August Weekly Updates
Week of August 12-16
This week in science we will learn about lab safety and how to think like a scientist! We will participate in labs, complete a science lab escape room, and explore different fields of science. We are preparing to begin learning about energy next week. Be looking for the 6th grade science syllabus- it will be sent home on Thursday :)
Check out these images from our Pipe Cleaner Challenge and Gum Drop Lab! Students were tasked with thinking like a scientist and engineer in both of our challenges. Students excelled in these activities by critically thinking and problem solving.
Check out these images from last week! Students tried to "break out" of our science escape room to learn about lab safety.
**Please return completed lab safety forms! Students cannot participate in labs until these are returned.
Week of August 19-23
This week in science we will begin our unit on Energy. We study energy extensively through Fall Break. Understanding energy lays the foundation for each of our other units throughout the school year!
This week, our focus will be on understanding the difference between potential and kinetic energy the Law of Conservation of Energy. We will study this through virtual labs, classroom activities, and various videos and demonstrations. On Friday, we will have a quick formative assessment on energy.
Standard(s) in Focus:
6.PS3.1 1) Analyze the properties and compare sources of kinetic, elastic potential, gravitational potential, electric potential, chemical, and thermal energy.
6.ps3.2) Construct a scientific explanation of the transformations between potential and kinetic energy.
IMG_6387.movWeek of August 26-30
This week in science we will continue our unit on Energy. Last week we focused on the potential energy, kinetic energy, and the Law of Conservation of Energy. We demonstrated this with a pendulum (see video) and by building virtual roller coasters and skate parks. Students realized that potential energy converts to kinetic energy, and you have the same amount of kinetic energy as the amount of potential the object had. Students took at formative assessment to demonstrate their understanding of these standards (grades are in PowerSchool)
This week we are going to extend on our knowledge of potential and kinetic by learning the forms of potential energy (elastic, gravitational, and chemical). Students will have different class activities and labs to help form this understanding. We will take a formative assessment on Friday 8/30 on this topic.
Standard(s) in Focus:
6.PS3.1 1) Analyze the properties and compare sources of kinetic, elastic potential, gravitational potential, electric potential, chemical, and thermal energy.
6.ps3.2) Construct a scientific explanation of the transformations between potential and kinetic energy.