS ARE UNBE"LEAF"ABLE!
These are very special plants. In the Fall we harvested the seeds from ripe tomatoes. We let the seeds dry all through the winter. In the early Spring we planted the very same seeds we had harvested ourselves. We watered the seeds and kept them safe in the AIS green house where they grew into the plant the girls took home with them.
*If you click this video and it doesn't work, try clicking the YouTube button on the bottom right of the video.
Science and Art S.T.E.A.M. Project: GREENHOUSES
This interdisciplinary project combined science and art classes while the girls designed and created their own greenhouses out of recycled cereal boxes. They learned about the importance of light in a greenhouse before they created their own design. After cutting windows and doors to let in light and painting the greenhouses, they were laminated to keep them sturdy and protect them from moisture. A Zip-Loc bag was attached inside for a secure place for the plants to grow. The next step is planting the seeds. In connection with this project, Sra. Ponte worked with the girls in Spanish class to learn vocabulary and followed up with a planting project using observational skills in Spanish.
*If you click this video and it doesn't work, try clicking the YouTube button on the bottom right of the video.
Spring Visit to Kirk's Run
The girls went out to visit Kirk's Run to see what was different about the creek in the spring season. They used their scientific observation skills to record what they noticed in their journals. These environmentalists also decided to continue to clean up trash that they found in the creek. Way to help the environment!
*If you click this video and it doesn't work, try clicking the YouTube button on the bottom right of the video.
Checking in on our Tomato Plants
We walked over to the AIS greenhouse in the Upper School to take care of our tomato plants. We saw how much they have grown and made sure they had enough water. We made sure that they were not too crowded in their pots and thinned them if necessary. The girls also gave their plants encouraging messages to help them grow healthy and strong. I love the pictures of the girls talking to their baby plants. What lovely scientists these girls are!!!
*If you click this video and it doesn't work, try clicking the YouTube button on the bottom right of the video.
Celery Surprise
The girls experimented to see what will happen to a celery stalk when it is placed in a cup of water with food coloring in it. They came back on a different day to observe what happened. Inside the plants are tiny long tubes (capillaries) that soak up water and nutrients, bringing them all the way up to the leaf. The food coloring helps to make this visible. We also experimented with paper towels to see how they absorb the liquid (like the plants they come from). For added excitement we started with the 3 primary colors (red, yellow, blue) and 3 empty cups. The paper towels did all the work. The capillaries in the plant fibers soak up the water from one glass and drip it into the empty cup combining the colors on either side of the empty cup giving us purple, orange, and green.
*If you click this video and it doesn't work, try clicking the YouTube button on the bottom right of the video.
Planting Our Tomato Seeds
We planted the tomato seeds that we harvested ourselves in the fall. The seeds have been drying and now they are ready to plant. We will watch the life cycle of a plant come full circle. "Just remember, in the winter, far beneath the bitter snow, lies the seed that with the sun's love, in the spring becomes the (tomato plant)." Ha ha. When they start to grow, each of the seedlings will come home with the girls. Scroll down this page to see the video from the beginning of the school year when we harvested these exact seeds. Some of these seeds were from 3rd graders who planted tomato plants in science last year! How cool!!!!!
*If you click this video and it doesn't work, try clicking the YouTube button on the bottom right of the video.
Dissecting Seeds
Students learned about the parts of a seed by dissecting lima beans. They removed the seed coat and then looked inside the seed to observe the food source and the start of the roots and leaves.
*If you click this video and it doesn't work, try clicking the YouTube button on the bottom right of the video.
Calling All Scientists!
During the month of March, I invited parents (who work in the science field) to come in to our Lower School science classes as guest speakers. The focus is for the girls to see how adults use science in their everyday lives. Mothers, fathers, and other family members were all invited to schedule a time to come in, but since March is Women’s History Month, we had a special focus on WOMEN in the science field (either presently or in the past). In this video, please see a sample of all the visitors from the month. What an amazing experience for the girls! We have a wonderful community! THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR VISITORS FOR SHARING YOUR PASSION WITH US!
*If you click this video and it doesn't work, try clicking the YouTube button on the bottom right of the video.
Calling All Scientists! - Mrs. Contreiras
During the month of March, I invited parents (who work in the science field) to come in to our Lower School science classes as guest speakers. The focus is for the girls to see how adults use science in their everyday lives. Mothers, fathers, and other family members were all invited to schedule a time to come in, but since March is Women’s History Month, we had a special focus on WOMEN in the science field (either presently or in the past). In this video, Mrs. Contreiras (Sidney's mom) talked to the girls about being a Chief Information Officer and her work with math and science.
*If you click this video and it doesn't work, try clicking the YouTube button on the bottom right of the video.
Calling All Scientists! - Mrs. Slayton
During the month of March, I invited parents (who work in the science field) to come in to our Lower School science classes as guest speakers. The focus is for the girls to see how adults use science in their everyday lives. Mothers, fathers, and other family members were all invited to schedule a time to come in, but since March is Women’s History Month, we had a special focus on WOMEN in the science field (either presently or in the past). In this video, Mrs. Slayton (Sammie's aunt) talked to the girls about working in connection with NASA.
