Please check the other blog pages if you have not recently. Two interactive Periodic Table of Elements sites, Our Mini Maker Channel 212, and other items have been added. :) The children LOVE the table of elements, the names, and begged for a game we played on Friday with the elements.

Today we learned how to read a pH scale. Functional print is nonfiction text in the form of charts, directions, and other features that are necessary to survive in the world. Today we read charts, analyzed the information, then made connections and conclusions ("theories") about the information.
??? What is a pH scale? What does it tell you?
??? Why would you use it?
??? What is the number range? What does a pH of 1 mean? (acid) 7? (neutral) What is the opposite of a 1? (14 - a base)
??? What is an acid?  base?
??? What are some examples of acids and bases?
??? Why should we know about acids and bases?
??? If you have a stomachache from eating too much acid forming food, what should you do? (Your child will say "broccoli" - Here's your chance to jump on that one! :) ). They figured out that if you eat too much chocolate you should eat broccoli to return to neutral. We also discussed healthy foods vs. foods that are acidic and will upset our stomachs. Some foods that were discouraged: soda, sweets, etc. :)
??? What do you do with pH paper? What do you learn?

Thanks to Tyler's mom, three science lab groups were able to investigate pH level of the solutions they made last week which have been soaking all weekend. There were shrieks of delight (literally) when the pH paper turned colors to indicate whether it was an acid or a base. We connected this part of science to art as we discussed how the acidic indicator colors are warm colors (shades of red, orange, and yellow) while the indicator strips will be cool colors with bases (purples, blues, and greens). They remembered as they did the lab exploration and quickly identified whether each liquid was an acid or a base. Your child is learning how to record data like a scientist in charts. The acid/base information will be analyzed and synthesized to discover whether an acid or a base is more likely to help clean our pennies.

Your child also learned that atoms form molecules. A complete science lab was developed for this week to incorporate every area of the curriculum: art, history, technology with iPads, reading to learn- research, writing, data collection in charting, and math strategies as your child will learn how to calculate the number of neutrons in an element (basic rounding and regrouping skills which we have learned). They are very excited! The trick is to keep the volume down in the room as their enthusiasm escalates. :)

Your child continued writing his/her adventure story as well. Contrary to my encouragement to try to wrap up their stories before break, they said they wanted to write "so much more that it's not possible". Great to hear enthusiasm for writing as well!

Our day ended with our iPad project. The children were amazing as they taught their lab partners how to make screencasts to their own disbelief. It's a remarkable thing to see such "whole person learning" (made it up - balanced character and academics :) )  in action.