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2/4/2010
Arctic and Antarctic Websites
Jason Project Arctic Food Web www.jason.org
Posted by Laurie Sullivan at 9:00 AM
2/2/2010
Solar Brownies with Mrs. Quinzio's Class
{Sun!} Our sun was out for some great solar cooking!
Yesterday, we had lots of sun for a wonderful presentation on solar energy with Mr. Dan Redmond. Students learned how solar energy can be used as an alternative form of energy to what we currently use--coal. Students went outdoors to experience how a solar panel can power a fan, as well as to cook some yummy brownies! With wonderful videos and hands on experiments, students got a first hand look at how the sun can be such a powerful renewable resource.
{writing with coal} Writing with coal {Mrs. Quinzio} Mrs. Quinzio observes coal. {Outdoor experience} Learning about solar power...in snow! {Aidan being a } Aidan was being a 'cloud' to demonstrate how clouds can affect solar power. {Mr. Dan explaining solar energy} Mr. Dan Redmond discussing solar energy. {Solar Brownies} These were the solar brownies we made, and they were delicious!
Posted by Allyson Greene at 8:00 AM
1/30/2010
Kindergarteners make Flinkers in the Discovery Lab
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This lesson in the Discovery Lab connected nicely with the Kindergarteners' trip to the Air and Space Museum. While at the museum, the students viewed the International Space Station movie in 3-D. They saw how the astronauts prepare for living and working in space and how the astronuats "float" (fall) in a reduced gravity environment.
In the Discovery Lab the Kindergarten students learned about two ways astronauts prepare to work in space. We watched a video clip of astronauts training in the reduced gravity jet, also known as the vomit comet http://brainbites.nasa.gov/vomitcomet (Click PLAY on the remote control).
We also watched a video clip of astronauts training in a huge pool called the Neutral Buoyancy Lab. Then each student received a “spacesuit” and a tank of water. Their challenge was to make the spacesuit “flink”, neither float on the top nor sink to the bottom. How could they make the spacesuit neutrally buoyant? The students remembered that they saw weights being added to the astronaut’s spacesuit in the video clip. They discovered that they needed weights (paperclips) to be successful.
Posted by Laurie Sullivan at 9:25 AM 1/26/2010
Solar Energy Presentation with Mr. Dan Redmond
Ms. Smith's and Ms. Toussant's classes continued to learn about renewable energy resources with a presentation on solar energy with Mr. Dan Redmond. Part of his presentation is to do some activities outdoors that use solar energy; however, our weather has not been conducive to going outdoors as the sun has not been shining too much over the last 2 days. Therefore, students were able to understand how the sun is depended on by many people around the world. We could not bake brownies in the solar cooker, we had to imagine their scrumptious flavor; however, we will try to do some solar cooking on a more sunny day!
As Mr. Redmond said, "We all have the sun and we all have the air." It is with this quote that our students began to think more about how we can make better decisions when using electricity. Ms. Toussant referred to one of the ideas on a chart in the Discovery lab....... A need or want may cause change. Also a change may cause a need or a want.
With that, students were asked about the resourcefulness of coal and the new and 'cool' things we like to use today, such as iphones, Nintendo, and Wii games. The more humans invent, the more we want to continue having these 'cool' things....and the more coal we need to have those nice things. Hence, our wants require a change, which is what we are beginning to explore. {Learning about coal} Learing about coal..it's very inexpensive, but very dirty! {solar oven} A solar oven..it was not sunny enough to cook these brownies! {Learning about solar energy} Listening to Mr. Redmond {solar oven} Thinking about solar cooking....what could we cook in there?
Posted by Allyson Greene at 2:00 PM
1/26/2010
Videoconferencing with NASA about our Moon
Learning about our nearest neighbor that is not a star!!!!!
{Roger Storm}
Mr. Storm discussing how the astronauts survived when they explored the moon.
Our first graders had a chance to learn more about our moon by participating in a live videoconference with NASA's Glenn Research Center, located in Cleveland, Ohio. Mr. Roger Storm, a NASA education specialist, spoke to our students about what the moon is like, how it orbits our planet and our sun, and how large the moon is compared to the Earth. Our students were very active participants and hopefully have some new knowledge they can share you about our very own moon! Enjoy the pictures! {distance to the moon} This graphic shows someone walking to the moon....it is so far that it would take almost 135 years to walk to it going at a normal speed and not stopping! {Students listening} Some of our attentive and inquisitive students involved in the videoconference! {Showing a crescent moon}
This was shown to the students to give them an idea of how the moon has phases. Here you will see a crescent moon, which Mr. Storm told our students it reminded him of a banana! {Asking a question} A question being asked by a first grader! {What do you see in the moon?} We learned about the different shapes different cultures sees in the moon. What do you see?
