Anatomy of a Science Experiment - #ElmersScienceReady

We love science!  In fact, of all the classes we do in our homeschool, science in our favorite.  We’re experiential learners, so the opportunity to explore, dissect, interact and engage using science experiments really appeals to us. 

This year, my youngest son is taking General Science and participates in a homeschool science lab.  My older son is taking biology and lab through our local co-op.  We have a lot of science going on!

Learning the scientific method is critical to good experimentation.  The method of hypothesis, procedure, data and conclusion really allows the boys to not only predict what will happen, but learn to document how it happened, why it happened and what the actual outcome can be.  My youngest and I had the opportunity through our Elmer’s shopportunity to really breakdown an experiment he was doing for General Science into a display he can share with his science lab group.

The purpose of this science experiment is to understand sedimentation: how the layers of the earth are formed when water is present.  To complete this experiment, he first had to come up with a hypothesis: 

Next, he determined the supplies we would use to complete the experiment.

He documented each of the procedures:



Finally, he conducted the experiment:





Adding the dirt layer - he got to break out the shovel for this one!





Layer 2 - adding and equal amount of sand

Layer 3 - he chose colored rocks to make them more visible

All three layers are in place.

Time to shake is all up and see how the sediment settles - hence sedimentation.

The jar after being shaken up.  He'll do this two more times.

Much to his joy, his hypothesis was correct - the layers were rocks, sand, dirt.  Although, he did find he didn’t consider that the rocks would stack leaving gaps that the sand would filter through.

After it's all settled down.

Now to create his display.  I had him go shopping with me to buy supplies.  He chose the Elmer's tri-fold foam board, Elmer's X-TREME stick glue, and Elmer's clear glue.

Lots of supplies to choose from - Elmer's really hooked him up!

Next, he had to put his ideas into action documenting in a way that would be visually appealing to his lab class helping them understand what he did and how it happened.  He worked hard cutting, designing and gluing to make his perfect project.

The new Elmer's X-TREME was great for gluing on foam board - it held much better than regular glue sticks.

As he was working, he decided that he needed a visual and textural way to demonstrate what the outcome of the project was, so he created a "mock" jar with all the sediment inside.

Here's why he wanted clear glue - to stick the rocks, sand and dirt into for his mock jar.

Looks pretty good!

Now he was ready to finish the project! 

He added a couple pictures of the actual jar, and it was all done. 

I may be biased, but I think he did a wonderful job of laying this project out.  His explanations using the scientific method, his example jar and the pictures will all be very helpful when he explains his experiment in lab class.

Nice work!

Sometimes, as a homeschooling family, we forget the importance of demonstrated learning like this tri-fold board.  He had a good time doing it, and I had a fun time doing it with him.  Yay for hands-on learning and Yay! for #elmersscienceready for giving us the opportunity to once again use their products in a creative way!

What experiments do your children enjoy?

***  This project has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for #elmersscienceready  #collectivebias #CBias Collective Bias

At the Alice Conference

This two weeks is very exciting for me!  I love technology and believe we need more of it in the homeschool community.  Sure, there are lots of online classes, but what I am referring to is computer science, not simply using the computer as a tool.

A friend of mine works in technology for the local school district and often sends me links to new tools the district gets access to.  I’m so happy she thinks of me and does that!  About six months ago, she sent me a link to a program called Alice.

Alice was developed by Carnegie Melon as a free tool to teach students 3D programming in a visual platform.  What is exciting about this is that Alice creates an environment where students can move code and see the results quickly and easily.  Much more inviting than the old text-based programming.

So, long story long, I got on an email list to learn more about Alice.  Instructors from around the world post to this list.  It so happens Duke University has a prof that not only teaches Alice to college students, but holds summer conferences for teachers at the middle and high school level.  She encouraged me to apply, and I was picked to go.  Thus, here I am!  So, what did we learn Day 1? 

Here’s the video of the outcome of our first program:

Here’s what the code looks like:

Very exciting!  Yes – you can teach your kids to do this too!

My plan is to bring this information back and teach homeschooled students Alice at our local co-op.  In addition, I’m going to post the lessons I develop to this blog so that all homeschooled parents have the opportunity to include Alice in their homeschool.

Interested?  Stay tuned!  I’ve got nine more days of classes and am excited to see and share the results!