Stem
Grade P–2 Explore Materials in Science!
This term, students in Grade P–2 explored Chemical Science by learning all about different materials—what they are made of, how they behave, and how they can be changed.
Students investigated materials like plastic, metal, rubber, fabric, and paper. They described them by their properties—such as hard or soft, shiny or dull, rough or smooth. They also tested which materials were waterproof to determine what fabric would be best suited for a rain jacket.
We also had fun changing materials in different ways—by ripping, scrunching, bending, and folding—to see how they can change shape without becoming something new. A folded piece of paper is still paper!
Grade 3–6 Explore States of Matter!
Students in Grades 3–6 explored Chemical Science by learning about the three states of matter—solids, liquids, and gases—and how tiny particles make up everything around us.
They discovered the properties of states of matter, such as solids having a fixed shape, liquids taking the shape of their container, and gases filling the space available. Additionally, students in Grades 4–6 were introduced to particle theory. They learned how particles are arranged and how they behave through role-play, then presented their findings in a diagram.
To see these concepts in action, students participated in weekly hands-on experiments. A highlight for students in 3/4A and 3/4B was exploring different states of matter when making pancakes, which included identifying them in the ingredients and observing how they changed—i.e., making the batter (liquid) and then turning it into a pancake (solid) using heat transfer from the pan.
A thought-provoking lesson for students in 4/5A, 5/6A, and 5/6B was their investigation of different substances to determine if they were a solid, liquid, or gas by noticing observable features and how they behaved when shaken, poured, or magnified.
Students in every grade thoroughly enjoyed being scientists this term by developing their observation and recording skills, as well as showing curiosity and creativity in their explorations in the chemical sciences. We look forward to more exciting learning ahead!
Photos captions: Students in 3/4B writing about our melting chocolate science experiment; An, Tiffany, Barron and Vayda putting the finishing touches on the chocolate marshmallows for the class to eat; When melted, chocolate becomes a viscous liquid.
Thank you,
Jess