Posted by Allyson Greene at 2:00 PM
1/25/2010
Kindergarteners Explore the Solar System
{Solar System Model} {lithograph}
To kick off the Kindergarten NASA Explorer School activities that will be taking place over the next two months, the students became familiar with our place in space. Through models, books, videoclips, and two activities in the Discovery Lab the students learned about the planets in our solar system. This Friday Mrs. Sullivan's son Jackson, who attended Barrett, will be co-teaching all four Kindergarten classes in the Discovery Lab. The lesson and activity will highlight how NASA prepares astronauts for living and working in space.
{Voting} {Hm}
{Memory } {Concentration}
{bk} {Globe}
Posted by Laurie Sullivan at 6:00 AM
1/25/2010
Antarctic Adventure with Dr. Asen
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Last week Dr. Sheryl Asen shared with the 4th graders about her adventures in Antarctica. Dr. Asen wove the Barrett school theme of CHANGE throughout her presentation. The students were truly drawn in by her engaging presentation style and the topic of Antarctica. They were in awe of how many layers of clothing Dr. Asen wore to keep warm (see photos below of students holding the articles of clothing in the order they would be put on). Dr. Asen said she was inspired to go to Antarctica when she read Robert Scott's diary when she was a child. She was determined to get there one day and finally her dream came true! You can read parts on Captain Robert Scott's diary online.
Scott died while exploring Antarctica and wrote in his diary until the very end.
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Click here to see more photos from the presentations for all three fourth grade classes.
Posted by Laurie Sullivan at 6:00 AM
1/25/2010
Satellites with Mr. Hill
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Mr. Hill talked to the second grade classes about satellites. He showed us how the satellites are launched. We were surprised that sometimes the rocket launches with the satellite from a ship! We watched videos of successful launches and not so successful launches. We learned satellites are powered by solar panels and batteries. We watched a video clip of an antenna unfolding. The music playing during the video was Who Let the Dogs Out, so of course we all sang along with the chorus. It was fun to listen to music from XM Satellite radio. We asked Mr. Hill many, many questions! Thank you Mr. Hill!
Posted by Laurie Sullivan at 6:00 AM
1/14/2010
WALL-E, NASA, Satellites & Water on the Moon?!!
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We were forewarned that the videoconference "may actually make your students laugh when WALL-E tries to help tell NASA's story!" And laugh we did! We also learned a lot and were able to ask many questions. Following are some of the topics we discussed with Ms. Stone and WALL-E at Goddard Space Flight Center:
· Astronaut Spacesuit
· Space Shuttle
· NASA Scientists and Engineers
· Earth, Sun, Moon
· Frozen water at the Poles of Earth and the Moon
· Topographic Mapping
We challenged each student to design a satellite on paper and tell what the satellite will do. Give your design to your teacher, who will pass the designs on to Mrs. Sullivan. Mrs. Sullivan will send your work to NASA Goddard and in return, Goddard will send NASA items for your classroom!
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Posted by Laurie Sullivan at 2:00 PM
1/13/2010
Energy--Mrs. Nagle and Mrs. Quinzio
{The Sun} A Morning Sun over Barrett Today, Mrs. Nagle's and Mrs. Quinzio's classes visited the lab to learn more about energy. Earlier this week, students in these classes spoke with NASA education specialists about solar energy. We did some more solar energy experiments today, despite being a little cold. In upcoming lessons, students will learn more about solar energy and even get to do some solar cooking! Here are some pictures from today..... {energy} Students working to find forms of energy on a poster. {energy poster} Hmmm...where should I put my sticky note? {BrainPOP!} We watched a BrainPOP! movie on solar energy. {wow!} We have some great notetakers in 3rd grade! Wow...that was 'cool'! {Mrs. Qunizio} Mrs. Quinzio observing the beads change right before her eyes! {observing} 'What color did your bead change?' {My bag!} Look at Mrs. Greene's bag! It's changing colors due to solar energy! {more bead fun} More bead fun! {energy books} Students working on their energy books. {thinking about my next sentence} What else should I write?
Posted by Allyson Greene at 2:00 PM
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