Week 5: May 4-8

Learning Goal: Observing Different Animals and Their Traits

I can determine survival traits of animals based on their living habitats

Estimated Time for The Week:

60-75 Minutes

Type of Lesson:

Animal survival traits

Materials:

Electronic device, pencil, paper, colored pencils

Learn & Practice:

For the Google Slides to click-through the below directions, click here! (It includes pictures for the steps below.)

1. Read and research two different animals by using https://pebblego.com/!
2. Think about which animal would win in a battle against another animal.
3. Create your own Who Would Win story!
   • Grab a pencil and paper to follow the steps in the slides to create your brochure.
   • Get information for the two animals that are battling.
   • Be sure to think about where your animals are battling. Will the location of the battle change the outcome?
   • If the animal you have chosen is not on PebbleGo, feel free to pick another.
4. Follow up questions
   • Final Battle: Compare and contrast the winner based upon your predictions.
     • Were the predictions correct?
     • Were they incorrect?
     • What was the difference between predicted and observed winner?

Learning Goal:

I can construct a simple, yet powerful solar oven.

Estimated Time for The Week:

20-30 minutes

Materials:

• a box with an attached lid (pizza box or shoe box)
• scissors
• aluminum foil
• black construction paper (or color a piece of paper black)
• clear wrap
• tape
• paper plate
• ruler
• straw or wooden spoon
• marshmallows (optional)
• graham crackers (optional)
• chocolate bars (optional)

Learn & Practice:

Go to https://www.icanteachmychild.com/make-your-own-solar-oven/ to see pictures.

1. Draw a square on the lid of the box that is 1 inch smaller than the box on all sides. Ask an adult to help cut three sides of the square to make a flap. Fold the flap so that it stands up when the lid is closed.
2. Cover the inner side of the flap and the inside of the box with aluminum foil. Make sure the foil is shiny side up.
3. Use clear plastic wrap to create an airtight window for sunlight to enter into the box.
   • Do this by opening the box and taping a double layer of plastic wrap over the opening you made when you cut the flap in the lid.
   • Leave about an inch of plastic overlap around the sides and tape each side down securely, sealing out air.
4. Place the black construction paper in the bottom of the box on top of the aluminum foil.
5. Place your paper plate inside the box.
6. To make s’mores, layer the chocolate bars and marshmallows on top of graham crackers and place on the plate.
7. Close the box lid, propping up the flap with a ruler, straw, or wooden spoon.
8. Place your box outside in the sun, using your oven between 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. when the sun is the highest. Adjust the flap until as much sunlight as possible is reflecting off of the foil to the window area.
9. Check your oven after approximately 30 mins to see if any changes have occurred to your chocolate or marshmallows.
10. Enjoy your homemade s’mores! Be careful when taking the plate out of the oven, it will be hot!
11. Reflect on this activity:
    • Why did you line your oven with aluminum foil?
    • What purpose did the black construction paper serve?
    • Why would cooking times vary throughout the day?
    • How hot do you think your oven gets? (You could check it with an oven thermometer, if you have one.)

Optional Extension Activity:

• Try heating other food in your oven - toast, hot dogs, or nachos!
• Try a different colored paper other than black like yellow, red, etc. What happens?

FUN FACT: The largest s’more weighs 267 pounds and was made in Pennsylvania on May 31, 2014. There were a total of 104 volunteers that worked together to make the s’more.