*If you click this video and it doesn't work, try clicking the YouTube button on the bottom right of the video.
Calling All Scientists! - Dr. Brucker
During the month of March, I invited parents (who work in the science field) to come in to our Lower School science classes as guest speakers. The focus is for the girls to see how adults use science in their everyday lives. Mothers, fathers, and other family members were all invited to schedule a time to come in, but since March is Women’s History Month, we had a special focus on WOMEN in the science field (either presently or in the past). In this video, Dr. Brucker (Emerson's mom) talked to the girls about being an Ophthalmologist.
*If you click this video and it doesn't work, try clicking the YouTube button on the bottom right of the video.
Calling All Scientists! - Mrs. Glickman
During the month of March, I invited parents (who work in the science field) to come in to our Lower School science classes as guest speakers. The focus is for the girls to see how adults use science in their everyday lives. Mothers, fathers, and other family members were all invited to schedule a time to come in, but since March is Women’s History Month, we had a special focus on WOMEN in the science field (either presently or in the past). In this video, Mrs. Glickman (Leah's mom) talked to the girls about being a Transplant Physician's Assistant.
*If you click this video and it doesn't work, try clicking the YouTube button on the bottom right of the video.
Calling All Scientists! - Tamara Lewis
During the month of March, I invited parents (who work in the science field) to come in to our Lower School science classes as guest speakers. The focus is for the girls to see how adults use science in their everyday lives. Mothers, fathers, and other family members were all invited to schedule a time to come in, but since March is Women’s History Month, we had a special focus on WOMEN in the science field (either presently or in the past). In this video, Tamara Lewis (Braxton's mom) talked to the girls about being a Food Scientist.
*If you click this video and it doesn't work, try clicking the YouTube button on the bottom right of the video.
Second Grade and Fifth Grade Agnes Irwin Scientists Work Together
Second grade scientists worked with fifth grade scientists and applied their knowledge of simple machines to create a compound machine (joining 2 or more simple machines). The girls worked in groups to create a compound machine that met our challenge: to get a Lego person into a container. The first video is from our first visit with all 6 groups. The second video is from our second meeting time which combined 2 of the original groups together, also combining their original projects so that each group creates a new and bigger compound machine. The combined groups presented their machines. Dr. Hill (Head of School) and Mrs. Westmeyer (chair of the science department) stopped by to encourage the girls. They did an amazing job! The Compound Machines will be displayed in the Upper School STEAM Studio.
Winter Visit to Kirk's Run
The girls went out to visit Kirk's Run, with some snow still on the ground, to see what was different about the creek in the winter season. They used their scientific observation skills to record what they noticed in their journals. The girls also took note of water spiders and other creatures that were NOT there during our winter visit and we discussed why that might be so. These environmentalists also decided to clean up trash that they found in the creek. Way to help the environment!
*If you click this video and it doesn't work, try clicking the YouTube button on the bottom right of the video.
CARS - Wheels and Axles
To demonstrate how wheels and axles work we made cars. The girls used hammers and a wheel and axle to put the cars together and then decorated them. The girls generously gave away the cars they worked so hard on to the Pre-K students and become a teacher when they taught the Pre-K students what we learned in science about wheels and axles. One of the stages of learning is "I can teach it." So in the process we demonstrated our understanding of this simple machine. The first video is from the day we made the cars. The second video is from the day we visited the Pre-K. Bonus: At the end of this video you can hear the girls reflections of this teaching experience. :)
*If you click this video and it doesn't work, try clicking the YouTube button on the bottom right of the video.
Searching for Simple Machines
We took a walk around our building and found some simple machines that we see and use every day!
*If you click this video and it doesn't work, try clicking the YouTube button on the bottom right of the video.
LEVERS - Launching "Snowballs"
We learned about levers as a simple machine. The girls launched (paper) "snowballs" and experimented with changing the fulcrum and the load. They changed the size of the fulcrum to see how that would change the effort to move the load. They also changed the force applied. As you can see from the video, the girls had a great time and they learned a lot too!
*If you click this video and it doesn't work, try clicking the YouTube button on the bottom right of the video.
Fast Cash - Will force transfer from one object to the other?
Students used the information they have learned about force to make a hypothesis before experimenting. The questions is... What will happen to a dime set at the end of a ruler when the opposite end of the ruler is hit by the force of a sliding quarter? (The ruler is held steady). What is your prediction? Watch this video to see what happens. Students then continued to experiment changing one or more of the variables.
*If you click this video and it doesn't work, try clicking the YouTube button on the bottom right of the video.
Force Paintings
After learning about the science of position and motion, and how a force is a push or a pull that makes something move, the girls used the FORCE of their own breath to create beautiful force paintings. They could "paint with all the colors of the wind."
*If you click this video and it doesn't work, try clicking the YouTube button on the bottom right of the video.
Helicopter Fun with Gravity
We experimented with paper helicopters (paper teachers) that are PULLED down to the ground by the force of gravity. The girls had a great time!
*If you click this video and it doesn't work, try clicking the YouTube button on the bottom right of the video.
AND NOW THE WEATHER...
Second Grade Weather Reporters: In front of the green screen
Second grade scientists have spent the trimester learning about the science of weather. As a culminating project the girls became weather reporters. The reports include types of clouds they learned about, seasonal information, the use of weather instruments, and other important information related to weather. The reports were filmed in the upper school Wise Owl recording studio in front of a green screen. Students wrote their own reports, chose their own locations, selected their background images and created their own forecast. The girls also worked one on one with a member of the iTeam to put together their video forecast.
*If you click these videos and they don't work, try clicking the YouTube button on the bottom right of the video.
BONUS: Behind the Scenes of the Green Screen.
(I apologize that not all of the behind the scene photos came out ok... I included the ones that I had so that you could get a glimpse behind the scenes.)
Anemometers
We made anemometers in class to measure the speed of the wind.
*If you click this video and it doesn't work, try clicking the YouTube button on the bottom right of the video.
Thanksgiving Parade Balloons
Second graders designed and created Thanksgiving Parade Balloons in their homerooms and art class. THEY ARE AMAZING!!!
*If you click this video and it doesn't work, try clicking the YouTube button on the bottom right of the video.
Weather Vanes on a Very Snowy School Day
Weather vanes are used to tell the direction in which the wind blows. In class we each made our own weather vane. The very snowy weather today meant that some students were picked up from school early, so not every student was present during science class. They will each have an opportunity to make their own weather vane.
*If you click this video and it doesn't work, try clicking the YouTube button on the bottom right of the video.
Rain Gauge
The girls each made a working rain gauge in class to measure the amount of rainfall in a given period of time. They are taking this tool home to measure the rainfall over the next couple weeks.
*If you click this video and it doesn't work, try clicking the YouTube button on the bottom right of the video.
The Water Cycle
The girls were on a water adventure today! Each student pretended to be a water droplet and traveled to different destinations. We used colored beads to identify the different locations and we put the beads together on a bracelet. Each bracelet tells a story about where the water droplet traveled. The girls also wrote in a Water Adventure booklet to keep track of their journey. :)
*If you click this video and it doesn't work, try clicking the YouTube button on the bottom right of the video.
October Visit to Kirk's Run
What a great time at Kirk's Run today! While we explored the creek and used our scientific observational skill as well as our 5 senses we wrote in our journal about today's experience. We also found a special spot that we will continue to explore and look for changes.
*If you click this video and it doesn't work, try clicking the YouTube button on the bottom right of the video.
International Day of the Girl
Today is the International Day of the Girl. Please watch this video to hear the second grade girls' reflections of what it means to them to be a girl at the Agnes Irwin School. <3
*If you click this video and it doesn't work, try clicking the YouTube button on the bottom right of the video.
Our First Day at the Creek
We had a great day exploring the creek for the first time in our new Agnes Irwin boots. Many more adventures at Kirk's Run to come!
*If you click this video and it doesn't work, try clicking the YouTube button on the bottom right of the video.
Does Water Evaporate?
While learning about weather, we have talked about clouds and how water droplets get into clouds. We did an experiment about evaporation. The girls mixed epsom salt, water, and food coloring, put the mixture into a petri dish, and waited to see if the water will evaporate. What is left behind are salt crystals. This lesson will lead us into learning about the water cycle.
*If you click this video and it doesn't work, try clicking the YouTube button on the bottom right of the video.
Harvesting Seeds in the AIS Greenhouse
Today we went to the Upper School to visit the AIS greenhouse. We learned how to harvest seeds from tomatoes. We will let them dry and keep them packaged away for safe keeping until the Spring when we will plant our own seeds - the very same seeds that we harvested today and grow our own seedlings. How exciting!
Bonus: Some 3rd grade students who did this lesson last year, brought in tomatoes that they grew from the seeds they harvested last Fall and grew into plants last Spring. We harvested these seeds as well and will demonstrate how the plant life cycle continues on and on.
*If you click this video and it doesn't work, try clicking the YouTube button on the bottom right of the video.
Making Clouds Rain
We experimented with shaving cream and food coloring to show what happens when clouds become too heavy with water droplets...rain falls from the cloud! We had a great time!
*If you click this video and it doesn't work, try clicking the YouTube button on the bottom right of the video.
What is your favorite type of cloud?
The girls learned about the different types of clouds. At the end of the lesson I asked the girls to pick their favorite cloud. Here are their answers.
*If you click this video and it doesn't work, try clicking the YouTube button on the bottom right of the video.
Visiting the New Bridge at Kirk's Run
We walked down to see the creek that we will be exploring throughout this school year. We were the first grade to use the new bridge built for exploring our creek. Many more adventures at Kirk's Run to come!
*If you click this video and it doesn't work, try clicking the YouTube button on the bottom right of the video.
Color & Milk Experiment
Question: What will happen when you put a drop of soap into a container with milk and food coloring? Watch and find out!!! We followed the scientific method starting with a question, then charting our hypotheses, doing the experiment, discussing our observations, and taking note of the conclusion.
Bonus: Hear what the 2nd graders think about science!
*If you click this video and it doesn't work, try clicking the YouTube button on the bottom right of the video.